Compost after Reading: A Practical Manifesto for Purposeful Decomposition

by Cassandra Marketos, Sludge Thunder (Illustrator)

Overview

Composting is so much more than just transforming food into soil; it is deeply existential, radical, and soul-opening. And no, it's not just for gardeners. You can compost in a bowl on your kitchen counter, or a bag under your sink, and you can compost things you're told you can't (although there are some things you probably shouldn't). Everyone can compost. And even if you're not going to compost at all, knowing about compost is engaging with a dialogue about zero waste.

With wry and brilliant writing, ​Cassanda Marketos brings the culture, beauty, community, and philosophy of compost to life in this one-of-a-kind, inventive work of narrative nonfiction that brings compost out of the dark ages and into the contemporary moment. Delightfully philosophical and inviting, it is an accessible guide to everything you need to know about compost, with actionable advice for beginners and experienced composters. You will learn why compost works, where to put your compost, how to pick your compost set up, the basics of decomposition, what to put in a compost pile, where to source your compost materials, and how to build a pile. With insights on what tools to consider, how to deal with odors, insects, and other critters, and transitioning your compost pile for colder weather, find easy-to-follow compost pile designs, tips on composting in small spaces, composting with worms, and how to compost things you're always told you can't (you just need to know how). This book has something for everyone, at any stage in their compost journey, and includes edgy, delightful illustrations by the artist Sludge Thunder throughout. And...it's literally compostable. Read it, follow the advice, and toss it into your compost pile. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781643264639
Publisher:	Timber Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/17/2026
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256

About the Author

Cassandra Marketos is a certified Naturalist and UC Master Gardener. She worked previously at Kickstarter as their first employee in 2009, and later as VP of community strategy. She went on to work at the White House as the deputy director of digital outbound. She has extensive experience as a community composter and compost consultant in Los Angeles, CA and has a wide network of artists and professionals.

Editorial Reviews

Cassandra Marketos dispels all the myths about compost in this book, addressing the practical concerns that can intimidate people in the most charming, approachable, fun, and even philosophical ways. Rather than promoting any specific method, Compost after Reading lays out a range of options and encourages a spirit of experimentation and discovery.”
 —Sandor Ellix Katz, bestselling author of The Art of Fermentation

“Cassandra Marketos had me with the title. Only, I won’t compost it—I will cherish it and pass it on. I am a compost freak and evangelist and so is Marketos. She is also a great writer; this book has lots of soul searching and philosophical thoughts about one of the most important things we all should be doing. What a wonderful read!”—Jeff Lowenfels, author of Teaming with Microbes

"As the daughter of a mother, chef/eco-activist Alice Waters, who believes—not entirely wrongly—that compost with heal the world's ills, and who would consistently start a compost "pile" in the kitchen corner of any of my post-college lodgings whenever she visited (regardless of my lack of outdoor space), reading Cassandra Marketos's wonderful paean to compost felt like coming home. Her capacity to balance practicality and lyricism left me feeling like I'd read a kind of epilogue to Annie Dillard's seminal celebration of nature, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. In a world where everything everywhere is expected to happen instantly, Compost After Reading encourages slowness, observation, and sensuousness. I can hardly think of a more urgent message in today's climate."

 —Fanny Singer, author of Always Home and founder of Permanent Collection

From the Publisher