Underland: A Deep Time Journey

I couldn't put it any better than what Philip Goureuvitch wrote:"Robert Macfarlane writes of his astonishing subterranean explorations with such wondrous, indelible power that you remember what he sees as if you saw it yourself."This man can write! And he takes you along on his (sometimes scary, always amazing) underground adventures. Highly recommend.

A profound and moving exploration of humanity's relationship with the spaces beneath our feet, Underland is a surprisingly philosophical treatise on the nature of time, the natural world, and our own fleeting mortality.Prior to Underland, I hadn't read anything by Robert Macfarlane, so I didn't know what to expect. Macfarlane's writing in Underland is undeniably beautiful, lyrical, and haunting. One could probably categorize Underland as a "travel writing," but that would do the book a disservice. Yes, each chapter of Underland concerns Macfarlane's journey to an exotic location somewhere in (and often under) the world, but it's his philosophical musings—imbued with wisdom from science, history, myth, and literature—that truly distinguish this work.Throughout Underland, readers are taken on claustrophobic journeys to the "hidden spaces" beneath our feet—both natural and man-made. You'll explore the ancient burial chambers in Somerset, the underground labyrinth that twists its way under Paris, the fungal web that unites a forest in London, the "starless rivers" of Italy, the blue holes of the Greenland ice cap, and the nuclear waste storage facility in Finland. However, it's Macfarlane's ruminations on the nature of "deep time"—geological time scales beyond the comprehension of human understanding—that boggle the mind (and soul). Never has a book made me feel more small and insignificant, and yet so happy to be alive.One of the recurring motifs in Underland is humankind's impact on the natural world during the Anthropocene—our current geological era defined by industrialization. No matter where Macfarlane finds himself—say, an isolated Norwegian sea cave or a roaring underground torrent in Slovenia—the human presence announces itself through plastic and other petrochemical-derived garbage. It's disturbing to realize that this—our detritus—will most likely be humankind's legacy after we're gone—not our art, religion, or science, but our waste products. At the same time, through the perspective of deep time, Macfarlane suggests that the biggest risk we pose to is to ourselves—the world will continue spinning long after the Anthropocene.I really wasn't prepared for how much Underland would affect me. Yes, it's adventurous and exciting at times (the claustrophobic descriptions of underground exploration are particularly unsettling), but it's also perspective shifting. You'll never look at the ground beneath your feet the same way again.

Under Land is my first journey in the writings of Robert Macfarlane. I caught the tail end of an MN NPR interview with him and was interested enough to give Under Land a try. Under Land is an interesting book, yet at times the stories of his journeys in the subterranean world lost their momentum, and some of the caving depictions were captivating but increasingly claustrophobic.Macfarlane’s vehicle of rapid fire sentence fragment/alliterations, as he physically and sensually experiences his locales are more often than not, exciting. I believe anybody who has been on the “edge” in their adventures understands the feelings Macfarlane puts to print. The clarity of enduring these stimuli never really leave ones mind, and the author captures this wellAs a reader, I liked what Macfarlane does, as he ventures into, under and above the worlds surface, and then explains with the science behind the area about which he is writing. I found myself wishing for more of the science, in particular about the ice cores (one of the many parts of the book where I just could not put it down) but I guess that’s not what the book was about.Under Land transitions from the world under us, both natural and urban, to cave art and the celebration of life, to ice cores and the signatures of the Anthropcene, plastic garbage that is ubiquitous in our world, to nuclear waste storage and devising warnings for those who might follow. Unlike the prior celebrations of life, but a warning of death, thus, “are we being good ancestors”. Robert Macfarlane’s Under Land is a good book, and provides the stimulus to try either his past books, or perhaps those to come.

If any of you are looking for a deep, slightly dark and interesting lead pick up this book. It explores our experiences with subliminal places beneath the surface of the world through myth, archeology and art through eons of time. It is a compelling, lyrical read. Check it out!

Robert Macfarlane is a master of rich and vivid prose. In this book, he examines the world beneath the ground and explores the idea of "deep time" - geologic time, in which humans are barely a blip on the screen. He takes us along on explorations of places under the earth that most of us will never experience. Macfarlane examines the ways in which humans have viewed and utilized the underground from the earliest handprints in a cave to the current burying of nuclear waste. The book is filled with references to earth sciences, philosophy, mythology, science writers and poets, and provides thought-provoking reflection and cautionary tale. It can be enjoyed on many levels - for its adventure, its science and for the wonderful prose. This is not a book that you can blow through in a day. This is a volume to read slowly, holistically and to savor for its intertwining themes. Doing so will change your perspective of what lies beneath.

Written in a literary style as the author is describing his experiences with “underland locations.”Not quiet what I was hoping for, which was more science and history of the underland. Not bad, just not as expected. Some parts were more interesting than others, the locations were fascinating. Still think 1/4 of the book could have been cut for wordiness.

A great read, beautifully written, and inspired me to think beyond myself and what is seen. Had no idea of what lays beneath our own feet.One note my hardcover had the last section printed twice so hope I am not missing chapters??

Takes the reader to many hidden wonders below the surface. Creates a sense of awe while raising questions about our past and future.

Leitura diária e constante sempre que possível. Um pouco por dia.

To view this earth from within not just roads railways and skyscrapers but whats within.

A Robert MacFarlane book always delivers sumptuous prose evoking the wonders and glory of the natural world, landscape and the environment. In Underland he turns his attention to that which exists beneath our feet - the mirror world within our planet.The book is arranged in three parts: Britain, Europe and the North - also described as Seeing, Hiding and Haunting. It starts with an exploration of limestone caves in the Mendips with Sean Borodale "a bee-keeper, a caver, a walker and a remarkable poet". The physicality of caving is described so vividly that you almost feel you are there, with the tingle of fear and excitement as you squeeze through spaces barely big enough to take a person, into vast caverns of cathedral dimensions. But he's interested in more than just the rocks and the voids, and as they make their way through the cave systems Rob also ponders on the humans who have gone before, who used these caves for burial, mining, recreation and exploration.This combination of social history, adventure, geology, exploration and legend continues throughout as he moves further afield, meeting fascinating people who show him glimpses of their underlands. And as he travels from the Mendips to the catacombs of Paris, out into Greenland's glaciers and beyond, so the claustrophobia of the spaces increases oppressively with a creeping menace. Some of these holes in the ground are portals to amazing worlds, and some hide serious business, but all have to be treated with respect. It's a fascinating book with some truly terrifying moments.

If you don't accept these resena in English, and if you won't print responses which are critical of the product, then please stop asking me.