Second Nature

A Gardener's Education

By: Michael Pollan

Narrated by: Michael Pollan

Length: 9 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

In his articles and in best-selling books such as The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan has established himself as one of our most important and beloved writers on modern man's place in the natural world. A new literary classic, Second Nature has become a manifesto not just for gardeners but for environmentalists everywhere.

Chosen by the American Horticultural Society as one of the 75 greatest books ever written about gardening, Second Nature captures the rhythms of our everyday engagement with the outdoors in all its glory and exasperation. With chapters ranging from a reconsideration of the Great American Lawn, a dispatch from one man's war with a woodchuck, to an essay about the sexual politics of roses, Pollan has created a passionate and eloquent argument for reconceiving our relationship with nature.

©2003 Michael Pollan (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“ Second Nature reads like brilliant entertainment, but it is serious wisdom. Michael Pollan…is a genuine heir to my favorite nature writer, Mark Twain.” (Simon Schama, The Boston Globe)

another great book by Micheal Pollan

I've loved all of Pollans books and this is no exception.....of course, it's much better with him reading it..... Worth the time to listen

Who knew gardening could bring such insight!

This was an absolutely great listen. The author's reading of the book was smooth and flowing and conveyed real knowledge and passion about his subject matter.
I was especially impressed by the depth of knowledge. His insight into the extremist views of those who think they understand nature are spot-on. If gardening truly brings such insight I should have started long ago!

After finishing this book I immediately began recommending it to friends and family.

Second Nature

Wonderful relatable story, intelligent conversationalist.
Someone I wish I had for a neighbor to converse with. :)

Michael Pollan makes me feel smarter.

In this book, as in every book of his I have read, Michael Pollan puts my experiences and aspirations into words I have not had the capacity (or time) to develop. He tells me how I feel about my garden, about the food I eat, and how to open my mind. And sometimes what he tells me about myself are my own original thoughts.

He writes with great ease and I feel like he is speaking right to me. He does his homework and he puts deep thought into the interconnectedness of everything with everything else in time and space. In a world that seems to value intellectual growth less and less, Michael Pollan makes it virtuous again. How else will we be better than we are if we don't explore where we have been, why we have built the conventions of our societies in the way we have, and why we should re-think them to fit our lives and times?

Looking forward to a second read!!!

Loved the personal stories about his family, especially his grandfather. Hadn't heard a Felix Unger reference in ages!! Learned a ton and am inspired greatly. Highly recommend this book for anyone contemplating working with nature.

Great book

This is a great book, it's a wonderful guide to the history of gardens in America and what I appreciate the most is Pollan's way of looking at all that history and drawing his own conclusions while building his own garden. It is something that I want to do someday in my garden, But so far in my life I have been unsuccessful trying even the smallest of gardens. I appreciate a lot of the things he said, and I find myself mesmerized by some of the quotations that he pulls from all these gardeners. I want his bibliography so that I can immerse myself into this world of gardening even deeper. Great book.
I'm debating whether I get a physical copy of this book, so I can make notes underline wonderful parts and make it as a reference for me in the future. It's certainly a book that you can't just use up in audio form.

Good but not exactly what I was expecting.

I was thinking to learn a little more about gardening but it's really more of an essay on the ideas of gardening. I got tired of it in the last 1/4 or so.

Interesting and Entertaining

Any additional comments?

Kept my interest through most of the book. Pollan is a GREAT storyteller. And intertwines gardening information, his experiences, into it. I liked his childhood stories the most, about his family, and semi-juvenile delinquent buddy. Lots of interesting characters in Pollan's childhood.

great new look at why we garden

What made the experience of listening to Second Nature the most enjoyable?

....and what it gives back to use in return. I think I will listen to another of his books

at first i thought it a little slow

Would you consider the audio edition of Second Nature to be better than the print version?

micheal has a good reading voice and since listening is my favorite reading method it works for me

What other book might you compare Second Nature to and why?

only his other books

Which character – as performed by Michael Pollan – was your favorite?

himself

Any additional comments?

yes this book is well worth the read for the new perspective it gave me on weeds