Synopses & Reviews
Dirt, soil, call it what you want, it's everywhere we go. It is the root of our existence, supporting our feet, our farms, our cities. This fascinating yet disquieting book finds, however, that we are running out of dirt, and it's no laughing matter. An engaging natural and cultural history of soil that sweeps from ancient civilizations to modern environmental calamities, Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations explores the compelling idea that we are, and have long been, using up Earth's soil. Once bare of protective vegetation and exposed to wind and rain, cultivated soils erode bit by bit, slowly enough to be ignored in a single lifetime but fast enough over time to limit the lifespan of civilizations. A rich mix of archaeology, geology, and history, Dirt traces the role of soil use and abuse in the history of Mesopotamia, Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, China, European colonialism, Central America, and the American push westward. We see how soil has shaped history, as society after society has risen, prospered, and plowed through a natural endowment of fertile dirt, leaving a legacy of impoverished lands. David R. Montgomery sees in the recent rise of organic and no-till farming the hope for a new agricultural revolution that might help us avoid the fate of previous civilizations.
Review
"The relationship between soils and societies has been crucial for humankind for 10,000 years. David Montgomery brings a geomorphologist's eye and a world-historical vision to the subject, showing why it demands our attention." J.R. McNeill, author of Something New Under the Sun
Synopsis
"From this gritty and compelling state-of-our-earth report comes the inescapable truth that we are nothing if not dirty-minded. A brilliant and essential book."and#151;Roger Swain, science editor of
Horticulture magazine
"The relationship between soils and societies has been crucial for humankind for 10,000 years. David Montgomery brings a geomorphologist's eye and a world-historical vision to the subject, showing why it demands our attention."and#151;J.R. McNeill, author of Something New Under the Sun
and#147;In our cyber-charged age, itand#8217;s easy to forget that all six billion of us stand on the thin skin of the earth. Humanity is agriculture and agriculture is soil, just as it has been for 10,000 years. David Montgomeryand#151;a competent digger of dirt and an engaging storytellerand#151;shows how a close look at the soil can reveal a surprising amount about who we are and where we are headed.and#8221;and#151;Richard Manning, author of Against the Grain: How Agriculture Has Hijacked Civilization
About the Author
Born in Tucson, Arizona, David Montgomery is a professional teacher and artist. He is also the author of Native American Crafts and Skills.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
1. Good Old Dirt
2. Skin of the Earth
3. Rivers of Life
4. Graveyard of Empires
5. Let Them Eat Colonies
6. Westward Hoe
7. Dust Blow
8. Dirty Business
9. Islands in Time
10. Life Span of Civilizations
Notes
Bibliography
Index