I really enjoyed this book.

It was such a great experience that I also enjoyed the lecture I attended when the author talked about the book and answered questions.

He vividly discussed 4 crops: apples, potatoes, tulips, and marijuana.

Moreover, he explored the complex interactions between them and humans, covering aspects such as history, culture, human psychology, and science.

To be honest, I knew nothing much about botany before and had never been particularly interested in that branch of science.

However, this book was a very easy read, and I found it extremely fascinating.

After reading it, I was so impressed that I gave it as a gift on a couple of occasions.

I believe it can bring the same enjoyment and knowledge to others as it did to me.

The article seems to be a critique of a particular writer's work.

It starts by stating that the writer didn't do it for the author, and kept sexualizing plants without a good reason. The direct quote "I can remember the exact moment that spud seduced me, showing off its knobby charms in the pages of a seed catalog" is given as an example.

The author also mentions that the tulip stuff was too racy to post. It goes on to say that the writer's style obscured the interesting parts and bludgeoned the reader with the points he wanted to make.

Finally, it is noted that the writer is obsessed with Dionysus and Apollo. Overall, the article presents a negative view of the writer's work, highlighting the issues of inappropriate sexualization, obfuscation of interesting content, and overemphasis on certain points, as well as the writer's fixation on Dionysus and Apollo.

Perhaps the writer could consider toning down the sexualization, presenting the interesting parts more clearly, and finding a more subtle way to make his points. This would make the work more engaging and accessible to a wider audience.

A very interesting description of the symbiotic relationships that exist between humans and plants - specifically, apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes.

Humans play a crucial role in the selection of certain beneficial species of plants. They carefully choose specific individual plants within that species for culturing and propagation. Over generations, these plants respond by altering their genetics, transforming themselves into even more desirable individuals of their species. The benefit to humans is clear and obvious. We get to enjoy a wide variety of delicious apples, beautiful tulips, and useful potatoes. However, the plants also benefit from this relationship. Thanks to human cultivation, many more of these plant species are grown than would ever occur naturally in the wild.

The history and the science behind these symbiotic relationships fascinated me. I found it truly remarkable how humans and plants have interacted and influenced each other over time. However, I must admit that I felt that some parts of the book were a bit repetitive. In a few places, it was also difficult to follow the flow and narrative. Nevertheless, this did not detract from the overall interest and value of the description.

After reading The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, I was truly inspired to explore more of Michael Pollan's works. It took me a full three years to finally get around to reading this particular book, but I'm extremely glad that I did.

This book has a somewhat more metaphysical tone compared to the other books I've read by him, yet it remains highly informative and captivating. I was completely fascinated by his in-depth exploration of the four distinct kinds of plants and how each one satisfies specific human desires. Additionally, I found his continuous use of the Dionysus/Apollo metaphor throughout the book to be quite amusing.

Some of the interesting quotes from the book include:

"So the question arose in my mind that day: Did I choose to plant these potatoes, or did the potato make me do it? In fact, both statements are true...Yet evolution consists of an infinitude of trivial, unconscious events, and in the evolution of the potato my reading of a particular seed catalog on a particular January evening counts as one of them." (p. xv)

"Domesticated species don't command our respect the way their wild cousins often do. Evolution may reward interdependence, but our thinking selves continue to prize self-reliance. The wolf is somehow more impressive than the dog. Yet there are fifty million dogs in America today, only ten thousand wolves. So what does the dog know about getting along in this world that its wild ancestor doesn't? The big thing the dog knows about - the subject matter it has mastered in the ten thousand years it has been evolving at our side - is us: our needs and desires, our emotions and values, all of which it has folded into its genes as part of a sophisticated strategy for survival." (pp. xvi - xvii)

These quotes, among others, offer profound insights into the relationship between humans and plants, as well as the complex processes of evolution and domestication.

The new words introduced in this text, such as pomace, ramifying, mergansers, synecdoche, muntins, and chthonic, add an extra layer of depth and richness to the reading experience. They enhance our understanding of the various concepts and phenomena discussed in the book.

Overall, Michael Pollan's book is a thought-provoking and engaging read that challenges us to think differently about the world around us and our place in it.

As is always the case with Pollan’s books, this one was truly interesting, incredibly easy to absorb, and absolutely eye-opening.

I was truly delighted by the vast number of erotic terms that he managed to work into the book. It was quite a surprise, especially in the section dedicated to tulips.

The way he incorporated such unexpected language added a unique and engaging dimension to the reading experience.

Oh, and by the way, after reading this book, it seems that I’m going to be growing my own potatoes now.

This newfound inspiration has come from the fascinating insights and stories that Pollan has shared within these pages.

I can’t wait to embark on this new gardening adventure and see what kind of results I can achieve.

Overall, Pollan’s book has once again left a lasting impression on me and has inspired me to explore new aspects of life and nature.

Michael Pollan's work, filled with food-related history, trivia, and stories, endeavors to elucidate how four types of plants have exerted a profound influence on humanity.

He posits that while we typically view domestication as something humans do to other species, it can equally be regarded as a shrewd evolutionary strategy by certain plants and animals to further their own interests.

Pollan peels back the curtain between apples, tulips, marijuana, potatoes, and mankind, revealing the plants' evolution and the antics they've played on civilization.

My favorite chapter centered on tulips. Did you know that in the Dutch Republic, a tulip bulb once commanded the price of a house? This phenomenon, known as "tulipmania," wreaked havoc on the local economy when the bubble burst.

I also gained insights into the evolution of flowers, a topic I was previously ignorant of. I had only considered them from a spiritual standpoint, as Eckhart Tolle described them as the "spiritual evolution of plants." It's quite fascinating if you're inclined towards such ideas.

Pollan's writing style meanders, which may test the patience of readers who prefer more direct non-fiction. However, I found it engaging.

Perhaps he oversimplified the relationship between plants and humanity by highlighting only one motivating desire per plant. But for the purposes of this book, it suffices.

Essentially, "The Botany of Desire" prompts readers to consider what plants obtain from us as much as what we gain from them. It offers a novel perspective, like seeing your home from a toddler's vantage point. There are things to learn, puzzle out, and discover that you may never have imagined.

Recommended for those interested in botany and diverse worldviews.

The same brilliant and creative thinking which I recall from my first read still shines through in this book.

The marijuana section, however, is a bit dated, at least in my state of Colorado. In CO, the laws and attitudes towards marijuana have changed significantly since the book was written.

Nevertheless, despite this minor drawback, the rest of the book held up extremely well. It contains valuable insights and ideas that are still relevant today.

The author's unique perspective and writing style make the book engaging and enjoyable to read. Whether you are a first-time reader or someone who is revisiting the book, you are sure to find something of interest.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and entertaining read.

All those plants seem to care about is what every being cares about on the most basic genetic level: making more copies of itself. It makes one wonder, did I choose to plant these potatoes, or did the potato make me do it? All these plants, which I'd always regarded as the objects of my desire, were also, I realized, subjects, acting on me, getting me to do things for them they couldn't do for themselves.

Pollan posits that plants are clever little buggers who have tricked and enslaved the human race into doing their bidding. I'm not unfamiliar with this thinking. Growing up, my father regularly told me similar things. Once, when walking home from school on a windy day, a large branch fell on me, striking my shoulder and knocking me to the ground. Since my collar bone wasn't broken, I got up and walked home. When I told my father what happened, he said, "Of course. The trees are always hoping we'll drop dead. This one was just a bit more aggressive about it."

CARMEN: o.O

PAPI: "Trees are always hoping that the humans or animals walking by will drop dead. That way they will have a tasty snack."

I've never forgotten what my father told me. He was halfway serious in these remarks, and I take them halfway seriously, too. Even though I've seen tons of "stupid" or "silly" horror films which dream up scenarios in which "plants are trying to kill us!", there is an undercurrent of truth in the notion that, in a way, plants are very evolved organisms, much more evolved than humans themselves. Who can say what their true intentions are? (I'm only half-joking, here.)

Despite the rather "hokey horror film" premise of Pollan's introduction, the book is a smart yet entertaining look at plants and their history of coevolution and codependence with human beings. The book is divided into four parts.

1.) APPLES. This is a very interesting portion of the book. A lot of focus is on Johnny Appleseed. We also get some fascinating discussions of religion. There was an old tradition in northern Europe linking the grape, which flourished all through Latin Christendom, with the corruptions of the Catholic Church, while casting the apple as the wholesome fruit of Protestantism. Wine figured in the Eucharist; also, the Old Testament warned against the temptations of the grape. But the Bible didn't have a bad word to say about the apple or even the strong drink that could be made from it. Even the most God-fearing Puritan could persuade himself that cider had been given a theological free pass.

2.) TULIPS. This section was hella boring. I was bored out of my skull. Ugh. SO BORING.

3.) MARIJUANA. This was a fascinating section about drugs, Pollan's experiences growing and smoking pot, and why plants that alter human consciousness could be a good thing. We also get gems like this: [Witches'] potion recipes called for such things as datura, opium poppies, belladonna, hashish, fly-agaric mushrooms, and the skins of toads. These ingredients would be combined in a hempseed-oil-based "flying ointment" that the witches would then administer vaginally using a special dildo. This was the "broomstick" by which these women were said to travel.

Pollan posits that many of our philosophies and our religions come from the influence of drugs. There's a lot of research to back him up, which I won't go into here.

4.) POTATO. This was interesting because Pollan discusses the Potato Famine and also GMO potatoes. He even grows some GMO potatoes himself in his garden as an experiment. Blah blah blah food industry blah blah blah monoculture blah blah blah.

Tl;dr - 3 out of 4 ain't bad. The mindnumbing tulip section stops this from being a 5-star book, but I think this is a better book than the only other Pollan book I've read: Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation, in which Pollan comes off as a rather entitled and condescending wealthy person. There's not much of that here, Pollan is much more relatable in this book, perhaps because he's not trying to tell people what to eat and how to live their lives.

Wow, Carmen, bitter much?

I call it how I see it! :p

This book has so much information and interesting thinking points that I think it is definitely worth reading for anyone who has even the slightest interest in the topics presented here. I was surprised the book was so good. I'm impressed.

I never thought I would be so entranced by a book about plants.

It was truly an unexpected delight. I breezed through it in a single sitting, completely engrossed in its pages.

Pollen is a wonderful storyteller. Whether he is talking about the beautiful and vibrant tulips, the mysterious and often controversial pot, or our complex relationship to the natural world, he has a way of captivating the reader.

His words make you stop and think, really wonder if we are cultivating plants or if, in some strange and perhaps unintended way, they are cultivating us.

It's a thought-provoking concept that lingers in your mind long after you've finished reading.

This book has opened my eyes to a whole new world of plant life and the fascinating connections that exist between us and the natural environment.

I can't wait to explore more of Pollen's work and see what other insights he has to share.

I liked this book even better than The Omnivore's Dilemma.

When you strip away the somewhat heavy-handed Apollo vs. Dionysus metaphor and the provocative subtitle that implies it's plants, not people, who invented agriculture - that we're essentially just sophisticated bees - you're left with a fascinating collection of histories of four very interesting plants: apples, tulips, cannabis, and potatoes.

And indeed, they co-evolved with people, but that's really not all that surprising or shocking. However, it is both entertaining and educational, well-written and (in the audio edition I listened to) superbly read.

Pollan embarks on a vast journey through history. Although it may seem like a pleasantly meandering trip, it's actually quite focused and organized.

In the chapter on apples, we learn about the real Johnny Appleseed, the concept of sweetness, and how Prohibition forever changed apple marketing.

The tulip chapter not only touches on the (obvious) tulip mania speculative bubble but also delves into the genetics of tulips, the virus that affected them, and the idea of floral beauty in different cultures. And so on.

There is a bit of moralizing: the drug war comes in for some criticism, and monoculture is reviled as the root of all of industrial agriculture's ills. But I don't disagree with these points!

Michael Pollan is truly an incredibly curious, empathetic, informative, and fun writer.

This book has had a profound impact on me, completely transforming the way I perceive our relationship with plants and the nature of evolution in general.

I am truly fascinated by how Pollan seamlessly connects historical scenes of plant-human culture interaction with his own personal experiences, as well as the insights and knowledge he gains from the experts he interviews and spends time with.

One section that I particularly liked was the one on marijuana. It provided a unique perspective on this plant and its role in human history and culture.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in plants, evolution, or the relationship between humans and the natural world. It is a truly engaging and thought-provoking read that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the plants that surround us.

As beguiling as the plants this book enlightened me about,

it truly opened up a whole new world of wonder and knowledge. The author's vivid descriptions and in-depth research made each plant come alive in my imagination. I was amazed to learn about the diverse characteristics, habitats, and uses of these remarkable organisms. From the tiniest wildflowers to the majestic trees, every plant has its own unique story to tell. This book not only educated me about the beauty and importance of plants but also inspired me to look at the natural world with a newfound appreciation. It made me realize that there is so much more to discover and understand about the plants that surround us. Thanks to this book, I now have a deeper connection with the plant kingdom and a greater respect for the role that plants play in our lives.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in nature or wants to learn more about the fascinating world of plants. It is a truly captivating read that will leave you with a sense of awe and wonder.