Book excerpt: Covering the undergraduate course in geotechnical engineering for civil engineers, this work sets out the basic theories of soil mechanics in a clear, simple way, combining both classical and critical state theories. By using short, focused chapters, the author ensures an accessible text while maintaining a continuous thread running through the book as theory develops into application. The treatment of soil mechanics is essentially theoretical but it is not highly mathematical and soil behaviour is represented by relatively simple equations with clearly defined parameters. The theory is supported by worked examples and simple experimental demonstrations.