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elyseyost's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
This book had a refreshing blend of historical, scientific, and personal where it felt like I was learning but not doing schoolwork.
My main critique of the book is mainly contained to the tulip chapter, where Pollan relied on outdated tropes to push gender essentialism onto flowers with no biological backing. He admits “Biologically speaking, most flowers are bisexual, containing both male and female organs,” yet for some reason goes on to insist that a tulip is the most masculine flower while a roses or peonies are “women” prone to over-exuberance and irrationality. He repeatedly, and without scientific reason, falls into the trope of associating the ‘illogical’ and ‘primitive’ with femininity and ‘logic’ with masculinity.
Where Pollan shone was in the last two chapters on marijuana and the potato; discussing our desire for intoxication and control. His voice as a writer became a lot stronger for me in these chapters, and I found them to be thought-provoking and engaging.
bookworm21century's review against another edition
3.75
It was a personal recollection with facts scattered in between. I wish I was more into gardening, but that was my fault.
frenchfrybri's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
i learned cool tidbits but i had to sift through so many words reminding me why i dislike science books written by Men
i learned cool tidbits but i had to sift through so many words reminding me why i dislike science books written by Men
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
"The Botany of Desire" was an interesting read but it still didn't top my favorite Pollan book, "The Omnivore's Dilemna". Pollan wrote Botany before Omnivore and in this earlier work, explores the human relationship with four different domesticated plants: tulips, apples, potatoes, and marijuana. There's a touch of social history and tales of the author's own experiences with growing each plant. The potato section had many common themes with Pollan's later books: Omnivore and In Defense of Food.
soniagracelm's review against another edition
3.0
A good book for avid gardeners, but it left me a little unsatisfied. Pollan is very pleased with his own writing style. As a consequence, the tone is a little pompous. It's full of information, but he really beats the reader over the head with some of his points, and he likes telling personal anecdotes so much that it's almost a memoir. I liked it well enough to finish it, and it is well-written, but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone.