This book follows the usual pattern for soil science textbooks with chapters on soil formation, soil physical, biological and chemical properties, soil water, temperature, fertility and plant nutrition, management, conservation, classification and uses. As an introductory text it is well written, adequately illustrated, pleasantly readable, and contains both a useful index and glossary. Only the American Soil Taxonomy system of classification is described, which may reduce its usefulness to Europeans and other users of the FAO system. The absence of colour plates is a particular drawback here.

The authors suggest the book as an introductory text for high school courses in agricultural science and for university students of natural and earth sciences, which is about right, although outdated units like microns and angstroms have been left in and the coverage is fairly basic. The coverage of soil water, for example, goes only so far as the concept of available water but with no mention of water or matric potential, of water release characteristics, or of the concept of hydraulic conductivity. This is a basic, user-friendly book that covers soil science from a predominantly agricultural and applied perspective with the minimum use of technical terminology. However, for students of the biological and earth sciences who may need to develop further their knowledge of soil science I would choose an introductory book with a coverage in more depth.