Grounded: How soil shapes the games we play, the lives we make and the graves we lie in

by Alisa Bryce

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening

304 pages, Paperback

Published August 2, 2022

Reviews

[Text Publishing]

The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of Grounded

‘Lively and entertaining...Grounded is a terrific primer to the world of soil. It will be appreciated by the non-expert citizen scientist and is the perfect present for those curious about the world around them. After reading Grounded, you will never look at soil the same way again.’
Books+Publishing

'No, I did not think that I would need to read a book about soil, but oh, I loved it…It’s a triumph. Just wonderful.’
Caroline Overington, Australian

‘Bryce’s enthusiasm for her subject is certainly contagious as she delves into the significance of soil.’
Gemma Nisbet, West Australian

‘When describing something as apparently commonplace as soil, a writer might be forgiven for unleashing all their rhetorical strategies to enliven the topic. But as Alisa Bryce shows us in her book Grounded, soil isn’t commonplace at all—rather, it is a teeming wonderland beneath our feet, an archive of earth and human history and a living pharmacopoeia. It needs to dressing up in order to fascinate and entertain.’
Saturday Paper

‘[Alisa Bryce succeeds] in her aim of making the reader think differently about soil…[with an] engaging writing style.’
RNZ 'Nine to Noon'

‘An EFFing good book: Educative, Fascinating and Fun.’
Age/SMH

‘In [Alisa Bryce’s] hands, these soil stories are thoroughly entertaining…[and] very accessible…You don’t need to be a soil nerd to make like a worm and get into it.’
ABC Organic Gardener

‘Amusing, fascinating and erudite in a lighthearted way, rather like the work of Dr Karl…with a lot of wisdom and humour.’
Peter Goers, ABC Adelaide Evenings

[Flissc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book that everyone should read! We depend so much on soil and rarely if ever think about it. This book opens your eyes to the intricate web of soil and life in a fun and entertaining way.

[Jess Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grounded is not your usual soil science book – it is more fun. Grounded doesn’t explain how soil will save the planet or how to care for it better. Grounded instead takes the reader on a journey to discover how to build the best escape tunnel and how to grow food on Mars. Not only will the reader know exactly how to build a tunnel or grow food on Mars, but I guarantee several laughs along the way. Grounded is a work of scientific creative non-fiction that spans from where to best bury departed loved ones to whether or not soil really does influence wine flavour. Alisa weaves referenced and interviewed science into interesting and captivating narratives that are completely relatable, and the reader feels like they are on a journey of discovery with her. The reader will also find themselves snickering at the situations she finds herself in (there is a whole story about soil and underpants!) and her own observations as she unravels the absurd side of soil. Grounded is a fun, entertaining and insightful read about the weird scientific oddities of soil.

[Fiona White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It got me thinking and had me alternating between laughing and worrying. It is well written with information presented in an easy flowing layperson's way. Since reading this book I have found myself, on occasion, squatting down to rest my palm on this wonderful earth we live on and saying a silent thanks, not to the skies above but to the dark mysterious world of soil and microbes beneath.

[Rosalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grounded is written by a soil scientist who is also forensic scientist,
The book is organised into chapters with topics ranging from wine, life, making soil (for profit), maintaining sports fields, tunnelling during war times, crime in which she discusses the importance of soils for humans not only to survive but to undertake everyday tasks and run businesses.
It is a fascinating book full of interesting anecdotes and ideas.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. Very enjoyable. The narrative was chatty, interesting and informative. I'm no soil scientist, but it was so easy to understand and appreciate the journey of how soil shapes our world.

[Jenny Delandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very dry(pardon the pun) scientific analysis of what comprises dirt and how it can change the flavour of what we eat and how it affects how crops go and how tall trees go..
Fascinating, and overwhelming at the same time..
I think it is meant as a reference book rather than something to read.😂

[Rose]

A very earnest and lighthearted look at how soil impacts our lives. I love books like these, and I now have lots of interesting things to research (including the best way to compost myself when I die).

[Dave Guia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's just so fascinating and written in a very engaging way. It's the real dirt on soil and wannabe soil.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and informative read without being dry. A great introduction to this topic!

[Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining romp through some interesting, though often overlooked, aspects of soil.