Product DescriptionA farmer cultivates genetically modified potatoes so that a customer at McDonald's half a world away can enjoy a long, golden french fry. A gardener plants tulip bulbs in the autumn and in the spring has a riotous patch of colour to admire. Two simple examples of how humans act on nature to get what we want. Or are they? What if those potatoes and tulips have evolved to gratify certain human desires so that humans will help them multiply? What if, in other words, these plants are using us just as we use them? In blending history, memoir and superb science writing, Pollan tells the story of four domesticated species - the apple, the tulip, marijuana and the potato. All four plants are integral to our everyday lives and Pollan demonstrates how each has thrived by satisfying one of humankind's most basic desires. Weaving fascinating anecdote and accessible science, Pollan takes the reader on an absorbing journey through the landscape of botany and desire. It is a journey that will change the way we think about our place in nature
What Others Say
I Love This Book!
A fascinating read. The Botany of Desire is quite possibly my favorite book. You'll find yourself quoting all kinds of interesting facts about the history of apples and never wanting to eat non-organic potatoes ever again. I constantly recommend The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-eye View of the World to others, and I've yet to meet a person who didn't enjoy it. Buy it-you won't regret it!
