Life on land could not exist without soil. Almost everything we need can be traced to the soil: food, fibre, medicines and more. 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.