SPORCO & PULITO | 1960 | REGINALD REYNOLDS

Reginald Reynolds’ Sporco & Pulito (1960), originally Cleanliness and Godliness, is a work of social history that examines the cultural meanings of dirt and cleanliness in Western society. With sharp wit and critical insight, Reynolds traces how sanitation, hygiene, and moral codes became deeply intertwined, revealing their role in shaping class distinctions, religious beliefs, and political attitudes. The book moves between history, anthropology, and social critique, showing how ideas of purity reflect power and ideology. Far from being a manual, it is a reflective study on how societies define what is “dirty” and “clean,” uncovering the symbolic and historical weight behind everyday practices.