Out of the Earth: Civilization and the Life of the Soil

by Daniel J. Hillel

As the crucible of life, the source and final resting place of everything that grows, soil inspires reverence not only in the peasant who derives his daily bread from it, but also in the scientist who contemplates its meaning as the place where life and death meet and exchange vital energies. Out of the Earth is the culmination of the author's long career in conservation. This history of man's use and misuse of soil and water combines a description of the complex inner processes that form soil with a lyrical assertion of its powers and significance.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

Daniel Hillel is professor emeritus of environmental studies, University of Massachusetts, and senior research scientist, Center for Climate Systems Research, Columbia University.

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edit: David Montgomery's Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations is the last word on the subject Hillel foibles in this book. Go straight to it; there is nothing here that isn't better put there, and there is a wealth of other information there as well.

I got Out of the Earth as a follow up to Carter and Dale's excellent Topsoil and Civilization. It seemed a good part of a chronological trio of popularizations of soil erosion (the third of which is David Montgomery's promising "Dirt: Erosion of Civilizations). However, I regret spending time on this one.

Hillel starts of well, delving into the soil basics I wished Carter and Dale had spent more time on. The rest of the book essentially rehashes their points, but in a considerably watered down form. His analysis is more comprehensive (including problems like salinization and waterlogging, groundwater overdraft, etc) but feels gratuitous and above all thin. It was boring, yet easy to read, because it never felt like he was saying much. After a few points about soil basics and historical mistakes, the whole book could have been avoided by simply saying: these problems happened in X places. Because that's about as much analysis as Hillel gives.

He also ends up spending the last third of the book trying to broaden its scope from a basic soil and water management history to a general Environmental Studies 101. Having just taken that very class, I'm perhaps overreacting, but it seems like a book should give some interesting analysis and information on the subject.

Overall, Hillel takes very important and interesting topics and says not a whole lot about them, in quite bland prose without any real information. He's also quite bad about integrating interesting source materials and giving in text citations. Don't bother.

A good story about wandering soil erosion expert Walter Lowdermilk:

"Two early leaders of the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, Hugh H. Bennett and Walter C. Lowdermilk, who surveyed the global dimensions of the soil erosion problem, wrote in the 1938 Yearbook of Agriculture: 'Soil erosion is as old as farming. It began when the first heavy rain struck the first furrow turned by a crude implement of tillage in the hands of prehistoric man. It has been going on ever since, whever man's culture of the earth has bared the soil to rain and wind.' Asked to testify on soil erosion before a committee of Congress, the two of them, without a word, placed a thick towel on the committee's polished table and poured a large cup of water onto it. The towel soaked up the water. Next they removed the wet towel, and, still saying nothing to the puzzled members of the committee, poured a second glass of water on the bare table. The water splashed and trickled off the table and onto the laps of the distinguished committeemen. Every one of them then understood the dire consequences of removing soil from hillslopes."

[Caleb Bratcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have an interest in both the Bible and ecology or agriculture, then I highly recommend this book. It has added depth to my readings of scripture and provided a helpful, grounding perspective to my approach to biblical stewardship of the earth in today's world by adding scientific background and nuance. It teaches like a textbook but reads like a love story about God's creation and our place in it.

The author's love for the Hebrew Bible is also apparent throughout the book, although he at times seems to take a more secular approach to it than I would prefer. Ultimately, some aspects of our ecological history as a human species are depressing, but there is always hope in God's promises for the believer.

[Dara Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting to read this 35 years on from when it was initially written. The Soviet Union was still around and the developed countries hadn't yet begun their population decline. Climate change was still publicly uncertain. The agricultural mismanagement described in this book, combined with climate change and political corruption, hadn't yet created the waves of poor refugees seeking safe harbor in the developed countries of the West. Fascinating to see which prognostications came true and which fizzled. Mismanagement of agricultural land remains a going concern that needs the simple if careful and effortful solutions proposed in order to bring humanity back from a state of progressive disaster and increasing concentration of poor climate refugees in local megacities.

[Micah Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel Hillel's "Out of the Earth" provides a comprehensive examination of soil and water science fundamentals within historical and contemporary environmental contexts, arguing that humans must understand and act as stewards of natural resources to address ongoing ecological degradation and ensure sustainable management for future generations.

Why Protect the Environment?
As humans, especially those in developed countries, become increasingly disconnected from the environment, it's little wonder that many ignore the impact of human activity despite ongoing mismanagement, degradation, and pollution of Earth's natural resources. "Obviously, we cannot protect what we do not understand." With this acknowledgment, Daniel Hillel sets out to promote and disseminate a better understanding of the Earth's basic environmental processes. In fewer than 300 pages, he covers the fundamental principles of soil and water science as vital aspects of environmental science and places this knowledge within the context of both historical and current issues.

About the Author
Hillel lived to age 90 (1930–2021) and had a distinguished, wide-ranging career. He served as a professor and researcher at multiple universities and research centers, writing or editing over 20 books on soil and water science and publishing hundreds of scientific papers, research reports, and practical manuals. He participated in missions around the world with various international organizations. In 2012, he was awarded the World Food Prize for developing and implementing a groundbreaking approach to deliver water to crops in arid regions.

Enduring Relevance
One might question why a book published in 1991 remains relevant today. First, the basics of soil and water science haven't changed in the decades since publication. Second, the historical lessons continue to be crucial. Third, decades after 1991, the same problems Hillel described that were affecting the world when the book was written continue to plague us today. He connects the historical and current problems stating, "each and every one of the insidious man-induced scourges that played so crucial a role in the deaths of past civilizations has its mirror image in our contemporary world... but on an ever larger scale."

Accessibility and Scope
Despite the complexity of topics discussed, the book remains highly readable. The chapters are concise yet sufficient to explain key concepts. Hillel covers numerous topics, including ecology, soil salinization, erosion, irrigation, deforestation, desertification, agriculture, and wetlands. I believe this book would be essential for anyone interested in environmental science, especially those seeking a global perspective on soil and water resources and their historical and current challenges.
Hillel infuses the book with his knowledge of philosophy, culture, anthropology, and various religions, painting a broader understanding of the environment. He demonstrates that humans are not above nature but part of it and dependent on it. Setting the tone for the entire work, he encourages humans to see themselves as stewards and protectors of Earth's natural resources. While Hillel may be too comprehensive for some readers in his coverage, these insights are essential for developing a complete picture of how we arrived at our current environmental situation.

Global Perspective and Experience
Having worked in countries on every continent except Antarctica, Hillel's breadth of knowledge and experience shines throughout the book. He witnessed firsthand the environmental deterioration occurring worldwide, making it difficult not to feel frustrated by the recent environmental abuse he describes.

Challenges and Solutions
Regrettably, Hillel notes that even with the vast knowledge and government assistance available in the United States, conservation programs are still not fully implemented. In poorer countries, farmers must prioritize short-term subsistence over long-term soil resource protection. Therefore, he believes natural resources cannot be protected without government intervention.
The second to last chapter presents an impactful challenge to the economic valuation of the environment, the World Bank's unsustainable development practices, and the supposed "efficiencies" of modern agriculture. In revealing humanity's abundant failures, he calls for humility in both those trying to solve problems and those criticizing solutions, hoping for cooperation across disciplines, institutions, and nations. He states that the "ultimate purpose of environmental activity should be to ensure that each generation transmits to its successors a world that has the range of natural wealth (enhanced, insofar as possible), and the richness of human possibilities that it received from its predecessors."

Conclusion
Today's soil and water problems are indeed daunting. However, Hillel ends his book with cautious optimism. He believes we possess both the knowledge and ability to manage these resources properly while feeding the world's population. The solution begins with awareness that transforms our values, enabling us to recognize a common global environment with resources we must nurture together for the benefit of both current and future generations.

[Sara Van Dyck · Rating 4 out of 5]

An older book, but still one we can learn much from. Hillel takes the grand vision – how we have treated soil and water, from prehistoric humans to the present, and around the globe. At first I thought this was too wide a scope for me, but Hillel is a clear writer, has a deep background in his subject, and explains the relevance of his topics, so I wound up reading and enjoying it all . Basic point: we are abusing the soil at our peril.

I especially enjoyed hearing observations and analysis from his widespread travels and work in countries such Egypt, China, Australia, Israel, and the United States. So many struggles are never-ending.

[Jordan Rome · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wars, diseases, and famines – we recognize that all of these tragedies can cause a civilization to decline and die off. But soil? In this book, Daniel Hillel outlines how miss misuse of soil can lead to the destruction of once powerful, flourishing civilizations such as the Sumerians and Mayans. Hillel, a retired professor of Soil Physics at the University of Massachusetts, ends this gripping non-fiction historical-scientific narrative by polemicizing modern conservation practices and advocating a more thoughtful and cautious approach to how we, as humans, use our limited soil resources. The text is lucid and easy to read, explaining complex scientific processes in layman's terms and without coming off as pretentious or condescending. As such, it was an enjoyable read though the author's somewhat simplistic portrayal of ancient history undermines some of the arguments he wishes to make in conflating the ancients' abuse of soil and modern ecological mismanagement. Overall, 4/5! Never thought I'd enjoy reading a book about soil!

[Troy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A decent read about soil and how humans relate to the earth. Not an overly exciting read, but moderately interesting. Honestly, 20 years later you can probably find a more up to date work that covers the same topics. Overall, not bad, but nothing special.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive, to a fault. It's too much to take in at once.