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sarakomo 's review for:
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
by Robin Wall Kimmerer
2021: A joyful blend of Indigenous traditions and modern science
Kimmerer is a brilliant writer, seamlessly jumping from Native teachings to scientific experiments. I loved her ability to ground her thoughts in her culture and upbringing, without forgetting that her audience most likely didn't come from a similar background. Her stories never feel too abstract or too optimistic - they definitely come across as meeting her audience where they are at (and remembering that they all enjoy access to running water and wifi).
A favorite anecdote of mine was Kimmerer's struggle in Target to most sustainably purchase a writing pad and pen, while trying to take into the entire supply chain that got these products to the shelves. It made me think of the scene in The Good Place in which they struggle to even purchase a tomato without losing any points - we Americans have created such an unnecessarily complex and unsustainable supply chain! Yay capitalism!
I listened to this audiobook while hiking in Yosemite, and it was a beautiful reminder of taking time to absorb the natural world around us. Yes, I see the hypocrisy myself, as I listened to this via AirPods instead of just listening to the nature all around me. But it certainly was a great venue for an audiobook.
After a while, the essays of Braiding Sweetgrass got a little too repetitive for me. I particularly lost interest in the chapter on cedar, and felt that the book lost its momentum. Overall, I really enjoyed learning from Kimmerer's perspective, and loved that she narrated the audiobookâsuch a great personal touch to have the author read her own words!
Kimmerer is a brilliant writer, seamlessly jumping from Native teachings to scientific experiments. I loved her ability to ground her thoughts in her culture and upbringing, without forgetting that her audience most likely didn't come from a similar background. Her stories never feel too abstract or too optimistic - they definitely come across as meeting her audience where they are at (and remembering that they all enjoy access to running water and wifi).
A favorite anecdote of mine was Kimmerer's struggle in Target to most sustainably purchase a writing pad and pen, while trying to take into the entire supply chain that got these products to the shelves. It made me think of the scene in The Good Place in which they struggle to even purchase a tomato without losing any points - we Americans have created such an unnecessarily complex and unsustainable supply chain! Yay capitalism!
I listened to this audiobook while hiking in Yosemite, and it was a beautiful reminder of taking time to absorb the natural world around us. Yes, I see the hypocrisy myself, as I listened to this via AirPods instead of just listening to the nature all around me. But it certainly was a great venue for an audiobook.
After a while, the essays of Braiding Sweetgrass got a little too repetitive for me. I particularly lost interest in the chapter on cedar, and felt that the book lost its momentum. Overall, I really enjoyed learning from Kimmerer's perspective, and loved that she narrated the audiobookâsuch a great personal touch to have the author read her own words!