Perhaps you are thinking of David R. Montgomery, a geologist and professor at the University of Washington who has written several popular books about soil science and environmental issues.
His most notable works include:
* Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations (2007)
* King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa (2004)
* The Hidden Half of Nature: The Microbial World That Runs Our Planet (2017)
* Growing a Revolution: Bringing Our Soil Back to Life (2018)
If you're looking for a different author, please provide more information about the books you are interested in.