sally1's review
4.0
There is just so much wonderful information contained in this book, and given my non-scientific mind, I'll be re-reading it at least once to try to understand all it addresses.
Many times, the author sums up the scientific details using plain English and in those cases, I was much better able to understand; in other areas, I felt a bit adrift in the acronyms and statistics, but that's really not a fault with the book. It's just the way my mind absorbs (or doesn't) scientific implications.
Overall, I loved this book for the scientific conclusions it presented. What I didn't like...and I knew before I began to read...is that the concept of doing away with mega farms altogether and adopting a veganic (organic without the animal ingredients) lifestyle wasn't even suggested as a way to save the planet. Even though all of her evidence clearly points to that.
Our society simply cannot see the forest for the trees. A cow is not a "commodity," he's an animal, as are we. As her book explains, their carefully orchestrated grazing, trampling, (and yes, pooping), are what make the healthy soil for all of us to grow food. It's really now a matter of people acknowledging this and tossing aside their greed and attachment to tradition and realizing that the solutions are right in front of us and have been all along. The science she presents for us in this otherwise wonderful book, I feel, proves it.
Many times, the author sums up the scientific details using plain English and in those cases, I was much better able to understand; in other areas, I felt a bit adrift in the acronyms and statistics, but that's really not a fault with the book. It's just the way my mind absorbs (or doesn't) scientific implications.
Overall, I loved this book for the scientific conclusions it presented. What I didn't like...and I knew before I began to read...is that the concept of doing away with mega farms altogether and adopting a veganic (organic without the animal ingredients) lifestyle wasn't even suggested as a way to save the planet. Even though all of her evidence clearly points to that.
Our society simply cannot see the forest for the trees. A cow is not a "commodity," he's an animal, as are we. As her book explains, their carefully orchestrated grazing, trampling, (and yes, pooping), are what make the healthy soil for all of us to grow food. It's really now a matter of people acknowledging this and tossing aside their greed and attachment to tradition and realizing that the solutions are right in front of us and have been all along. The science she presents for us in this otherwise wonderful book, I feel, proves it.
imkatefrantz's review
4.0
I just learned so much. Wow. This is such a cool book - a little dry at points for a visual learner like myself, but man! I learned so much about SOIL and just how intricate EVERYTHING created is. I need some videos to watch on SEEING the actual process - but I will definitely be looking at the little world beneath our feet FAR differently.
machademia's review
hopeful
informative
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
I really liked the subject matter and found a lot of the information very interesting but I didn’t quite enjoy certain bits because it felt very rambly and long winded only to say the same things. I liked how a lot of people were interviewed and she talked about how the movement has changed from back then. I especially enjoyed the “radical middle” section because it really showed how people who had very different beliefs can come together in a single purpose. Finally, I felt like her trying to insert personal ties from the soil to her life was unnecessary because it only occurred once or twice throughout the book anyway. Still a very impressive piece of work considering the effort and time needed to compile and write something so heavy on the information in a coherent way.
bufally47's review
3.0
The first half of this is so strong and the concept is so important, I’m disheartened it crumbled away in the end (save one final uptick in the final two pages). The main points about carbon sequestration are highlighted early, then we get to go on a journey underground to explore the world of roots, microorganisms, air pockets, and the like. We meet eccentric pioneers in fields of soil science and organic farming. The first half is SO GOOD, so invigorating, so hopeful. However, once Ohlson starts with the carbon credit system, then the politics, it’s the same old story. The structure also started to meander around that point and the text got repetitive and vague, not to mention bogged down with the typical “doom and gloom” of the field. Still – it’s worth reading for the first half (and maybe the final chapter), but if you’re already versed in Monsanto, maybe skip the middle.