Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 306.45 EAN: 9780375760396 ISBN: 0375760393 Label: Random House Trade Paperbacks Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 304 Publication Date: May 28, 2002 Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks Release Date: May 28, 2002 Sales Rank: 1154 Studio: Random House Trade Paperbacks
Funny, gentle and world changing
It is a rare science book that evokes such an emotional response in me. "Beak of the Finch" by Jonathan Weiner is one, and "The Botany of Desire" is another. Pollan's discussion of four archetypal plants (apple, tulip, marijuana and potato) and our shared history with them makes for some wonderfully interesting reading. He has a great gift for allegory and metaphor, and these plants became real characters that I cared about deeply. Sprinkled with just the kind of details that I love most, the book reads like a daydream of a letter from home. Here are some examples of what I mean: the fact that without flowers there would be no mammals, which is likely the reason we human beings are partial to flowers, the overpowering smell of a marijuana hothouse ... Read More
The Botnay of Desire
This is a book for gardeners and people interested in history of our country.
There are four plants that changed the world. An easy read with much information. Your ideas on Johnny Appleseed will change and very pleasantly. Also on the potato. Do read this and share with friends. I have given this as a gift many times.
worth the time
It tends to ramble in the philosophical arena, but I found his writing well researched and the questions thoughtful and thought provoking. I would recommend it for a book club or philosphy group.
Great Idea, Horrible Result
Mr Pollan had a great idea for a book--evolution of 4 different species of well know plants from the plant's perspective as influenced by humans. There's about 30 pages of good information to this end. The rest is horribly long and painful unrelated tangents that he clearly enjoys writing about, but have absolutely nothing to do with the subject. For instance, in covering apples he talks for freggen ever about John Chapaman, aka Johnny Appleseed. Who cares about Appleseed's sexual frustrations with a potential 10 year old bride??? Who cares about his love of sleeping in hollowed out logs, or on the snow if sleeping in the log would disturb some insects??? If you're ridiculously bored and don't mind reading about random garbage you might like The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World. ... Read More
Short, Sweet, Insightful
I was continuously amused and enlightened about many things in The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World; suffice it to say I dog-eared quite a few pages as I wanted to go back to re-read certain passages for the perspective, perhaps for the phrasing, or for the knowledge.
Humans certainly have the desire and the ability to bend nature, but a good lesson learned in The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World is to let nature be itself, even as you make it do your bidding!
