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Underground
Underground: A Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet | Will Hunt
15 posts | 11 read | 37 to read
A panoramic investigation of the subterranean landscape, from sacred caves and derelict subway stations to nuclear bunkers and ancient underground cities--an exploration of the history, science, architecture, and mythology of the worlds beneath our feet When Will Hunt was sixteen years old, he discovered an abandoned tunnel that ran beneath his house in Providence, Rhode Island. His first tunnel trips inspired a lifelong fascination with exploring underground worlds, from the derelict subway stations and sewers of New York City to sacred caves, catacombs, tombs, bunkers, and ancient underground cities in more than twenty countries around the world. Underground is both a personal exploration of Hunt's obsession and a panoramic study of how we are all connected to the underground, how caves and other dark hollows have frightened and enchanted us through the ages. In a narrative spanning continents and epochs, Hunt follows a cast of subterraneaphiles who have dedicated themselves to investigating underground worlds. He tracks the origins of life with a team of NASA microbiologists a mile beneath the Black Hills, camps out for three days with urban explorers in the catacombs and sewers of Paris, descends with an Aboriginal family into a 35,000-year-old mine in the Australian outback, and glimpses a sacred sculpture molded by Paleolithic artists in the depths of a cave in the Pyrenees. Each adventure is woven with findings in mythology and anthropology, natural history and neuroscience, literature and philosophy. In elegant and graceful prose, Hunt cures us of our "surface chauvinism," opening our eyes to the planet's hidden dimension. He reveals how the subterranean landscape gave shape to our most basic beliefs and guided how we think about ourselves as humans. At bottom, Underground is a meditation on the allure of darkness, the power of mystery, and our eternal desire to connect with what we cannot see. Advance praise for Underground "A mesmerizingly fascinating tale . . . I could not stop reading this beautifully written book."--Michael Finkel, author of The Stranger in the Woods "Few books have blown my mind so totally, and so often. In Will Hunt's nimble hands, excursion becomes inversion, and the darkness turns luminous. There are echoes of Sebald, Calvino, and Herzog in his elegant and enigmatic voice, but also real warmth and humor. . . . An intrepid--but far from fearless--journey, both theoretically and terrestrially."--Robert Moor, New York Times bestselling author of On Trails
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TracyReadsBooks
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Utterly fascinating look at the spaces, natural & man-made, beneath our feet & the enduring connection humanity has to them. Yes there are chapters on the NYC subway & the catacombs beneath Paris but there are also chapters on intraterrestrials & the astrobiologists studying them for clues about possible life on other planets, burrowers in Cappadocia & explorers pushing farther and farther into the depths. I honestly couldn‘t put it down.

26 likes1 stack add
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TracyReadsBooks
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Rainy afternoon + new book = reading time!

ravenlee I absolutely did not read this as “Underground Will Hurt” as I scanned it too quickly… 1y
currentlyreadinginCO Ooo this looks cool 1y
TracyReadsBooks @ravenlee 😂 I love that…and now probably won‘t see it any other way! (edited) 1y
28 likes3 comments
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Magpiegem
Pickpick

7/23 In hindsight I should of read this book 1 because as I listened to the audio I found myself wishing I could see pictures and 2. Because it was narrated by the author and his voice was so dry and monotone it took a lot of the wonder of the subject away. But I loved learning about life underground both modern and ancient civilizations pull to go below. I especially liked hearing about the Parisian catacombs.

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Magdalenka
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““If you look for happiness in simple things, it becomes very difficult to be unhappy because access to simple things is very simple and easy!”

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Nitpickyabouttrains
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Nonfiction about what is below the surface of the earth. The author goes into history and into caves to talk about what is beneath our feet.

Crazeedi This one looks very good!! 5y
16 likes1 comment
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overtheedge
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A look at the subterranean, its cultures, tunnels and history. I thought it was fascinating, and well written. La Plage, under Paris, is home to cataphiles who regularly go there make art, paint or sculpt. Some of the rooms are covered in art, some built alters to deities or gods. These tunnels were miles deep, miles long, with many catacombs and hidden tunnels.
Pictured Derinkuyu, one of the largest.
#NFNov @rsteve388 @Clwojick #TIL

Clwojick 4 pt. 5y
39 likes1 comment
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glitterkitty459
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Rarely do nonfiction books make me feel something, but this did. Really captivating writing and stories.

#nonfiction #recommended 😊✌️📚

63 likes5 stack adds
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BookishShelly
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Pickpick

Interesting book. 4⭐️
#nonfiction

25 likes2 stack adds
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Tralfamadorian
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Great read. Recommend.

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Expandingbookshelf
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Pickpick

Coffee martini AND a fascinating new book 🤗☕️🍸📖💕

I really love books like Underground: scientific, artistic, sociological and spiritual explorations of a subject-with a dash of swashbuckling adventure thrown in. once I finished this book about the worlds beneath my feet, I immediately wanted to start it again. “Underground” is a thoughtful and inquisitive book that will stay with you long after you finish it.

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BookishMarginalia
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Way more mystical than I expected. This book is not a scientific or technical investigation of what lies under our feet; rather, it is an odd —but interesting— mix of memoir, anthropology, and mysticism. Approach as a series of interrelated essays, instead of a cohesive book with a single narrative. #lpmbc #groupd

137 likes8 stack adds
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BookishMarginalia
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After visiting Roatan, Honduras, some #immersionreading time is in order. #lmpbc #groupd

Jillybeane I love yr lil Terry elephant 6y
CouronneDhiver Love Roatan 🥰 6y
151 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Pedrocamacho
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I really enjoy this book about humans exporting caves, burrowing under their houses, wandering through sewers and catacombs, and painting on cave walls 15,000 years ago. It is a fun read.

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BookishMarginalia
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To @thebluestocking @LazyDays @WanderingBookaneer #LMPBC #GroupD: any preference between these two? — both spoke to me today. The tagged book is just fascinating! And the other looks like an interesting memoir.

thebluestocking Ooh. I‘m good with either of these. They both sound amazing, but if forced to choose I‘d lean towards Underground. 6y
WanderingBookaneer I lean towards Underground too. 6y
dragondrool I've heard good things about Underground. 6y
See All 7 Comments
LazyDays I agree Underground stands out, but both look amazing. 6y
LazyDays Oooh exciting! 6y
thebluestocking I‘m excited to read it! I think we‘ve got a nice set of books. 6y
133 likes6 stack adds7 comments