Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

75 reviews

titmousehouse's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Colonisation

Moderate: Genocide, Forced institutionalization, Deportation

jaluberth's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Minor: Misogyny, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation

emzinator's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

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A whole new way of viewing the world, wrapped up in brilliant storytelling. I can't recommend it enough!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Hate crime, Racism, Colonisation

jarneko's review against another edition

5.0

hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

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A friend suggested that I listen to the audiobook (as opposed to reading the print version), and I'm so glad I did. It's narrated by the author herself. Hearing the book in Robin's soothing and eloquent voice heightened the experience. It felt as if she was telling you these stories by a cozy bonfire. If you have the opportunity, I cannot recommend it enough.

Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass is a collection of essays that share a common through line: the Earth is in peril because society at large has become disconnected from nature and spirit, and indigenous teachings can help us heal it, as well as ourselves. I learned so much from Kimmerer's experiences as a university professor teaching ecology, as well as reconnecting with her Potawatomi heritage. She artfully balances her traditional indigenous knowledge with Western science. Her stories helped me decolonize my worldview by showcasing the importance of the indigenous cultural values of reciprocity and gratitude. I will be using the lessons I learned from this book in my spiritual practice going forward. 🙏🏼

I think everyone should read this book, especially if you live in the United States. Some people might be turned off by the slow pacing, but if you can get past that aspect and take your time to soak in each story, your mind and worldview will be blown wide open.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Colonisation

Moderate: Animal death, Racism, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Kidnapping, Classism

Minor: Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation

unravelingwires's review against another edition

5.0

emotional informative reflective sad

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation

Moderate: Racism

Minor: War

beckydk's review against another edition

4.25

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation

natreadthat's review against another edition

4.5

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

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What a heartfelt love note to our one and only Earth. 

This is an inspiring book revolving around connecting with nature. Kimmerer uses her personal experiences as an Indigenous woman, botanist, scientist, and ecology professor to bridge the gap between humans and nature, specifically in the Western world. 

Not only did I learn a lot about our environment and living with reciprocity, it also really changed my perspective about how I interact with nature and the world in general. I really enjoyed the many glimpses into Indigenous teachings and culture. Many of her stories had me re-examining my understanding of the world, questioning portions of my lifestyle, and getting angry with the system we’re seemingly stuck in.

Some parts were beautiful and had me tearing up, others were ugly and lit a fire in me. 

How can we be stewards of Earth? How can show our gratitude for the gifts she gives us? 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Genocide, Racism, Violence, Grief, Colonisation

meredithnudo's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Colonisation

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, War

Minor: Vomit, Alcohol

ej_trask's review against another edition

3.5

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation

Moderate: Animal death, Racism, War

Minor: Cultural appropriation

craftysnailtail's review against another edition

4.5

informative reflective relaxing slow-paced

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Highly recommend listening to this one because the author's voice is so soothing. I found this to be informative, interesting, and a slightly odd mixture of poignant and relaxing. 

Hearing about indigenous beliefs and traditions involving plants and nature as a whole was fascinating. And mixing that knowledge with her more traditional botany training made this such a unique perspective. 

As you'd expect, there's a lot of commentary on living in harmony with nature and not always taking, taking, taking, as well as a general message of warning about climate change. Her experience as a woman in science and as a person of color was as distressing as you'd imagine. 

Overall, I found it to be an important perspective and a generally relaxing one to listen to.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Colonisation

Minor: Racism, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation