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  • Dirt

  • The Erosion of Civilizations
  • Written by: David R. Montgomery
  • Narrated by: Tim Lundeen
  • Length: 12 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (32 ratings)

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Dirt cover art

Dirt

Written by: David R. Montgomery
Narrated by: Tim Lundeen
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Publisher's Summary

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 times, 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 centuries to limit the lifespan of civilizations. 

A rich mix of history, archaeology and geology, 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 us and we have shaped soil?as society after society has risen, prospered, and plowed through a natural endowment of fertile dirt. 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.

©2012 David R. Montgomery (P)2018 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

What listeners say about Dirt

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    3 out of 5 stars

good stuff to learn this was a good book

learnt lots cant wait to have the best soil in csnada u just wait and see humble farmers baby

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Fantastic

This is an absolutely amazing book and sheds new and startling light on the possible futures of agriculture and civilization. Providing a detailed and illuminating account of humankind’s relationship with soil, our modest successes and overwhelming failures in advancing agriculture, this book is a call to all to consider the vital role soil plays in our collective futures and the critical choices we are will be facing in the years to come.

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    4 out of 5 stars

neccessary information for land stewards

loved it. will reference for years to come. well researched, and compiled information to reflect on the past and learn from.

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  • Ian
  • 2022-03-11

Dense and factual

It was a lot of information. I’m not sure what I learned. I don’t remember much of it. Maybe good for an academic study but not for enjoyment.

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A MUST LISTEN FOR ALL CONCERNED ABOUT ENVIRONMENT

this book was absolutely amazing. very scientific, well researched, and holistically approached. there is history, archaeology, modern science all wrapped up into a very convincing argument that will be hard to ignore once you hear it. absolutely loved it!!!
I have a complaint though, the reader is quite monotone, and at times there was a high pitched squeak maybe from a poor microphone or something (barely audible, but just enough to be annoying). they should really have it re recorded because this book is too important to not be easily accessible.

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