Enjoyable sort of science philosophizing nature writing. I could do more science-y but most importantly the narrative thread works for me thematically. ( )

Yes, well-written from the "riven trunk" onward, but deeply depressing,
from fears of being buried alive through more experimenting on nature
into the ongoing greed of oil destruction and more horror in the tombs for nuclear waste.
Death and more death...

Macfarlane's ending foreshadows the death of his son. ( )

Fascinating subject matter, but overall not my kind of reading. It failed to keep my attention one too many times for my liking. ( )

Note references to Simard p 88 ff
may add more tags when I finish ( )

Based upon the reviews I've read, many people seem to really like this book. I did not. At least not at first, because I bought the book based upon the publisher's description it as “an epic exploration of the Earth’s underworlds as they exist in myth, literature, memory, and the land itself.” That description, however, is misleading as the book can't be said to discuss either myth or literature; nor does the book really explore many "underworlds", covering only a handful in the entire book. So if you're expecting a popular science/history book about what's beneath our feet and how humanity has viewed that region throughout recorded history, in myth and literature, then you likely won't really care for this book as that is absolutely not what it is.

What the book is, instead, is an exploration of one man's personal relationship with the underworld, as depicted through very floral and introspective descriptions of his visits to a handful of underground sites, most of which aren't identified sufficiently such that you could visit them yourself. There are also unfortunately no photos, maps, or diagrams of the places he visits. It seemed to me more like one man's fever dream of what lies beneath our feet, than a popular science book or book of exploration. While that put me off, given my expectations, I kept reading, hoping the book would eventually live up to its description. While it never did, I found that I did not regret reading it and actually came to enjoy it.

While I wish the book had had a better balance of poetry and science (more like William Glassley's marvelous book, A Wilder Time: Notes from a Geologist at the Edge of the Greenland Ice), I did enjoy the book. The reason for the 3 stars is that it simply doesn't live up to its description. And I wish it had been what it claimed as I think we could still use such a book.

So read this book. Just realize what book you are setting out to read and don't believe the descriptions. ( )