Reviews with content warning for Genocide - Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

It took a while to get through Braiding Sweetgrass. I just had too many thoughts running through my head while reading. Kimmerer draws attention to Indigenous knowledge and how it can coexist and complement science when we approach nature. Relatedly, she highlights the importance of gratitude and reciprocity in our relationship with the earth, that plants can be our teachers, as well as how intertwined everything is in nature.

I found myself thinking the most about reciprocity during the months I (very slowly) made my way through this book. I reflected a lot about how much listening and giving back I’ve been doing in particular. This also grew to a broader question of whether I understand reciprocation in the spaces I exist in. It’s tough, and I sometimes feel defeated, not knowing where to begin. And, considering this, I really appreciated how Kimmerer guides us through oral tradition and her experiences to teach us how to care for the land we call “home” and ways we can give back to the earth.

While I appreciated the book’s messages, it sometimes felt as though Kimmerer had on rose-tinted glasses. It’s possible I’m just a cynic (especially as of late), but I’m not sure if we (by which I mean us settlers) have a genuine grasp of gratitude, let alone reciprocity. It sometimes feels as though she assumes we have this starting point, when, in reality, we probably don’t. Do we actually know how to express thanks and give back to the earth in a way that’s just? Maybe in small ways (she suggests planting a garden, for example), but what about bigger matters such as land and sovereignty? What then?

It’s important that we remember to listen to the earth and have love and joy for it. Really, Kimmerer expresses this so beautifully and with such kindness. However, I feel that we also need to keep in mind there are complicated layers of settlers’ relationship with land and our positionality that won’t be as gentle in approach, and the hardest part of that is swallowing that pill. I guess it’s here that you’re sort of seeing my thoughts going in all directions, which is why this “review” is a bit jumbled, haha.

Overall, this was a wonderful book to read, and there’s a lot to reflect on. That being said, I do think it’s fair to say that it barely scratches the surface of what Indigenous people have been talking about when it comes to the relationship between humans and the land we live on.

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krys_kilz's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

5.0

I don't even have the words to describe this book. There's just so much that has stuck with me, so much incredible wisdom. Kimmerer is really able to tap into grief in her writing; I cried many times throughout the book. I loved her storytelling; it made the material much less dense and easier to understand.

The concept of restoration as an antidote to despair has really stayed with me. This book has given me a lot to contemplate and chew on.

The only thing I didn't like was the liberalism woven throughout this book. Things like "a nation of immigrants," addressing the climate crisis through reform, and the emphasis on individual choice really missed the mark for me. With that said, I think there is a lot of radical imagination in this book and it's worth the read.

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erica_palmisano's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

So rich, so beautifully written, so full of challenging but graciously articulated ideas. The audiobook is narrated by the author, whose warm tone and style is delightful, and I'm so glad I heard it. I think I'll get the physical book for future reference since I used my library card for this. There's just too much to think about to hear it only once.

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keeganrb's review against another edition

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emotional informative medium-paced

5.0

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rorikae's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

'Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants' is the perfect mix of nature writing, indigenous teachings, and thoughts on how we can live a gratitude and reciprocity based life. Robin Wall Kimmerer demonstrates her care for the natural world through her detailed and evocative explorations of nature as she ties personal stories and moments to larger understandings of the world and humanity's place with nature.
I honestly find this book a little bit hard to write about because it just needs to be read. I think everyone could benefit from reading this book and looking at the ways that they can bring these teachings into their daily lives.
I had so many takeaways and tabbed this book so that I could come back again and again to pieces that struck me. Three pieces that have stuck with me the most are one, looking to the gifts that nature has given to us and finding the ways that we can give thanks and live in reciprocity for those gifts. Second, that all flourishing is mutual. And third, that writing is one gift that humanity can give back to the world. As someone who feels a call to write, reading about how Kimmerer approaches writing was refreshing and inspiring.
This is one of my favorite books that I have read all year. It perfectly mixes heartfelt teachings with a realistic look at how we are treating the environment. I will be taking these teachings into my daily life and look forward to returning to this book again and again.

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daisydoolie's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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