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Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations Paperback – April 10, 2012

4.7 out of 5 stars 324 ratings
4.0 on Goodreads
1,341 ratings

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Insightfully chronicles the rise of agricultural technology and concomitant fall of soil depth just about everywhere in the world, from prehistoric to modern times. . . . More than a history lesson of the legacies of past civilizations, the book raises a critical concern for modern times. We are currently losing soil 20 times faster, on average, than it is being replaced through the natural process. To meet the demands for food and, more recently, energy, we need Montgomery’s scholarly, historical perspective, as well as the ability to project current trends of land management to future scenarios.” ― Nature

“Argues persuasively that soil is humanity’s most essential natural resource and essentially linked to modern civilizations’s survival. . . . Makes a convincing case for the need to respect and conserve the world’s limited supply of soil.” ―
Publishers Weekly

“Fascinating insights into what be our most precious natural resource and gives important pointers toward sustainable land management.” ―
BioScience

“Unique perspective, sound research, and compelling narrative” ―
Library Journal

“This dirt’s-eye-view of history provides an interesting perspective on a vast range of topics, from the vanquishing commons and the rise of private estates in Europe to the drive to colonize the Americas, from slavery and the Industrial Revolution to floods and famines in nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century China. And no book on dirt can pass lightly over the Depression-era Dust Bowl or its lesser-know Soviet counterpart.” ―
Bookforum

“Sobering. . . . A timely text that will no doubt stimulate the discussion of this issue, and its potential solutions, for years to come.” ―
Environment & History

"A compelling study on soil: why we need it, how we have used and abused it, how we can protect it, and what happens when we let it slip through our fingers." ―
New Scientist

“Tell(s) a story which we cannot afford to ignore. . . . Well and eloquently told.” ―
Financial Times

“Excellent, clearly written addition to the field. . . . Highly recommended.” ―
CHOICE

“Anyone interested in environmental issues should read this book. . . . Entertains and stimulates thought.” ―
Times Higher Education

“Makes fascinating bridges between geology, archeology, and history in studying the relationship between soils and civilizations.” ―
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

“Montgomery has produced a fine study that cycles through history, builds on a series of case studies, and makes comparisons across significant periods of time--all of which make this book an enjoyable read . . . Historians who study the rise and fall of civilizations must acknowledge the important questions raised by Montgomery’s ground-breaking work.” ―
H-Net Reviews

“Dirt jumps across geologic time and space and argues that how societies fare in the long run depends on how they treat their soils. Simple. Concise. You are your dirt.” ―
Hobby Farms

“Strengthen[s] appreciation for how important the soil is to our existence. . . . It is a must read for anyone who works with soil, and it should be of interest to all who care about our natural resources.” ―
Great Plains Research

“A compelling read. . . . Enlightening, well founded and thoroughly researched.” ―
Treehugger

“Timely. . . Strongly recommend[ed] for both the general public and the archeological community.” ―
Journal of Field Archaeology

“Sounds an ever timely and necessary clarion call for our generation at long last to stop exacerbating the abuses of the past and, wherever possible, to begin rectifying their dire consequences.” ―
Vadose Zone Journal

“This book provides a useful and engaging primer on the history of humanity’s understanding of and relationship with soil.” ―
Isis

“A comprehensive and readable summary of how civilizations have depended on the half-meter of life-generating topsoil that mantles our continents.” ―
Geotimes

From the Inside Flap

"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."—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."—J.R. McNeill, author of
Something New Under the Sun

“In our cyber-charged age, it’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 Montgomery—a competent digger of dirt and an engaging storyteller—shows how a close look at the soil can reveal a surprising amount about who we are and where we are headed.”—Richard Manning, author of
Against the Grain: How Agriculture Has Hijacked Civilization
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; Second Edition, With a New Preface (April 10, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0520272900
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520272903
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 324 ratings

About the author

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David R. Montgomery studied geology at Stanford University before earning his Ph.D. in geomorphology at UC Berkeley. He teaches at the University of Washington where he studies the evolution of topography and how geological processes shape landscapes and influence ecological systems. He loved maps as a kid and now writes about the relationship of people to their environment, regenerative agriculture, and other things that interest him. In 2008 he was named a MacArthur Fellow. He lives with his wife Anne Biklé in Seattle, Washington.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
324 global ratings

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Top reviews from other countries

Ivan Kinsman
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I have read and a real eye opener on global topsoil erosion
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 29, 2020
Customer image
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I have read and a real eye opener on global topsoil erosion
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 29, 2020
Once you start this book you get thoroughly engrossed in its topic. What I found most striking is how successive civilisations have mistreated their soil over time which was one of the main factors in their eventual demise. Throughout history mankind has got away with mining soil by moving to new land, but even marginal land is no longer available, which is the main reason why it is so important to sustain the soil we have now.
Montgomery makes a compelling case for implementing techniques such as regenerative agriculture, no-till, organic, adding any form of organic material for holding existing soil in place and rebuilding topsoil. He gives clear example of civilsations that have collapsed owing to their failures failing to implement these techniques (Easter Island, the Roman Empire being prime exampes), and sends the reader a clear message that our own long-term societal collapse is staring us in the face if we continue with industrial agriculture rather than transitioning towards more sustainable models that put soil health first.
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Tout en chantant
1.0 out of 5 stars The unedited first draft?
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 19, 2021
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Good Knowledge Worth Digesting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 16, 2020
Ian M
5.0 out of 5 stars This book was a great revelation for me
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 28, 2015
8 people found this helpful
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Paul Frobisher
5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely writing style, well researched and transformational
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 17, 2021