The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-eye View of the World by Michael Pollan (2002, Paperback)

I have not read any other works by Michael Pollan, although I understand that he is popular with some gardeners and ecologists. I read this book for my bookclub. Not everyone liked it, some claimed to be so bored that they never got past the first few pages, but it generated some interesting discussion.

I was enthralled by parts of this book and bored by others. At times it was fast-moving and other times it seemed like a doctoral thesis - too much information to support the argument, when the point was already made.

I learned quite a bit by reading this book. I enjoyed the perspective on Johnny Appleseed - nice to read something besides the highly polished legend. I was fascinated by the section on marijuana. I'll never look at tulips or potatoes the same way again - and don't ask me about french fries! I thought his point of how plants have used us in much the same way they use bees was well-made and provided a different perspective on our role in the biosphere.

All-in-all, a fascinating read once you can slog through the denser sections.

A very fresh perspective on how we should view technology's relationship with nature. I particularly enjoyed the very dark side of the book. For example the not so heroic portrait he paints about a beloved fold hero "Johnny Appleseed". Many will enjoy the chapter on marijuana. This chapter in particular has a lot of underlying topics in it. While he doesn't specifically address it, there is an argument against the possibility of Strong AI from a physiological perspective.

I started reading it for reason and quickly discovered many other interesting topics. I'm not the biggest fan of his other books, but this is a masterpiece.

What a fabulous read. It takes you through a plants eye view of the human world. How smart they are and how such little things carved our world.

The author tells about growing marijuana in his garden. The book itself reads like he smoked his whole stash while writing it.
This is a ridiculous waste of paper.

Michael Pollan is a voice of the future. Excellent insight into how and why we eat the things we do. Great Book!