Professions that have disappeared tell our story. Gladiators fought for glory. Ice cutters cut blocks from frozen lakes. In the United States, human calculators hand-calculated the trajectories of space shuttles. All these trades really did exist. Today, they have disappeared. Through them, this book recounts extraordinary periods in human history. Embark on this astonishing journey across six continents and through time, from antiquity to the modern era, and put yourself in the shoes of itinerant toilet porters, valiant Pony Express postal riders and ornamental hermits. Shiver as you discover Germany's ruthless coffee sniffers and London's fearsome executioners.