Life on land could not exist without soil. Almost everything we need can be traced to the soil: food, fibre, medicines – even oxygen produced by plants. What would we be without it? Certainly not a planet worthy of the name Earth.

There are already plenty of books about agriculture, ecology or how to grow tomatoes. This book is about the other stuff. Like…

• how soil evidence can nail a murderer


• the ingredients that make a Test cricket pitch


• how the soil affects the taste of your favourite wine


• the soil microbes that could be the next wonder drug


• tips for digging a POW camp escape tunnel (disclaimer: don’t try it at home) or mounting an invasion of Normandy (ditto)


• how to be ecofriendly when you’re dead

In the unputdownable Grounded, soil scientist Alisa Bryce gives you the dirt on all this—and much, much more.

Alisa Bryce is a soil scientist with a BSc in agriculture from the University of Sydney and a Masters from the University of Cambridge. She likes digging holes, analysing soil, playing with soil, writing about soil and patting dogs.