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Flower Confidential: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers by Amy Stewart
ejthomas's review against another edition
3.0
If you want to learn about the cut flower market in the U.S.A. and where these flowers come from then you'll enjoy this book. Stewart tackles the issues of economy, environment, scientific endeavour and people surrounding the business.
Biological detail was lacking, so too was a global perspective. I would have enjoyed this book immensely if readers were taken to the more obscure corners of the flower trade and environmental issues delved into a bit more. The book did touch on many important issues but depth was lacking. It was clear that Steward an out and out flower enthusiast and as such she readily lavished the opinion of how wonderful flowers are but fails to balance this by openly criticising undesirable aspects of the trade. Instead she presents facts and allows others to spell it out for the reader on her behalf.
Steward is engaging and writes well thus making the book accessible to all.
Biological detail was lacking, so too was a global perspective. I would have enjoyed this book immensely if readers were taken to the more obscure corners of the flower trade and environmental issues delved into a bit more. The book did touch on many important issues but depth was lacking. It was clear that Steward an out and out flower enthusiast and as such she readily lavished the opinion of how wonderful flowers are but fails to balance this by openly criticising undesirable aspects of the trade. Instead she presents facts and allows others to spell it out for the reader on her behalf.
Steward is engaging and writes well thus making the book accessible to all.
riskyduck's review against another edition
4.0
After this book, you never look at flowers (or the people who sell them) the same way again. Dives into many aspects of the flower industry with an educational enthusiasm. Even if you don't know a whit about flowers, this book will fascinate.
Her detailed research is admirable and brings the writing to life. You'll yearn to go and see the places she's describing.
Flower Confidential gives so many bits of information that pop up in daily life. I will never forget to give Gerberas only a few inches of water; at flower shops, I can barely stop myself from giving the employees a pop quiz to see if they know their Gerbera care. Grocery stores can gain or lose my respect now with their placement of flowers in respect to produce. I mourn the loss of scent in return for longer shelf life and hardiness. And I now think twice before letting a bouquet's fresh appearance trick me into forgetting those babies could be carrying more pesticide than a crop field.
You'll want to have the internet or a reference on hand to look up pictures all the types of flowers Amy reverently describes.
Her detailed research is admirable and brings the writing to life. You'll yearn to go and see the places she's describing.
Flower Confidential gives so many bits of information that pop up in daily life. I will never forget to give Gerberas only a few inches of water; at flower shops, I can barely stop myself from giving the employees a pop quiz to see if they know their Gerbera care. Grocery stores can gain or lose my respect now with their placement of flowers in respect to produce. I mourn the loss of scent in return for longer shelf life and hardiness. And I now think twice before letting a bouquet's fresh appearance trick me into forgetting those babies could be carrying more pesticide than a crop field.
You'll want to have the internet or a reference on hand to look up pictures all the types of flowers Amy reverently describes.
alannabarras's review against another edition
4.0
It’s hard to find a good balance when trying to answer questions that range from ‘why hasn’t anyone created a blue rose’ to ‘how can we eliminate worker exploitation in a billion dollar business?’ Amy Stewart does her best, presenting the information with an empathetic and non-judgemental eye. It would be easy to fall into an almost salacious approach juxtaposing the beauty of cut flowers with the industry’s seedy underbelly but Stewart steers clear. She starts with the history of the Star-Gazer Lily, a flower that kicked off the modern era of designer flowers. It acts as a convenient entry point to a topic most of us are only vaguely aware of. Did you know that cut flowers have lost their scent over time as they’ve been bred to last longer in the vase? Or that the increased trend of out-patient surgeries has put a noticeable dent in local florists' profit as fewer people send bouquets to hospital rooms? Stewart does her absolute best to hit each aspect of the floral industry as she goes through the book, so it’s understandable that some topics feel too surface-level.
I read this for a book club, which is why I picked it up despite a lack of prior interest in cut flowers. I won’t read it again but I did enjoy the journey. It was consistently engaging and sparked a new interest in flowers - I hope to find a few deeper dives in future. Perhaps most surprisingly, I now buy myself bouquets to have at home!
www.lonslibrary.com
I read this for a book club, which is why I picked it up despite a lack of prior interest in cut flowers. I won’t read it again but I did enjoy the journey. It was consistently engaging and sparked a new interest in flowers - I hope to find a few deeper dives in future. Perhaps most surprisingly, I now buy myself bouquets to have at home!
www.lonslibrary.com
nle2004's review against another edition
5.0
Невероятно интересная книга, тут и рассказ о цветочном бизнесе, и о селекции, и о хорошем вкусе.
Я не могла оторваться, хотя не могла даже предположить, что non-fiction может увлечь сильнее многих детективов.
Я не могла оторваться, хотя не могла даже предположить, что non-fiction может увлечь сильнее многих детективов.
maddyb001's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very John McPhee-esq. The insight into flower agriculture was good. I would have liked to hear more about the agricultural practices and worker experiences.
mollyringle's review against another edition
4.0
Delightful topic, engagingly written. My strongest takeaway, probably to the cut-flower industry's dismay, is that it would make a lot more sense for us all to grow our own flowers to the degree possible. But I did learn tons about, and gain lots of appreciation for, all the work that goes into the florist business. As a result of this book I'll likely keep bringing in flowers from outside more often, and may even buy them a bit more often too.
morningtide's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.75
This book was a deep dive into something I had never thought about and don't think I really would have thought about thinking about. It was actually more immersive than I expected it to be as a nonfiction book. After reading a few books about species and natural selection, etc, it was interesting to read about plants that have basically been 100% shaped by the involvement of people. Pretty much all the history and information in here was new and interesting to me, and I won't look at cut flowers the same as I used to.
Stewart did a great job of tying the histories together in a way that made the industry and it's growth feel very understandable. I can't say I wasn't gonna read a book about earthworms otherwise (I'm pretty sure I've actually seen mentions of The Earth Moved and felt intrigued) but this author made me want to read more of her work.
Stewart did a great job of tying the histories together in a way that made the industry and it's growth feel very understandable. I can't say I wasn't gonna read a book about earthworms otherwise (I'm pretty sure I've actually seen mentions of The Earth Moved and felt intrigued) but this author made me want to read more of her work.