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willareads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.75
ariella83's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful and poetic read, but got hard for me to finish toward the end. The perspective that it brings seems timeless though.
sanjvenk127's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully woven and rhetorically effective, Braiding Sweetgrass makes a strong argument towards an entangled biosphere in which (Western) humans must rethink our relationship to the land, other species, and other people. Certain chapters and scenes (e.g., salamanders as collateral damage, the Wendigo as a metaphor) took my breath away. I do think this narrative could have benefited from a little more variety, as by the end it seemed like every chapter had a few repetitive phrases that could have been made implicit. In addition, while Kimmerer mostly stays specific to her own Potawatomi background, she sometimes makes sweeping generalizations about other Native communities around the world (and enforces a somewhat firm dichotomy between Native and colonizer) that I find problematic. To be clear, I am not Indigenous, and my opinions in no way should deter someone from reading the book because it is still incredibly important– I'm merely pointing out that such arguments are complicated from an anthropological standpoint.
deea_bks's review against another edition
4.0
3.5*
(Recommended by Jenny Odell)
Full of interesting information and of indigenous wisdom and beautifully written at times, but also repetitive, with a lot of purple prose and with many parts that were either dragging or meandering a bit too much. Way longer than necessary as well, with sections that didn't seem to have a point (I would have edited it heavily) and rather disjointed. I kept oscilating between a 3, a 4 and a 5* rating while reading it.
(Recommended by Jenny Odell)
Full of interesting information and of indigenous wisdom and beautifully written at times, but also repetitive, with a lot of purple prose and with many parts that were either dragging or meandering a bit too much. Way longer than necessary as well, with sections that didn't seem to have a point (I would have edited it heavily) and rather disjointed. I kept oscilating between a 3, a 4 and a 5* rating while reading it.
elena9954's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
I usually have trouble with non-fiction books, so I've had this one on my shelf for a while. I recently walked for many days in nature and thought I'd give Braiding Sweetgrass a try on audiobook. I expected to listen to a couple chapters then return it to the library, but I was hooked and listened to four chapters at once! Robin Wall Kimmerer is an amazing storyteller and the chapters are perfectly crafted with personal stories, plant biology, indigenous teachings, and more. She weaves thoughtful themes throughout each chapter and the structure of the entire book, so it feels like going on a whole journey. I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did, and I would recommend the audiobook read by the author. It was especially meaningful for me to listen while surrounded by nature.
lakeshorelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
The audiobook is read by the author, and she has a voice and rhythm for storytelling. I loved the content of the book, but 17 hours of listening was a lot. I would suggest that reading may be easier, especially as it is more a series of essays on a theme than a consistent narrative. Her writing is strongest when she is telling stories, either from native wisdom or folklore, or about her life and the projects her students undertake.
Kimmerer is an ecologist, and her book is the Silent Spring of the 21st century. Everyone should read it. I want to read it again myself. Her basic theme is that we should learn from the Native American ways of relating to the plants and animals that share the earth with us. She thinks it may still be possible to change our ways and halt the destructive path we're on -- but that change needs to happen soon.
There is a lot of both information and philosophy in the book. Give it a try. A chapter at at time if that's helpful, but read it.
Kimmerer is an ecologist, and her book is the Silent Spring of the 21st century. Everyone should read it. I want to read it again myself. Her basic theme is that we should learn from the Native American ways of relating to the plants and animals that share the earth with us. She thinks it may still be possible to change our ways and halt the destructive path we're on -- but that change needs to happen soon.
There is a lot of both information and philosophy in the book. Give it a try. A chapter at at time if that's helpful, but read it.
abbysnofun's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
took me a long time to read, but this book benefits from taking your time. fundamentally changed the way i think about the natural world
laracroft992's review against another edition
informative
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
2.5
Truly an informative read about the connection of nature and Indigenous culture and how it compares to modern life. This book is not my style nor does it speak to me in a particularly profound way. I wholeheartedly believe it would be life-changing for other readers.
marksbookmarks's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
kimmerer is at her strongest & most moving when she weaves her personal narrative with oral tradition… lots of beautiful passages in this book. i savored each chapter and plan on using the gift of this knowledge as responsibly as i can!