The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World

A fabulous little book of science and history, looking at the way four plants – apples, potatoes, tulips and marijuana – have intersected with humankind. Pollan travels from Holland's Tulipomania of the 16th Century to the real Johnny Appleseed on the American frontier to the Irish potato famine and back to Holland where potent hydroponically grown hybrid pot plants are growing in...more

A fabulous little book of science and history, looking at the way four plants – apples, potatoes, tulips and marijuana – have intersected with humankind. Pollan travels from Holland's Tulipomania of the 16th Century to the real Johnny Appleseed on the American frontier to the Irish potato famine and back to Holland where potent hydroponically grown hybrid pot plants are growing in basements for sale in the country's cafes. Just a great read, and an interesting meditation on how man has shaped and been shaped by his relationships with even fairly mundane expressions of nature.   hide

The apple, the tulip, the potato and marijuana. Very interesting. River Action Read.

Pollan flips the script in this one. Do humans simply cultivate plants, or do plants also cultivate humans? This very readable book takes on an informed and exciting adventure of the co-evolutionary relationship between humans and apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. Pollan is critical of monoculture, global capitalism, anthropocentrism, and the destructive acts of multinational...more

Pollan flips the script in this one. Do humans simply cultivate plants, or do plants also cultivate humans? This very readable book takes on an informed and exciting adventure of the co-evolutionary relationship between humans and apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. Pollan is critical of monoculture, global capitalism, anthropocentrism, and the destructive acts of multinational corporations, and supportive of everyday acts of organic gardening and biodiversity. Each section pulled me in. An excellent read.   hide

I have listened to the Audible version of this book while driving. As a result I would listen to some chapters several times, and each time a different juicy detail jumped at me. The 4 chapters - about the potato, tulip, Marijuana and apple (not in that order) - are a fascinating walk between global history and personal history of the author with his musings and scientific tidbits...more

I have listened to the Audible version of this book while driving. As a result I would listen to some chapters several times, and each time a different juicy detail jumped at me. The 4 chapters - about the potato, tulip, Marijuana and apple (not in that order) - are a fascinating walk between global history and personal history of the author with his musings and scientific tidbits thrown in. The opening chapter about apples alone is worth buyng the book, with the close look Michal Pollan takes at the Johnny Appleseed myth.   hide

Pollan explores the coevolutionary history of humans and plants by tracing the historic interaction of four human desires with four different plants. Sweet through the apple; beauty in relation to the tulip; intoxication via the history of cannabis; control as reflected in potato history. I found something of interest and illumination in each section. I always appreciate Pollan's...more

Pollan explores the coevolutionary history of humans and plants by tracing the historic interaction of four human desires with four different plants. Sweet through the apple; beauty in relation to the tulip; intoxication via the history of cannabis; control as reflected in potato history. I found something of interest and illumination in each section. I always appreciate Pollan's journalistic-style research and need for first-hand exploration. Having previously read In Defense of Food and The Omnivore's Dilemma, Pollan's style has clearly evolved, perhaps coevolved in relation to his readers. His latter work is much smoother and more enjoyable than The Botany of Desire, as his almost conversational interaction with his reader has become more refined. Reading Pollan is like having a great and knowledgeable and entertaining friend join you for a long leisurely breakfast on the porch.   hide

I loved this book. While I take issue with some of Pollan's description of plant "designs", cleverly utilizing the humans who use the plants, I still appreciate his writing style. I enjoyed the first two chapters- the ones involving the history of man and the apple, and the history of man and the tulip- the most of all.

Intriguing propositions of human/plant co-evolution and very good choices of case studies in the apple, tulip and marijuana (less though about the potato). These are tempting ideas but perhaps Pollan is giving too much credit for plants having a 'will' or 'consciousness' to determine their fate and future?

Michael Pollan discusses the history, use, social context, and botany of four plants--each with an storied past and a specific purpose: Apples (Johnny Appleseed) sweetness; Tulips (beauty) the tulip popularity that shook the financial world); Potato (Irish Potato Famine) control; and marijuana (legalization) and intoxication. Terrifically...more

Michael Pollan discusses the history, use, social context, and botany of four plants--each with an storied past and a specific purpose: Apples (Johnny Appleseed) sweetness; Tulips (beauty) the tulip popularity that shook the financial world); Potato (Irish Potato Famine) control; and marijuana (legalization) and intoxication. Terrifically interesting and entertaining.   hide

rather different spin on the interactions between plants and humanity and how some plant species have benefitted from properties that humanity finds desirable...not sure i fully understand/ agree with the hidden agenda hypothesis of the plants - that they purposefully evolved certain properties to propagate their existence by being attractive to humans...but i love the way Pollan structures...more

rather different spin on the interactions between plants and humanity and how some plant species have benefitted from properties that humanity finds desirable...not sure i fully understand/ agree with the hidden agenda hypothesis of the plants - that they purposefully evolved certain properties to propagate their existence by being attractive to humans...but i love the way Pollan structures the evidence and his arguments taking in all sides   hide