Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Grief'
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
38 reviews
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation and Racism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Death, War, Grief, Religious bigotry, Animal death, Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Sexism, Suicide, Vomit, Alcohol, Car accident, Cannibalism, Excrement, Abandonment, Child death, Animal cruelty, Pregnancy, Cultural appropriation, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Climate change, habitat destruction, pollution.susannaobrien's review against another edition
4.0
She writes poetically, which was often a joy, but sometimes felt like a slog. I really did find it too long, and sadly caught myself rushing through to finish the audiobook before my loan expire (Perhaps one to have a copy of and dip into). It definitely could have been edited as some chapters felt repetitive or dull. Or split into two, as I did appreciate the richness of the topics covered.
Overall, it exposed my to new ways of thinking and I know I'll be trying to take these ideas forward with me.
Moderate: Genocide, Colonisation, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Addiction, Cultural appropriation, and Grief
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Racism, Colonisation, Animal death, Grief, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Genocide
Minor: Child death, Cannibalism, Car accident, Hate crime, Suicide, and War
melancholymegs's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Colonisation, Animal death, Death, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, and Racism
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Suicide attempt and Excrement
kelly_e's review against another edition
4.75
Author: Robin Wall Kimmerer
Genre: Non Fiction Environment
Rating: 4.75
Pub Date: August 11, 2015
T H R E E • W O R D S
Wise • Meaningful • Absorbing
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer asks questions about nature through the lens of science. Through Indigenous knowledge, she explores the reciprocal relationship between humans and the natural world and presents the historical context of plants and animals as our oldest teachers.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Every once in awhile a book comes along and changes you, for me Braiding Sweetgrass was that book. I absolutely loved it!
Not only is this book and its message important, but it opened up my mind to so much ancient knowledge of the indigenous people and extensive personal reflections is so many different ways. I was instantly captivated by Robin Wall Kimmerer's poetic prose and vivid imagery. Each chapter/essay felt powerful its own way. Combining her scientific background and honest approach to learning with the teachings of the land, there's a beauty unlike anything else with each new idea she brings to the table. It broadened my ecological consciousness, it opened up a world of possibility in honouring the land and seeing the natural world as the greatest teacher, and spark much reflection on my own reciprocal relationship with the world around me.
The only thing that stopped this being a five-star experience is that at times it got overly repetitive, which created a lull in the immersive journey. With that being said, this is a book meant to be savoured, absorbed, and put into practice. I highly recommend reading while listening along to enhance the experience even more.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• anyone who cares about our impact on the planet
• nature enthusiasts
• everyone!
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"People often ask me what one thing I would recommend to restore relationship between land and people. My answer is almost always, "Plant a garden." It's good for the health of the earth and it's good for the health of people. A garden is a nursery for nurturing connection, the soil for cultivation of practical reverence. And its power goes far beyond the garden gate - once you develop a relationship with a little patch of earth, it comes a seed itself.
Something essential happens in a vegetable garden. It's a place where if you can't say 'I love you' out loud, you can say it in seeds. And the land will reciprocate, in beans."
"Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond."
"'Weep! Weep!' calls a toad from the water's edge. And I do. If grief can be a doorway to love, then les us all weep for the world we are breaking apart so we can love it back to wholeness again."
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Grief, Death, Genocide, and Animal death
readandfindout's review against another edition
4.25
Themes: 4 stars
Perspective: 5 stars
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Racism, Grief, Genocide, Death, Forced institutionalization, Cannibalism, Animal death, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry
jayisreading's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Death, Genocide, and Racism
Minor: Suicide attempt and Grief
krys_kilz's review against another edition
5.0
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.
Graphic: Genocide and Animal death
Moderate: Colonisation and Grief
rorikae's review against another edition
5.0
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.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Colonisation, Death, Genocide, Grief, and Violence
maddox22's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Violence, and War
Minor: Alcoholism and Animal cruelty