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emilieonthemove's review
5.0
So we hear we should eat organic, take probiotics, eat less meat, eat our vegetables... but why and how exactly will this improve our health? Isn't it all just another a trend? And why is organic farming and no-tillage agriculture better than chemical fertilizers? And why is "conventional" farming so entrenched in our culture?
If you've ever wondered about any of questions, this book is for you. It is definitely dense for non-biologists, like myself, but fascinating. The way the book is put together keeps it engaging and moving forward; the authors combine their personal experiences with gardening and cancer to lay the groundwork for their research. Then, they provide ample information on the history of different scientific discoveries and how they've shaped prevailing schools of thought in agriculture and medicine over the past several centuries. These history lessons are interspersed with biology lessons relevant to agriculture and human health, particularly related to our immune and digestive systems. All together, the book is an intricately woven tale revealing how soil's microbiology and a plant's root system mirror what we eat and how our body processes it. Mind. Blown.
If you've ever wondered about any of questions, this book is for you. It is definitely dense for non-biologists, like myself, but fascinating. The way the book is put together keeps it engaging and moving forward; the authors combine their personal experiences with gardening and cancer to lay the groundwork for their research. Then, they provide ample information on the history of different scientific discoveries and how they've shaped prevailing schools of thought in agriculture and medicine over the past several centuries. These history lessons are interspersed with biology lessons relevant to agriculture and human health, particularly related to our immune and digestive systems. All together, the book is an intricately woven tale revealing how soil's microbiology and a plant's root system mirror what we eat and how our body processes it. Mind. Blown.
hodes4me's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
Incredibly informative, but they could have trimmed some of the fat
sprague's review against another edition
5.0
I've met and like the authors, so I give this the best possible rating! They're super-nice people.
If you're new to the idea of microbes, you'll enjoy this story about how they affect us, told with a heavy emphasis on gardening (a passion of the author) and how staying in tune with our environment can keep us healthier.
If you're new to the idea of microbes, you'll enjoy this story about how they affect us, told with a heavy emphasis on gardening (a passion of the author) and how staying in tune with our environment can keep us healthier.
nurly_whirly's review against another edition
4.0
Simple but fascinating! My favorite kind of science. Now I get to add "Soil nutrient depletion" to my list of Things About The Future I'm Worried About.
pilesandpiles's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This book was fascinating to me. I feel like I only now truly understand what organic farming and organic food are and why they matter, and I finally understand how the crappy diets that industrialized food production has promoted lead to cancer. It was difficult for me to get through some sections because I had a hard time following all the scientific terms, but I feel like the authors did an effective job of traveling from soil science to gut health and the human immune system and back, tying our bodily well-being to our planet's well-being.
dancarey_404's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting, but I think some of the science regarding the human gut biome is suspect (or at least unsettled). The parts that deal with soil fungus seem to be on firmer ground.