Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

By Robin Wall Kimmerer

Book Overview

A New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Readers Pick

#1 New York Times Bestseller

A Washington Post and Los Angeles Times Bestseller

As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on "a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise" (Elizabeth Gilbert).

Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, and as a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living beings--asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass--offer us gifts and lessons, even if we've forgotten how to hear their voices. In reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, she circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571313567
• ISBN13: 9781571313560
• Release Date: August 2015
• Publisher: Milkweed Editions
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

This my favorite book now! A better world is possible!

This book became my favorite (nonfiction) book within the first few pages, particularly with the story about Sky Woman, and the comparisons to Eve in Abrahamic religions. The overarching vibe of the book immediately tapped into the realm of my favorite fiction series (Clan of the Cave Bear/Earth's Children by Jean M. Auel), in which the main character is a medicing woman during the Ice Age (highly recommend that series!). Kimmerer had me in tears multiple times throughout Braiding Sweetgrass and made me realize that I had a long way to go in being more connected with nature and life. I'd always assumed I was, having taken care of a garden and hiked and camped my whole life. Then I read this book and started thinking of new ways to connect, respect, and honor the world around me - especially the plants I cared for, and who, as I came to better understand, took care of me too. I started by naming my trees and saying good morning or good night to them, complimenting them on various aspects, such as their growth or flowers, or even thanking them, like my peach tree, when I harvested this year. I liked how the book had lessons in each chapter that were mixed with a story. I especially like the Wenindingo chapter that talked about overconsumption, and realizing our world is run by Wendingos, and if we are to survive and thrive, we must stop feeding their insatiable greed. This book gave a lot of harsh realities of our history and the destruction of what once was, especially in the later chapters. The idea that we have the potential to restore things, but that often means it's never the same as it was. And, in many cases, things are lost forever - they cannot be replaced. But it also taught me that healing the planet and society is possible. That we all have a job to do, and a duty to protect. It gave me a lot of hope for the future, the potential of which is so beautiful to think about through these lessons. A better world is possible. I've since read Kimmerer's other book, The Serviceberry, which is another favorite of mine now as well. I highly recommend Braiding Sweetgrass and any of her books to everyone! This is a book I wish were required reading in school at some grade level. I think it has the potential to reshape a lot of things and change the way we see and engage with the world. Imagine what that'd do if every kid in school read this. Personally, I can't wait to read it again, and ever write about it! Buy this book, and share it with others! :)

I enjoyed it but didn’t have the “I can’t put it down experience”

I really enjoyed this book, it was very informative.

The Cure to Despair

Dr Kimmerer's ability to educate while breathing hope into the world is unmatched. She while take your breath away and give it back full of wonder in the next paragraph. It took me 2 years to finish just because I wanted to savor it.

A love letter

Every chapter, essay, is a beautifully written letter that binds human and nature. How much she loves us! And how dare we not love her back! I absolutely love this book. Lots of emotion and reminders of how to keep the natural connection between us and Earth - and each other.

Phenomenal book.

For me, this was life-changing.

A beautiful, mind expanding, gift of a book

I'm here to buy extra copies to give as gifts, because that's what this book is. I'll always be grateful for the deep love and connection for our plant and animal relatives this book guided me to. Kimmerer has a way of exposing the backwardness of our modern world without giving into despair, inspiring readers to renew our relationship with the earth and reminding us that the earth is made to heal both us and itself. Elizabeth Gilbert said it right, this book is "a hymn of love to the world."

Beautiful

I laughed, I cried, I was left speechless. This book provides not just the hope for, but a framework to work towards building a better world

Beautiful prose, entertaining stories and a wealth of knoweldge about plants

Kimmerer writes about plants and indigenous knoweldge intertwined withn stories from her life. This book is dense but the prose are so beautifully written and she approaches these important topics with humour and humility. Highly recommend!

Incredible

I loved every word in this book. The deep connection and love Robin has with and for nature truly shines through on every page of this book.

Braiding sweet grass is a book that left me wanting more!

I looked forward to reading a chapter or two before turning in for the night. The author, Robin wrote with so much knowledge of nature, but it didn't feel like a nonfiction book. She explained plants, animals, and other organisms with so much love and respect. Next time I go for a walk in the woods , I will see, no I will observe, all the beauty that surrounds me. Buy this book, it is beautifully written!