Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Life in the Soil: A Guide for Naturlalists and Gardeners

This is a most fascinating and useful book - full of unexpected tidbits - information and explanations which are very well presented, very readable and extremely well Illustrated. I recommend it highly!

Sheila ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

A wonder-ful book!
I stumbled across this book in the library in 1994 and read the first few chapters about biodynamic organics and thought, "This is too far out for me!"I read MB's review, and I can understand how he feels, as this stuff is way outside the realm of mainstream thinking.However, by the time I had finished the last chapter, stuffing manure in cow horns seemed downright normal.So I thought, why not give biodynamic organics a try?

Now, 13 years and many gardens later, I am totally sold on this method.There are not enough years in my life to try all the other things in this book, but I don't need to since I am so pleased with how biodynamic organics has improved the soil in my sandy garden.It is now teeming with earthworms, and my soil is becoming friable, instead of sifting through my fingers like sand on the beach.

This book has been in and out of print a few times.I lent my first copy to someone and never saw it again, was elated when the book came back in print and am now more careful with my new copy. This book is a gem, and one that I refer to again and again.I have visited the Josephine Porter Institute and Perelandra, two places mentioned in the first and last chapters, just because I had to see for myself what was going on.

Too often, just because we cannot measure something, we don't give it credibility.But guess what?The Earth wasn't flat until the day we devised the instruments to measure its roundness.And so biodynamic organics and many of the other farming methods outlined in this book have validity even without a "scientific" way to measure their efficacy.I measure by counting worms!

secrets of the soil
great information.very interesting.i learned a lot and can use a lot of the info myself. they sure have some crazy methods but they seem to do a wonderful job.

A serious book with essential information
I must have read this book several times over. It contains an amazing overview of the unknown world under our feet!

Even though some information might seem far out there, since publication of this book many claims have been scientifically proven to be very essential to a new century in agriculture. In particular the Chapter on Sonic Bloom describes a technique that is now used all over the world.

The authors of this book where one of the first to compile and publish information on this essential subject! If the soil is neglected, the plants are, too!

Modern farming methods are in dire need to be revised for the good of long term results. This book is a must read for everyone that has a green thumb and yearning to know more about plants!

Do you believe in "etheric formative forces" ?
This is total BS. Absolutely nothing grounded in reality. These people or completely mad. Unless you believe in magic and hocus pocus, stay away. Scary!!!

If you care.
This is a must read for those interested in our globe and or agriculture. If you can get past your own intellectuality, as I see in some of the other reviews, And see the book for what it is. It is well read, informative, gives solutions of variations to what can be done to better our soil,food and earth.Despite some very depressing information about how we are handling our world,food,soil,animals and ultimately our the human mental and physical health, it gives hope, it gives the 'want' to start a change in how we treat our world. I could not put the book down, and it is now a wandering bookbeing well recieved by friends and friends of friends.I highly recommend this book, in fact,- I say we would be a lot better off if everyone would read it. ... Read more

Book Description
Featuring new photographs, diagrams, and special “boxes” , The Nature and Property of Soils is an engaging book for readers. It has an ecological approach that explains the fundamentals of soil science effectively. Chapter topics include Soil Erosion and Its Control, Soil Acidity, Soils and Chemical Pollution, and Organisms and the Ecology of the Soil. For individuals interested in soil and the environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Good, but weak about tropical soils
I'm an agronomist.Here in Brazil, I read this book.
This book is long and has many informations.
Every agronomist must read, a book such as this.
At least in ediction that I read, this book has a big failure.This book is weak about tropical soils.
For american reality, I think this book deserves 5 stars.
Well, I live in Brazil.I'll give four stars for it.

An Indispensable Reference
This is the 13th edition of a text that has been the standard in this field for 84 years. Its durability lies in its solid information; clear presentation; and graphics that are as rich as they are numerous. It is peppered with fascinating sidebars. You can dip into it as a reference and find just what you need (assuming you have a foundation in soil science). Even after I moved on to advanced coursework in soils, I found myself referring back to this.

If you have been assigned a soils text for a class, do not go with the abridged version of this, Elements of the Nature and Properties of Soils. It is 1/2 the book for 3/4 of the price (and at discounters the books are priced identically). If you plan to continue studies in the natural sciences, you will want this unabridged version. It's indispensable.

Good informative book will teach you a lot about soil
I first bought this book when we bought a property with trashed-out soil. I've since grown attached to this book, which I find myself referring to. It's clearly written, well organized, and covers so much information. I really think that you can't go wrong with this book, if you want to know about soil (be warned: it doesn't really cover soil microbiology, the living aspect of soil - I'd recommend the book by Robert Tate III; the copy I have is Soil Microbiology 2nd Ed. (c) 2000)

With that said - I've gone through other books but haven't found one that I'd compare to this one. It's just really well done.

Simply excellent
The first time I ran into this book was at the public library, while serching reference material for my daughter's science project.I found the book so helpful that I checked it out again for my own use.The third time I said: "I have to have my own copy." The 13th edition is now on its way.

A Fun, Readable, and Thorough Introduction to Soil Science
My "Science of Soils" class at Stanford University (Autumn '01) used "The Nature and Properties of Soils" as our main textbook.It is clearly written, easy to read, and has lots of helpful figures (including graphs, diagrams, drawings, and black-and-white and color photos).The chapters are well organized, so that you can find exactly what you need to know.The authors include hundreds of websites for those who want more information, and make the book more readable by starting off each chapter with a quote and a "big picture" statement.

"The Nature and Properties of Soils" has a good mix of theoretical and practical information.Wherever possible, the authors do sample calculations and describe applications for agriculture, ecology, and engineering.They thoroughly cover every major topic in soil science, as well as delving into some more specialized ones (for example, symptoms of micronutrient deficiencies in plants).

In conclusion, I've found this textbook to be both very information-rich and very readable, and highly recommend it.(The other day I caught my boyfriend, who's a materials engineer, reading it for fun... that's about the highest accolade any textbook can get!) ... Read more

Book Description
This useful handbook was written for those who want to become acquainted with the basic concepts and principles of soils but are not ready for an extensive study. Includes an assortment of helpful tables, maps and line drawings. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Simplified but not simplistic!
This is a great first book on this subject for people of all ages from junior high to retirees (me)!I was looking for a book that would help me understand soil surveys.Thi book was a perfect solution.

If you have ever tried to read a book on geology (the base of soil science) you may have been overwhelmed by the breadth of detail.Young people would be especially prone to this since they probably have not had chemistry or physics.This book will get you through most of this.Can't imagine how it could be improved.Just loaded with interesting material.Highly recommended.Ifinterested in soil and don't know a lot about it already - then get it.

Soil Science Simplified
The book was for a soil science class I was taking. The text seems to be translated from another language, as the sentence structure is very difficult in many places. This is a "beginner's" text, and as such was useful.

Read it twice
As they say, don't judge a book by its cover.At first glance, this paperback book appears to be a lightweight study guide.Upon reading it, however, you will find it to contain a mountain of technical information.Every page offers so many relevant details that you will need to read it twice, just to absorb them all.Fortunately, it is not written in a dry, jargonistic manner.As the title implies, the scientific principles involved are simplified for easier digestion and application.This makes the information all the more useful.And although it is not a full-fledged textbook, a prospective reader will still benefit from having a basic knowledge of chemistry before opening this book, because it is not a kids' book either.Take some notes as you read, and you will find it be a real learning experience.

This book was very helpful
I really liked this book.I could look through it and find exactlly what I was looking for without having to even read what the chapter was.It was very useful because of my science projet.I had to do a research paper and it was very hard to find information that I could understand but this book was very clear.

beginner soil science
This book is great for somebody just starting out in soil science. It explains the basics of soil science very well.I would also recommend this book for anybody interested in learning more about the concepts behindagriculture.Although the entire book may not apply to agriculture, it iscompletely enriching non-the-less! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Something new
This book, while it may be wrong on several things, nonetheless adds a great deal to our understanding of genocide.Many books on genocide look only to the 20th century and begin either with the German campaigns against the Herrero in Africa or with the Armenian genocide.This book goes deeper.it looks all the way back to ancient Sparta and then take shte reader through the destruction of native people in the New World.In places such as Hispanola the native popualtion declined from a million to a mere 10,000 in a few decades.

But the real gem of this book is that it examines the genocides that are rarely if every written about such as the Vietnamese conqest of Champa and the destruction of the Chams who wer Hindu while the Vietnamese were Buddhist.This is a fascinating story and it is the opener to a whole chapter on Southeast Asia which paints a very interesting picture of that area and its formation of nation states.

Seth J. Frantzman

Genocidal Energy Sources: Antiquity, Agrarianism, Racism, and/or Expansionism
Ben Kiernan has realized a tour de force in clearly explaining to his readers the four usual ideological features of genocides: antiquity, agrarianism, racism, and expansionism.These ideological factors have motivated, in greater or lesser degrees, all military, civilian, racist, or religious perpetrators of genocide over time (p. 572).Kiernan focuses most of his analysis on the six centuries since 1400 C.E (p. 3).

To identify present and past genocides, Kiernan mainly draws on the 1948 C.E. United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide and on legal judgments based on that convention for consistency purposes (p. 12).The crime of genocide requires the act of "killing," or another of the specific acts, committed with "intent to destroy" at least part of a protected group (p. 17).

Although Blood and Soil mainly documents genocides committed by Europeans, they have no monopoly on that crime (p. 6).Think for example about Maoism in China (pp. 512-38), Rwanda in Central Africa (pp. 554-68), or non-state actor al Qaeda (pp. 596-604), to quote three recent examples.Kiernan excludes some genocides from his book due to space constraints.Think for instance about the Mongols' slaughter of the inhabitants of Baghdad in 1258 C.E., the Spaniards' destruction of the Inca empire in the 16th century C.E., or the Congo Free State of Belgium's King Leopold II at the turn of the 20th century C.E. (p. 38).

Kiernan notes that genocides are usually undertaken by radical, unstable regimes, who often try to squash any domestic dissent by focusing attention on an external, supposedly common threat (pp. 34, 55-58, 339-49, 393, 409-14, 441, 505, 510-11, 547, 559, 567, 569, 590).Furthermore, Kiernan observes that technological, political, organizational changes that happened in the 20th century make it possible to commit genocide on an "industrial" scale (pp. 393, 454). Think for example about the huge advances in weaponry and the progress made in both communication and transportation in the last 100 years.

Kiernan often quotes verbatim (would-be) perpetrators of genocide in different periods and locations so that readers better recognize the four recurring reasons that are usually advanced to justify genocide.

1) Antiquity: The destruction of Carthage by Rome sets a precedent for genocides committed by Europeans (pp. 51, 58, 186, 387, 422, 605). Al Qaeda has a politicized cult of Islamic antiquity for its projected caliphate (pp. 599-600).In contrast, Russia's Bolsheviks and China's Communist revolutionaries sought a sharp break with their respective country's past, seeking all-out modernization (pp. 394, 512).

2) Agrarianism: The more ancient image of the Garden of Eden, whether as pristine ethnic preserve, uninhabited pastoral idyll, or superior agricultural economy, was widely used by European colonists as an excuse to deprive natives from land ownership, and in some cases, obliterate their presence (pp. 79, 165-69, 217-18, 284, 311-18, 327, 367, 374, 423, 436, 486, 605).Interestingly, Russia's Bolsheviks and China's Communist revolutionaries were against the peasantry because they considered it an alternative power structure to be crushed (pp. 489-503, 526-31).Although the world is increasingly urbanized and industrialized, the aversion to cities and industries, which springs from this same faith in rural virtues, remains potent in the mind of many genocidal perpetrators (pp. 32, 424, 430-32, 536-38, 545, 564, 575, 580, 592, 603-06).For example, Serb perpetrators of the Bosnian genocide regarded their Muslim victims as city dwellers, in contrast to Serb peasants (p. 592).

3) Racism: Many perpetrators have used biological metaphors to justify genocidal massacres (pp. 280-81, 309, 313, 375, 388, 394, 431, 439, 450-51, 475, 483, 559, 566, 587-88, 602).For example, the slogan "Nits make Lice" was used to justify the massacres of Native Americans in the American West and Aborigines in the Australian outback in the 19th century C.E.Other examples include the comparison of Jews to "lice" by the Nazis or the reduction of the Shi'a community to the locus "where the disease lies" according to al Qaeda (p. 606).

4) Expansionism: Imperial and territorial conquests often result in the extermination of local populations (pp. 77, 88, 95, 99-100, 248, 270, 284, 374, 386, 438, 446, 453-55).Think for example about what happened to many Amerindians who were "in the way" of white settlers before and after the independence of the U.S. (pp. 213-48, 310-63).Kiernan also observes that (future) genocidal leaders regularly hail disproportionately from previously "lost" territories beyond the supposedly shrinking prewar homeland.Think for instance about the Young Turks, Nazi Leaders, or the Khmer Rouge (pp. 393, 433, 551-52).

Although some quotes of (would-be) perpetrators of genocide can look and feel like delirium, they should be taken seriously to prevent future genocides (pp. 569, 606). Kiernan demonstrates with much conviction that would-be perpetrators of genocide often telegraph in advance what is awaiting the "undesirables" on their target list once they are at their mercy.

Here follow two recent examples:

1) From 1986, Hutu chauvinist historian Ferdinand Nahimana became a highly influential, multimedia ideologue of the Hutu resistance to Tutsi intrusion which culminated in the 1994 genocide of the Tutsi (pp. 560-62).

2) In 1987, the Committee of the Arab Gathering in Darfur, Sudan, sent an ominous letter of ethnic complaint about non-Arab Africans living in the region to the Sudanese prime minister in Khartoum.As the cliché says, the rest is history (pp. 594-96).

As a side note, Kiernan could leverage his in-depth expertise on the subject to write another book that helps countries better deal with the aftermath of genocides.Prosecuting the worst perpetrators of genocides is not enough (p. 415).The recent controversy in the U.S. about what happened to the Armenians living under Ottoman rule during WWI shows that no reconciliation can be seriously considered as long as the past is not dealt with appropriately (pp. 395-415).

An accessible and thorough text on genocide
Kiernan's books on Cambodia are seen as seminal texts on the subject of the revolution and resulting genocide. Now he extends his writing to cover the history of genocide, and does so in an accessible and engaging way. The chapter on cambodia is particularly good but the entire book is valuable for both academics and secondaty teachers at senior levels seeking sources.

A Very Important Book
After Hitler's mass murder of the Jews people said "Never again". It has been a futile hope so far.What is particularly chilling has been the growth of ethnic and religious mass murder since the fall of the Soviet Union was supposed to usher in a new age of the "democratic peace".Indeed, as Amy Chua has pointed out in her book World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability the "new" order of capitalism and democracy has been anything but orderly.

Unfortunately, while the shelves of America's bookstores are groaning under the weight of an almost endless collection of books on the Nazi genocide, there has been little attention the larger issue of genocide in world history and the reasons for it.

This book tries to fill that gap.It should be read in conjunction with Death by Government the best book on political mass murder in the last century.I also have a list of books on the subject of political terror and mass murder in the lists section of my Amazon profile.

This book is higly relevant because the incentives for genocide in the next 100 years are going to be far greater than in the past.Rising world populations and global warming are going to create a greater and more brutal competition for food and resources.Rwanda, for example, was one of the most densely populated nations in Africa.

In 1945 people hoped books like this would only be about the past.Today we hope they will only concern the recent present and the past.However, this book is grim warning about what is likely to happen if our world does not deal effectively with problems like climate change and global poverty.Let's hope nobody will have to write a book about the genocide in our future 50 years form now.Reading this book might give us some ideas of how to prevent a new wave of crimes and horrors.
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Book Description
Written in a clear, direct style, this practical book introduces readers to the essentials of soil mechanics and foundations. Major emphasis is given to design and practical applications, which are supported by basic theory. Now in its seventh edition, it includes new material on soil consistency, overconsolidated clay, degree of consolidation, vibroflotation and the settlement of sand. KEY TOPICS Chapter topics cover formation of natural soil deposits, engineering properties of soils, soil exploration, soil compaction and stabilization, water in soil, stress distribution in soil, consolidation of soil and settlement of structures, shear strength of soil, shallow foundations, pile foundations, drilled shaft foundations, lateral earth pressure, retaining structures, and stability analysis of slopes. For civil engineers, civil engineering technologists, and geotechnical engineers. ... Read more

Book Description
Essential to the understanding of sustainable agriculture, the effect of human activity on soil, and the management of soil and water resources including soil nutrition and other influences, this is a solid reference and learning tool.Non-technical, and easy-to-understand, Soil Science and Management, 4E teaches the essentials of soils from the perspective of farmers, horticulturists, environmentalists, and others who are concerned about how soils work and how they are used most effectively.An emphasis on management and the sustainable use of soils and water resources make it especially relevant to these audiences.Nutrient management, best practices and relevant legal issues and government programs related to soil management make this book a popular addition to the bookshelves of farmers, horticulturists and government agricultural personnel alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Textbook
I am using this book as a textbook for a Soil Nutrition class.The book is surprisingly interesting considering it is a textbook.It is an excellent reference for soil and soil/plant nutrition questions.

This is an excellent book!
What a boring topic, you may think.Who could write a thick book about soil?And who possibly can read it?You may be surprised!If your interest is in the field of landscape architecture, horticulture, forestry, gardening, site engineering e.g. this book will give you a professional knowledge, in a very systematic, approachable way.I will keep Soil Science in my professional library as a reference book. ... Read more

Book Description
Knut Hamsun was a major Norwegian author who received the Noble Prize for Literature for Growth of the Soil in 1920. Hamsun writing makes excellent use of symbolism. The essential elements of this novel are expressed in the words of the English translator W Worster in his footnote in December 1920 "Jt is the life story of a man in the wilds, the genesis and gradual development of a homestead, the unit of humanity, in the unfilled, uncleared tracts that still remain in the Norwegian Highlands.It is an epic of earth; the history of a microcosm. Its dominant note is one of patient strength and simplicity; the mainstay of its working is the tacit, stern, yet loving alliance between Nature and the Man who faces her himself, trusting to himself and her for the physical means of life, and the spiritual contentment with life which she must grant if he be worthy.Modern man faces Nature only by proxy, or as proxy, through others or for others, and the intimacy is lost. In the wilds the contact is direct and immediate; it is the foothold upon earth, the touch of the soil itself, that gives strength."Download Description
Now, if Isak had wanted to show his displeasure with Oline and maybe thrash her for her doings, here was his chance--a Heaven-sent chance to do that thing. They were alone in the house; the children had gone after the men when they went. Isak stood there in the middle of the room, and Oline was sitting by the stove. Isak cleared his throat once or twice, just to show that he was ready to say something if he pleased. But he said nothing. That was his strength of soul. What, did he not know the number of his goats as he knew the fingers on his hands--was the woman mad? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Possibly the best book you will ever read!
Reading this book was one of the healthiest experiences of my life.Knut Hamsun's prose is poetically calming and simplistic.As if told from the perspective of the soil itself, this existential tale unfolds step by step as it bestows wisdom and common sense.You see how the accumulation of smaller actions yields great things.

Finding Norway
I don't remember where exactly I first stumbled upon Knut Hamsun. What I do know is that after delving into his work, he is, without a doubt, one of my favorite writers. GROWTH OF THE SOIL was the first of his books that I read, and I haven't stopped thinking about it. Admittedly, it probably would have been a pretty interesting journey had I started with HUNGER and worked my way through the rest of his books chronologically, but I have no regrets. GROWTH OF THE SOIL, with its simple and brilliantly nuanced prose, affected me within the first few pages. In fact, the coming of a lone character, Isak, on the first page to the land that will eventually grow and become a community, is one of the best opening passages of any novel I have ever read. In a world where people increasingly forget the value of nature and producing the things one owns and treasures, GROWTH OF THE SOIL, is a wonderful reminder of how beautiful it is to go out and create with one's own hands.

Why don't we know about this?
I found this book walking up and down the aisles of my library. (My husband was watching the baby and I took a mini-vacation perusing the stacks. Yippee!) The book looked old and caught my eye.I'll admit I had a fairly strong feeling I had happened upon something really good.I didn't know it was going to be one of the best books I've ever read in my life.Now I'm a bit perturbed - why didn't I know about this book?I'm a well-read literature graduate from a good private school...hum...
I hope there's lots, lots more like this!

Here's a juicy one for you: While reading The Good Earth, I was obviously irked when Wang Lung showed despite toward his wife.But I was possibly thinking, "Typical ungrateful man..."somewhere in the back of my mind?Because when Inger pulls the same crap my blood was boiling - she should KNOW better!Certainly pushed some different buttons for me.

What did he see in the woods?

Nature yields to a stubborn Scandanavian
Hamsun's reissued classic has new lessons for the 21st century ecologically-literate reader.The primary themes of unrelenting manual labor, and self-sufficiency overlay a seemingly innate wisdom of Nature's protocols in a harsh land, which gives grudgingly and takes wantonly.

Beautiful Novel, Odious Novelist
This book should be exhibit 1 in any discussion of the difficult task of separating the work of art from the artist.

It's a beautiful novel, one of the most quietly moving novels I've ever read, written with a direct and spare style and full of incredible insight into humanity. Hamsun reminds me of Halldor Laxness, the great Icelandic author of Independent People - the same themes of stoic, agrarian tradition and the incursion upon those traditions by modernity and capitalism. Where Laxness' writing is pure poetry, Hamsun's is direct and unadorned. Where Hamsun may excel Laxness is in his ability to draw his characters in all their human fullness. You put down this book feeling like you really know these people and their motivations, their idiosyncrises, their humanity. And you never feel like Hamsun is preaching to you, in fact, you never feel the author's editorial presence at all. The story simply unfolds and you are inexorably drawn to the conclusions Hamsun intended.

....Which made me feel almost dirty and ashamed of myself. This from an author who vigorously defended the Nazis even after the world know the extent of their genocidal nihilism, who gave his Nobel Prize to Joseph Goebbels and who wrote a nauseating, fawning eulogy for Hitler.

How do you separate out the two?

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Book Description
Create productive soil anywhere with step-by-step instructions for making compost and fertilizers.

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Customer Reviews (1)

Perfectly formatted, easy to read work of gardening art!
I went to the library today to see if they had anything new. I've read about every book our small library has which pertains to gardening.Out of the corner of my eye I happened upon "Secrets to Great Soil."Itlooked interesting; I checked it out.I am now here at amazon.com topurchase this book.I've been organic gardening for 25 years and in allthese many years have not found a book which thoroughly lists organic,inorganic, and synthetic fertilizers in a format which is easy to discern. It is easy to read for anyone, regardless the experience.Both novice andadvanced gardeners will enjoy this journey of soil science along with theexplanation.I am deeply moved by all the work which went into this highlyrecommended publication. ... Read more

Book Description
This book opens readers' eyes to the fascinating and important world of soils, and the principles that can be used to minimize the degradation and destruction of one of our most important natural resources. KEY TOPICS Concentrating on essentials, this edition is a more concise version of its parent book, The Nature and Properties of Soils, maintaining its high standards of rigor and readability, and its priority of explaining this science in a manner relevant to many fields of study. It provides a fundamental knowledge that is a prerequisite to meeting the many natural-resource challenges awaiting humanity in the 21st century.For individuals who study the science of soil, and those who make a profession of it. ... Read more

Book Description
Since its publication twenty-five years ago, Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men has been recognized as a classic, an indispensable contribution to our understanding of the causes of the American Civil War.A key work in establishing political ideology as a major concern of modern American historians, it remains the only full-scale evaluation of the ideas of the early Republican party.Now with a new introduction, Eric Foner puts his argument into the context of contemporary scholarship, reassessing the concept of free labor in the light of the last twenty-five years of writing on such issues as work, gender, economic change, and political thought. A significant reevaluation of the causes of the Civil War, Foner's study looks beyond the North's opposition to slavery and its emphasis upon preserving the Union to determine the broader grounds of its willingness to undertake a war against the South in 1861.Its search is for those social concepts the North accepted as vital to its way of life, finding these concepts most clearly expressed in the ideology of the growing Republican party in the decade before the war's start. Through a careful analysis of the attitudes of leading factions in the party's formation (northern Whigs, former Democrats, and political abolitionists) Foner is able to show what each contributed to Republican ideology.He also shows how northern ideas of human rights--in particular a man's right to work where and how he wanted, and to accumulate property in his own name--and the goals of American society were implicit in that ideology.This was the ideology that permeated the North in the period directly before the Civil War, led to the election of Abraham Lincoln, and led, almost immediately, to the Civil War itself. At the heart of the controversy over the extension of slavery, he argues, is the issue of whether the northern or southern form of society would take root in the West, whose development would determine the nation's destiny. In his new introductory essay, Foner presents a greatly altered view of the subject.Only entrepreneurs and farmers were actually "free men" in the sense used in the ideology of the period.Actually, by the time the Civil War was initiated, half the workers in the North were wage-earners, not independent workers.And this did not account for women and blacks, who had little freedom in choosing what work they did.He goes onto show that even after the Civil War these guarantees for "free soil, free labor, free men" did not really apply for most Americans, and especially not for blacks.Demonstrating the profoundly successful fusion of value and interest within Republican ideology prior to the Civil War, Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men remains a classic of modern American historical writing.Eloquent and influential, it shows how this ideology provided the moral consensus which allowed the North, for the first time in history, to mobilize an entire society in modern warfare. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Excellent background
This book is an excellent background study for anyone interested in the origins of the Republican Party in the 1850's before it became the Party of Jefferson Davis and Southern social conservatives in the 1970's and 1980's.

Oldie but Goodie
The roots of the Civil War reach back to the birth of the nation. The Founders agreed to disagree on the issue of slavery in order to form a `more perfect Union.' By the 1860s the nation was at war with itself. Why did the South secede, and why did the North take up arms to prevent its secession? (316) In Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men: The Ideology of the Republican Party Before the Civil War, the first of Eric Foner's many influential books, he examines the two decades running up to the 1860 presidential election by taking a close look at the ideology of the Republican Party. In a time of rancorous sectional division, during which the Democratic Party was sundered north and south, with each section nominating its own presidential candidate, the Republicans drew anti-slavery Whigs and Democrats together under one banner. The party members shared a resentment of Southern political power, a devotion to the Union, moral revulsion to the peculiar institution, and a commitment to the northern social order and its development and expansion. (310-314)

During the 1850s, respected historians agree, that the government of President Buchanan was under the complete control of the South which threatened the essence of the Republican view of democracy--which was majority rule. (100) "The domination of both the South and the federal government by the Slave Power violated this basic democratic belief." (101) Repeated attempts by the southern Slave Power to establish slavery in the western territories brought the sectional conflict to a crisis. The North and South represented two incompatible social systems, and expansion of the decadent South, as Seward warned, might lead to "entirely a slave-holding nation."

Several critical chapters of Foner's book delineate the radical, conservative and moderate elements within the newly-formed Republican party, and include the northern Democratic-Republicans who were alienated by the slaveocracy which by then controlled their party. The former Democrats found their party no longer a "champion of popular rights." (177) The radicals battle cry was, "Liberty and Union." This small but powerful minority was influential within the party, and brooked no compromise with the South, believing that the Founders intended that slavery would eventually cease to exist in the nation. (139-144) The conservatives wanted to preserve the Union at any cost, and were willing to make concessions to the South in order to do so. It was the moderates, including Lincoln, who "refused to abandon either of their twin goals--free soil and the Union," and drew the line at expansion of slavery into the new states. (219) It was not the moral imperative of the abolitionists which drew together the radicals and conservatives, the Whigs and Democrats, and the former Liberty, Free Soil and Know-Nothings. It was the political anti-slavery, Free Labor ideology which "blended personal and sectional interest with morality so perfectly that it became the most potent political force in the nation." (309)

Foner is the DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University whose interest in the antebellum period started in college in the 1960s. Foner has authored more than a dozen books on American political history and race relations, including his latest Forever Free: The Story of Emancipation and Reconstruction; published in 2005. Free Soil began as his doctoral dissertation under Pulitzer prizewinner, Richard Hofstadter. This scholar's scholar assumes a substantial familiarity with 19th century American history, leaving the reader to fill in the essential details of the various acts, provisos, compromises and constitutions; likewise, biographical material on important players in the antebellum milieu, like Stephen A. Douglas and William H. Seward, is also given short shrift. An introductory essay written on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the publication of Free Soil calls on recent historiography to explore the concept of "free labor" in the 19th century, a time when half of Northern Americans were wage-earners.

Free Soil is now nearly forty years old, yet remains a worthwhile read for anyone with a more than superficial interest in the Civil War and its causes. The reader comes away with a greater understanding of the role of the Republican Party in shaping the anti-slavery movement during the antebellum period.

Early Republican Revolution
IT IS HARD TO FIND A BETTER HISTORIAN OF THE 19TH CENTURY THAN ERIC FONER.THIS BOOK HIGHLIGHTS THE MOST INETERESTING EVENTS IN THE MOST INTERESTING PERIOD OF AMERICAN HISTORY.ERIC FONER BRINGS THE STRUGGLE FOR THE CONTAINMENT AND ABOLITION OF SLAVERY TO LIFE IN THIS WELL WRITTEN AND SUPERBLY RESEARCHED WORK.IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND ANTEBELLUM AMERICA YOU NEED THIS BOOK.

IN THE HEROIC AGE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
In the year 2007 it is quite easy to dismiss the American Republican Party of one George Bush and his cabal out of hand as a gang of yahoos and incompetents. And one, frankly, would be right in those characterizations. But the book under review tells a tale of a different Republican Party, a party forged among other things in the crucible of the battle against slavery in the immediate pre-Civil War period. That party of Lincoln (although he was ultimately merely the most famous of an outstanding group of men who forged that party) was one that modern leftists can proudly claim as our own. Karl Marx was not wrong in his appreciation of Lincoln and of the Republican Party in its struggle against slavery and for the unification of the country. Eric Foner tells the story of how all of the forces finally coalesced in 1956 to create that party and of its success in 1860.

A number of commentators, including this writer, have over the years argued that a political realignment and separation of the various political tendencies in this country is long, too long overdue. What others mean by that realignment I will leave to them. For myself, I make no bones that we need a workers party to directly represent the political interests of the working masses and their allies. On the other side some argue that America has always been, more or less, well served by the two-party system. And that is really my point. In the period from about 1840 to that decisive 1860 election there was the kind of turmoil that created the necessary realignment of that two- party system. The old two- party system just could not hold the forces that were splitting the country. In the end the formerly powerful Whig Party and vital parts of the Northern Democratic Party went down with barely a whimper. The Republican Party gathered together all those forces that were interested in ending slavery and creating a unified, efficient capitalist system. That in the end it all turned to dross in a fairly short time after the Civil War does not take away from the grandeur of the effort and its necessity.

I would point out to readers that Professor Foner does a very credible job of showing the numerous and sometimes counterposed strategies that the various anti-slavery forces from the Garrisonians to the Free Soil Party supporters put forth. He also pays attention to the various forces, including the little studied Liberty and Free Soil parties, the Barnburner Democrats, Conscience Whigs and others who coalesced in the Republican Party. He also details the strategies of the conservative elements that would latter dominate the post-war Republican party as well as the strain of nativism (exemplified by the explosive, if short-lived, development of the Know-Nothing party) that one can still see in that party today on the immigration question. In all, this is a well-researched and footnoted academic work that can serve a as jumping off point for making our arguments today for that desperately needed realignment of American politics.

The Significance of Republican Ideology
The Civil War era is surely one of the most complex, controversial, and tumultuous periods in our nation's history and one of the most difficult to capture. "Free Soil, Free Labor, ..." is a sterling effort to provide insight into the social philosophies of the time that almost inevitably led to the breakup of the Union. While ostensibly concerned with the ideology of the Republican Party leading up to the Civil War, the author clearly shows that the Republicans also both reflected and advanced the belief system that came to permeate much of the North.

A key component of Northern thinking emphasized a free labor and producer ethic, which extolled the virtues of free, independent, and propertied working men. Dependency was eschewed as evidence of personal shortcoming. But the institution of slavery violated that ethic in every way. Not only were slaves not free, but also Southern aristocratic society degraded free labor. To be a free laborer in the South was to be a member of a lower class. These diametrically opposed views of labor were the basis of an ongoing controversy dating from the Missouri Compromise over the issue of permitting slavery in newly obtained territories or newly admitted states. The Northern and Republican position was one of "free soil," for free laborers.

Though not emphasizing the chronological history of the Republican Party, the author traces the assimilation into the party of members or adherents of the Abolitionists, the Liberty Party, the Free Soil Party, anti-slavery Democrats and Whigs, the Know-Nothings, and the so-called radical Republicans. A good sampling of the pronouncements of the leading Northern political figures of the era as well as the positions of key newspaper publishers is quite illuminating. It is a mild criticism of the book that the author, in following the historical trail, at times provides insufficient background on historical events that he refers to such as the Wilmot Proviso, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Lecompton controversy, etc.

Certainly much of the rise of the Republican Party was due to a concern of Northern Whigs and Democrats that the political process in Washington was being dominated by a southern Slave Power. That Slave Power was seen as a force intent on expanding the geographical reach of slavery. Every attempt at expansion of slave territory drove more and more people to the ranks of the parties that became the Republican Party. The author is keen to point out that while anti-slavery was a moral crusade on the part of some Republicans, for most the prevention of the Slave Power in expanding its reach and the preservation and expansion of Northern society superceded any moral imperative to emancipate slaves.

It is not the author's intent to directly list the causes of the Civil War, yet it would be difficult to deny the relevance of this book in answering those questions. But the author does address some claims of causation. While not denying that protective tariffs were controversial issues, he downplays their overall significance. For one, many leading Republicans were free traders, not protectionists. Republicanism was not simply warmed over Whiggery intent on protecting industry. In fact, many Republicans had a distrust of emerging corporations. In addition, he gives little credence to suggestions that the Civil War represents either a failure of political compromise or political incompetence.

The author amply demonstrates that the election of President Lincoln in 1860 constituted a culminating point for both the North and the South. Clearly, the Republicans had emerged as a voice for a Northern society that was based on entrepreneuralism, free labor, progress, and expansion. For the South, the election of Republicans was seen as a dire threat to a way of life wholly different than that of the North. No longer the foremost power in Washington, Southerners had grave misgivings concerning the designs of Republicans on dismantling their society. And neither the Democrats who had stared down John Calhoun in the Nullification Crisis or the Republicans with a Whig background of Henry Clay's Americanism were about to simply let the South secede.

According to the author there was "the conviction that North and South represented two social systems whose values, interests, and future prospects were in sharp, perhaps mortal, conflict with one another." And for those who would downplay the essential role of slavery in the impending conflict, the author quotes another historian as indicating that "By 1860, slavery had become the symbol and carrier of all sectional differences and conflicts."

In an introduction twenty-five years after the original, the author acknowledges that the ideology of free labor was already fraying by 1860. In the first place, by that point more than half of all men were wage earners and not independent workers. Secondly, the Republican fiction that both capital and labor had similar interests was belied by the greater power of capital to make the employment relationship hardly free. But those realities rose to the front after the Civil War as industrialism really expanded.

For those who would have wanted a bigger and more comprehensive book, there is merit in that. The book is somewhat narrowly focused. That is not to deny that the capturing of Republican ideology is not a significant contribution. But Southern reactions as the Republican Party was growing would have been interesting. But this book should be on the list of anyone wanting to understand the Civil War era. ... Read more

Book Description
In recent years, viticulture has seen phenomenal growth, particularly in such countries as Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Chile, and South Africa.The surge in production of quality wines in these countries has been built largely on the practice of good enology and investment in high technology in the winery, enabling vintners to produce consistently good, even fine wines.Yet less attention has been paid to the influence of vineyard conditions on wines and their distinctiveness-an influence that is embodied in the French concept of terroir. An essential component of terroir is soil and the interaction between it, local climate, vineyard practices, and grape variety on the quality of grapes and distinctiveness of their flavor. This book considers that component, providing basic information on soil properties and behavior in the context of site selection for new vineyards and on the demands placed on soils for grape growth and production of wines. Soils for Fine Wines will be of interest to professors and upper-level students in enology, viticulture, soils and agronomy as well as wine enthusiasts and professionals in the wine industry. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Soils For Fine Wines
A great book on beginning growing. To get the full understanding about what Mr white is talking about the book Science in Agriculture I feel, should be read first. Great section,along with the pros and cons, of different types of irrigation. Seems to lean a little heavy on the soils of California. For the person not growing grapes but enjoys good wine it is an excellant sorce of how the wine gets its flavor. The principles presented will aid anyone growing almost anything.

A long-needed book
In "Soils for Fine Wines" Robert White sets to provide information needed for better understanding of how soils and their properties relate to management and wine-grape production. This book is a long-needed one indeed; most other viticultural books are discussing soil as an environmental factor only in passing.

The book begins by explaining how the soil is formed and how it relates to the environment; how it changes with time and how it should be managed sustainably. Then it goes into a deeper analysis of the soil's makeup and structure, with a particular emphasis on understanding the vine root habitat. This is very important if a viticulturist is to understand effect of soil management practices on vine growth and production. Then the book details the supply of nutrients, explaining how these move into plant roots and what affects their availability. The reader is also given a brief introduction into precision viticulture and organic viticulture. The next section discusses soil, water and vine interrelationship, understanding of which is paramount for good irrigation management. The book contains information on various aspects of soil quality (physical, chemical and biological). The book then deals with soil as an important attribute for site selection and vineyard establishment. The final chapter discusses soil as it relates to the quality of the final product - wine. Here the author gives a well-balanced overview of the current state of knowledge of what is known as 'terroir' and he takes the reader on a journey around the wine-producing world by providing regional examples of how the soil and wine attributes seem to be related.

The book is well-written and easy to follow, although some might find it a bit technical at times. However, good explanation of technical terms is provided throughout and the book also has a number of illustrations and photographs that are helpful for easier understanding of the text.

I can recommend this book to students and professionals in viticulture and wine science. It is a long-awaited text dedicated specifically to vineyard soils and the way they affect grapevines and management strategies. This book will also be of great interest to anyone who wishes to better understand the link between environmental conditions and wine.

A must for anyone who grows winegrapes
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If you are a grape grower of any consequence, you know that good wine depends on good grapes, that good grapes depend on good vines and that good vines depend on roots that are DEEP and STRONG. Thus, the medium in which roots grow is of crucial importance. Viticulturists can be misled by reading that vines grow in all sorts of soils all over the world. That is certainly true but that simple dictum does not mean that any soil will do, as "any" soil will certainly not do.

Robert White's book is VERY useful in helping understand what goes on below ground. If you just flip through it, it will strike you as too technical and thus daunting. However, if you will read each of the headings, (e.g., 5.1, 5.2) but not the sub-headings (e.g. 5.1.1, 5.1.2, 5.1.3) and then read his "Summary Points", you will be richly rewarded. If there points about which you want to know more or understand better, go back and delve into the sub-headings and be enlightened to your hearts content. I'm glad I own this book!

Fine Book for Fine Readers
A unique book, as fine as wine itself. No other book explains the detailed and vital nature and mechanisms of soils as they apply to grape production and wine-making. It tries to unravel the enigma of the `terroir'. This will surely help the viticulturist and the winemaker to make the most of their land and we consumers will be the grateful beneficiaries. I think I could strongly recommend it to the specialist and interested reader.

Soils for Fine Wines
As a postgraduate student in the field of viticulture and wine i found this book covered the subject matter with great detail , clarity and scientific explanations. This book is a must have for your library collection and indeed for the aspiring viticulturist - it is a gold mine of information on the subject of soils. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

Dirt
Have you ever been interested in the sex life of worms? What about parasites and how they eat? This book has simple but informative drawings and somewhat easy text that go into just enough detail to keep you interested. It offers suggestions on how to do soil experiments and breaks the subject matter into 10 chapters, one for each group of critters. Very fascinating in a creepy, crawley way. ... Read more

Book Description
Smart gardeners know that soil is anything but an inert substance. Healthy soil is teeming with life — not just earthworms and insects, but a staggering multitude of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. When we use chemical fertilizers, we injure the microbial life that sustains healthy plants, and thus become increasingly dependent on an arsenal of artificial substances, many of them toxic to humans as well as other forms of life. But there is an alternative to this vicious circle: to garden in a way that strengthens, rather than destroys, the soil food web — the complex world of soil-dwelling organisms whose interactions create a nurturing environment for plants. By eschewing jargon and overly technical language, the authors make the benefits of cultivating the soil food web available to a wide audience, from devotees of organic gardening techniques to weekend gardeners who simply want to grow healthy, vigorous plants without resorting to chemicals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Teeming with Daffodils
When you start "teaming with microbes" you'll soon want a tomato patch that is "teeming with daffodils."This book will show you how!

I've heard about "no-till gardening" for years, but it seemed to be practiced by the slightly-flighty.This book explains in scientific terms why no-till is the best option for your garden.If you have an extensive knowledge of biology, you can skip to Part 2, but I recommend reading Part 1 so you can understand the biology of the soil.Don't be intimidated by this, though, the science is explained in an easy-to-understand manner (the authors weren't your high school teachers!).

"Teaming with Microbes" has completely changed the way I think about my garden.When you follow their procedures, gardening becomes easier (no more turning the soil every spring) and cheaper (no need to buy fertilizers when you have almost everything you need right in your back yard!) and your garden, whether vegetable or flower or perennial, will become more productive.

Best of all, you can plant daffodils in your tomato patch.

The why and how of organic gardening
The first half of this book is an excellent and timely survey of the biological, not chemical, makeup of our soil and how each of the parts interact with the others and with the plants that grow in the soil. Backed up by current research, this part explains why we should be organic gardeners.
The second section tells us how to garden organically; that is what we can and should do to grow healthy, trees, shrubs, perennials, lawn and vegetables in the most efficient and environmentally helpful manner saving us both time and and money.

COMMON GROUND
It would be difficult to resist the clarion call Jeff Lowenfels has issued on behalf of all the animated wealth he has unearthed at garden level.Ground zero is explosive with activity: diminutive, robust and markedly determined though vulnerable, hidden, silent. Microbes and insects and worms, oh my!
Healthy plant life is dependent on healthy soil. Healthy soil is dependent on the interaction of a vigorous "soil web". That is a complicated tangle of simple life forms vying for subsistence, existence or dominance. Out of this chaos comes the energy, nutrients and protection that sustain a fertile root and leaf horizon.Who knew?
The soil web has existed for eons but never in anticipation of fertilizers, rototilling, genetic engineering or industrial agriculture. With innocent abandon we commit assault and battery on the land that feeds us [and it took a ^@*$# lawyer to point that out!]. Well...attention must be paid!
This little book pays attention. It's a friendly affair replete with drawings, graphs, compost recipes, a helpful summary and homey photos provided by a pretty indulgent wife.
You might enhance your appreciation by attending one of Jeff's lectures.He is probably on some promotional circuit.Consult the event calendar of your regional horticultural society.
This just may be fertile soil for a new religious movement, a seminal hybrid of nature and science without the blight of divisional rancor.There's just no ground for hypocrisy, apostasy or MiracleGro.

science made clear
This book is exceptionally well written, presenting the science in regular English rather than journal article language. Everything is clearly documented with references in the scientific literature and excellent photographs to bring the underground world within view. I highly recommend this book to anyone curious about soil biology or wanting to know what hard science supports organic production practices. It is understandable to everyone, from high school students through university professors. Easy reading but not "fluff"

Microbes are important!
I've met Jeff personally and heard him speak at various shows.I love his message and think his book is a wonderful introduction to the biology that is naturally occurring in your own backyard.I've read the book a couple of times, and recommended it to all my friends.Getting ready to buy another copy right now!

If you're interested in organic gardening or even just learning more about your soil and how the different bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and micro and macro arthropods work together in helping your plant grow, this is the book for you! ... Read more

Book Description
Covers fundamentals of soil dynamics, dynamic soil properties, foundation vibration, soil liquefaction, pile foundation and slope stability. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Only Decent Text Book for Soil Dynamics
I have been using this book as a text for soil dynamics elective course. This book provides sound mathematical backing with relevant practical examples in each section. Students have found this book very useful as they can find examples followed by each derivation. Without hesitation, I would say that this is the only decent book available in the market for the first course in soil dynamics. I would, however, suggest the author to separate "geophysical soil exploration" section from the chapter that describes "Properties of dynamically loaded soil" to avoid confusion. ... Read more

Book Description
"Essentials of Soil Mechanics and Foundations: Basic Geotechnics, 7/e" provides a clear, detailed presentation of soil mechanics: the background and basics, the engineering properties and behavior of soil deposits, and the application of soil mechanics theories. This new edition features a separate chapter on earthquakes, a more logical organization, and new material relating to pile foundations design and construction and soil permeability. It's rich applications, well illustrated examples, end-of-chapter problems and detailed explanations make it an excellent reference for practicing engineers, architects, geologists, environmental specialists, and more! Covers new developments in geotechnical topics such as: Soil Properties and Analyses Pile Foundation Design and Testing Micropiles Soil Nail Walls Launched Soil Nails Soil Improvment Includes a more extensive scope of topics and clear, well developed presentations. Emphasizes how subject material can be used in the field. An excellent reference for practicing engineers, architects, geologists, environmental specialists and construction materials testing laboratories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Seller really cares!
This product never arrived but the seller gave me all my money back as well as a credit to use for another purchase from them.Very caring people when the customer is not satisfied!

essentials of soil mechanics
Can't review a book I have NOT received. When will it be delivered? Lolly Pinkston

Good for AM portion of PE Exam and PM portion of Geotechnical
Even though Index is not that great like CERM (Civil Engineering Reference Manual, you can still find valuable examples and basic concepts that PE Exam requires.

Best of Luck.

Excellent Resource
I found Mr. McCarthy's book to be a valuable resource.From a geologist's perspective, it was of great help in bridging the gap between engineering geology and geotechnical engineering.It gave me greater insight into not only field technique, but also into geologic considerations that are of importance in foundation design.The text was both concise and clearly written.

From a Civil/Geological Engineering student's view...
* Poor index - no detail * Good detail in text on subjects covered * Has some errors in the chapter on flownets * Disjointed in discussion of compaction * Good for students with little to no soil mechanics background ... Read more

Book Description
Healthy soils are key to producing good harvests with minimal pest problems. How to create that balanced soil ecosystem, however, remains a challenge for even the most experienced growers.

Building Soils for Better Crops unlocks the secret of maintaining a diverse ecosystem below ground to foster healthy crops above. Ecological soil management, as detailed by the soil experts who wrote the book, can raise fertility — and yields —while reducing environmental impacts. The 240-page Building Soils contains detailed information about soil structure and the management practices that affect soils, as well as practical information like how to interpret soil test results.

Some of the soil-building strategies include:

• Increasing soil organic matter• Using appropriate tillage• Incorporating animal manures• Making and using composts• Integrating cover crops into rotations• Reducing erosion• Methods to avoid and decrease soil compaction ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Importance of healthy soils
This is the best, practical guide to understanding how whole soil systemswork that I have read.Written in clear, illustrative language, it makesthe world of soils accessible to farmers and beginning students, as well assoil science professionals. ... Read more

Book Description
During the night of August 14, 1944, an Italian prisoner of war was lynched on the Fort Lawton army base in Seattle--a murder that shocked the nation and the international community. It was a time of deep segregation in the army, and the War Department was quick to charge three African American soldiers with first-degree murder, although there was no evidence linking them to the crime. Forty other black soldiers faced lesser charges over the incident, launching one of the largest and longest army trials of World War II. In this harrowing story of race, privilege, and power, Jack Hamann explores the most overlooked civil rights event in American history. On American Soil raises important questions about how justice is carried out when a country is at war, offering vital lessons on the tensions between national security and individual rights."Not only riveting, On American Soil is also essential reading for anyone concerned about the