Braiding Sweetgrass

Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

By: Robin Wall Kimmerer

Narrated by: Robin Wall Kimmerer

As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history that the Potawatomi, as well as a majority of other cultures indigenous to this land, consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers.

In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowing together to reveal what it means to see humans as "the younger brothers of creation". As she explores these themes, she circles toward a central argument: The awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the world. Once we begin to listen for the languages of other beings, we can begin to understand the innumerable life-giving gifts the world provides us and learn to offer our thanks, our care, and our own gifts in return.

©2013 Robin Wall Kimmerer (P)2016 Tantor

Eloquent and inspirational

This book is so timely and yet timeless: weaving threads about native people's history with the land, science that elaborates, and personal memoir; all told in a wonderful voice. I rarely listen to an audiobook a second time, but I will absolutely listen to this again, and also give copies as gifts to friends.

A new favorite!

I enjoyed the writing and Robin Kimmerer's soothing voice very much. I especially enjoyed the content. Botany, ecology, science, and motherhood are all fascinating topics. Beautiful

❤️

My husband and I loved the wisdom and stories shared. Now it's out to plant the three sisters.

The book that opened my mind to RECIPROCITY with the EARTH.

Every time I walk out into my garden it’s like a new world just beginning to open to me. A new reverence captured my imagination.

Profound Medicine

This is perhaps the most beautiful book I have ever read or in this case to listened to. Kimmerer’s writing is exquisite and her narration a balm to my senses. The stories and wisdom she imparts are true medicine but goes down as sweetly as the scent of honeysuckle on a warm spring breeze. My wish is that Everyone read this book. Buy it, gift it, savor and treasure it. I took one star off for one reason: there is not even a pause between chapters which I find disconcerting and confusing. One needs at least a moment of quiet at the end of each essay to take a breath and let its power sink in. This is not a book to be rushed.