The Origin of the World: A Natural History of the Soil for Those Who Walk on It

Soil is the origin of the world, because it supports, nourishes, and protects it. It is built by its biodiversity, which represents 25% of known species. It teems with animals and microbes that live and feed in incredibly varied ways: this diversity quite simply ensures... the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Soil also makes the oceans fertile, regulates the flow of rivers, and modifies the climate. It is a powerful and astonishing construction of the living world. Alas! By ignoring the soil, which seems opaque and dirty to us, we have damaged it for millennia. Urbanization, unsuitable agriculture, salinization, pollution... prevent it from providing its invaluable services, and it is disappearing before our eyes through erosion. Marc-André Selosse invites us on a magnificent underground journey, accessible to all, between the components of the soil and its overflowing life. He introduces us to the underground and little-known part of plants. Finally, he concludes with optimism about the actions we can take to pass on intact soils to future generations. Because these can become tools for sustainable development. With his usual eloquence and a touch of humor in his illustrations, the author tells us simply about the soil and sheds light on many banal observations. By understanding this soil we trample on, we will reestablish our lost connection to the natural world.