A review by micareads123
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer is a beautiful little book arguing for the benefits of a gift economy: an economy based on reciprocity, the sharing of abundance, mutual well-being and gratitude. In contrast, she highlights how the colonial, market-based economy that underpins our society is based on scarcity, profit, overconsumption and individualism. It encourages people to work solely for their own benefit, without regard for the benefit of others. And it promotes the hoarding and privatization of natural resources for the wealth and gain of a few. 

This book essentially expands on the author’s thoughts about an idea she introduced in Braiding Sweetgrass. She takes wisdom from plants and the natural world and applies it to our human social structures. And I expected to enjoy this book, of course, but I didn’t expect it to resonate with me as deeply as it did.

The underlying current in this book is the feeling that our society should move from individualistic to group-oriented, an economic unit of “we” rather than “I,” as “all flourishing is mutual.” This is a model that I strongly feel should be — and could be — applied in many areas of our society. The transition away from individualism and convenience and towards community care and mutual well-being is something that I care about very deeply. 

While reading the book, I couldn’t stop myself from comparing the ideas presented to how society is acting in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s one aspect of community care that has become socially acceptable to overlook, but I do not think it is an issue on which we can exempt people from the responsibility of community care. The gifts of getting vaccinated, staying home when sick and wearing a mask when applicable are crucial to mutual well-being, too.

But while Wall Kimmerer argues for the benefits of the gift economy, she acknowledges that it is not feasible for us to transition completely out of our current economic structure, and certainly not overnight. She highlights the importance of fostering a “mosaic of economies” and prioritizing gifting networks and models where possible.  She also provides examples of gifting networks already existing in our society, such as little free libraries, Wikipedia, the buy nothing movement, clothing swaps and more. 

TL;DR: This is a wonderful little book that expands on the idea of the gift economy, a concept from an “old-growth culture” that was introduced to me by Robin Wall Kimmerer in Braiding Sweetgrass. The idea of moving away from our economy driven by individualism and towards a group-based gifting system resonates with me very deeply, and I think this is a must read for anyone hoping to see and be a part of the change we so desperately need at this juncture.