The Botany of Desire
Michael Pollan Book Review

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Plot Summary of The Botany of Desire

"Science journalist Pollan surveys the coevolution of plants and animals -- particularly humans -- through four examples: apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes. Each allows him to discuss a variety of historical issues and developments. Pollan uses apples as a way to describe grafting, animals' taste for sweetness, and the true man behind the legend of Johnny Appleseed. With tulips, he can study the desire for beauty, periods of mania over tulips in Turkey and Holland, and how flowers helped to make warm-blooded animals possible on Earth.

Marijuana initiates an exploration of plant toxins and poisons, human and animal desire for intoxication, and what the author claims is the foolish U.S. war on drugs. And finally, potatoes serve as a springboard to an examination of plant diseases and pests, genetic manipulation, and man's desire to control nature. "
David Loftus, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of The Botany of Desire

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Kind Of History
Time of history: - 20th century - 19th century
Nationality? - American--General
History of a science? Yes
Kind of science - Biology

Subjects of this Historical Account
Is the portrayal sympathetic? - Sympathetic

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Midwest - California
Farm/Ranch: - farm - lots of descript of crop raising
Farms/Ranches? Yes

Style
How much gore? - 1 ()
How fast-paced is the book? - 7 ()
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Book makes you feel... - thoughtful
How much focus on stories of individuals? - Focuses mostly on the people/nation level
Is book humorous? Yes
If humorous, kind of humor - gentle humor
Minor characters feature lots of: - scientists
Pictures/Illustrations? - None
Length of book - 201-250 pages
How much emphasis on small details? - 4 ()

Most similar books to The Botany of Desire
Hidden Histories of Science by Robert B. Silvers
Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age by Bill McKibben
Brotherhood of the Bomb by Gregg Herken
Mosquito: A Natural History of our Most Persistent and Deadly Foe by Andrew Spielman and Michael D'Antonio
Einstein's Luck by John Waller

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Michael Pollan Resident Scholar Profiles

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The Botany of Desire Michael Pollan Book Review

The Botany of Desire
Michael Pollan Book Review