The Hidden Half of Nature

“A beautifully synthesized scientific memoir.” – Barbara Kiser - Nature “A must-read for avid gardeners, those interested in bolstering our precarious food supply, or anyone remotely concerned about their health and the soil under their feet.” – Kirkus Reviews “The Hidden Half of Nature offers a wonderfully fresh and exquisitely informed approach that could change how we relate to ourselves, our diets, our gardens and our world.” – Tim McNulty - Seattle Times “Montgomery and Bikle argue that when we farm and when we eat, we’re feeding a diverse community of microorganisms. This book is sure to become a game-changing guide to the future of good food and healthy landscapes.” – Dan Barber, chef and author of The Third Plate “[A] transformative read.” – Tom Philpott - Mother Jones “The Hidden Half of Nature draws a straight line from the microbes that live in healthy soil to those that live in healthy guts, skillfully blending the personal and the scientific. This is a must-read for anyone concerned with their own health.” – Amy Stewart, author of The Drunken Botanist “Amazingly detailed and well-researched. … [The Hidden Half of Nature] lays out the beautiful connection between the microbial garden in our bodies and the microbial garden in the Earth.” – Sally Peterson - Oregon Live “The Hidden Half of Nature reads like a fast-paced novel but tells the true story of the workings of soils, and even our own bodies.” – Neil Shubin, author of The Universe Within “One of the year’s best books on gardens and health.” – Jim McCausland - Sunset Magazine

David R. Montgomery is a professor at the University of Washington and a 2008 MacArthur Fellow. Anne Biklé is a biologist and environmental planner. Her career spans the fields of environmental stewardship, habitat restoration, and public health. The Hidden Half of Nature is her first book.