Whether it's a wire puller, a salami vendor, a peddler, a ballad singer, a caulker, or a gingerbread maker: few people today realize that these were professions commonly known a hundred years ago. Many activities that our grandparents and great-grandparents practiced without a second thought have been forgotten or completely disappeared. And although some are experiencing an unexpected revival through the resurgence of traditional craftsmanship and a return to tried-and-true skills, the collective knowledge of most professions has been lost. Rudi Palla brings all of this back to mind: excellently researched and filled with curious and surprising details - a treasure and wonder chamber that allows the world of vanished professions to come back to life.