In Defense of Plants

An Exploration into the Wonder of Plants

By: Matt Candeias PhD

Narrated by: Matthew Boston

Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

In his debut book, internationally recognized blogger and podcaster Matt Candeias celebrates the nature of plants and the extraordinary world of plant organisms.

A botanist's defense. Since his early days of plant restoration, this amateur plant scientist has been enchanted with flora and the greater environmental ecology of the planet. Now, he looks at the study of plants through the lens of his ever-growing houseplant collection.

The ruthless, horny, and wonderful nature of plants. Understand how plants evolve and live on Earth with a never-before-seen look into their daily drama. In this book, Candeias explores the incredible ways plants live, fight, have sex, and conquer new territory. Whether a blossoming botanist or a professional plant scientist, In Defense of Plants is for anyone who sees plant organisms as more than just static backdrops to more charismatic life forms.

In this easily accessible introduction to the incredible world of plants, you'll find fantastic botanical histories and plant symbolism, passionate stories of flora diversity and scientific names of plants, and personal tales of plantsman discovery through the study of plants.

©2021 Matt Candeias (P)2021 Tantor

Wonder, is ready to bloom.

In 23 years of being a native plant nerd, I couldn’t have said it better with another 27 years of trying.

Wonder, is ready to bloom.

Thought provoking

If this doesn’t get you worried, concerned, and fired about about plant conservation, nothing will.

Listen to his podcast of the same name!!

Great book

I loved Matt's story, and it is very informative.


I rarely complain about narration, I can hear his inhale paragraph. It does get alittle annoying. I wish Matt had narrated this book. I love his podcast and voice.

Enjoyable, accessible read for plant nerds

I heard about this book from the author’s podcast of the same name. Like the podcast, it opens up the world of botany and the role it plays in ecological preservation to lay people like myself, who has a keen but untrained interest in climate change and habitat loss. Most importantly, it’s entertaining and inspiring.

overall easy to follow and enjoyable.

a little lacking in technical detail and the science aspects I was thinking it would have more of. otherwise an excellent listen

A brilliant book for plant lovers

The author collects great examples and explores them, hoping you'll get hooked on plants. And he succeeds, although I was already a plant lover. The examples are brilliant. I even discovered why the common blackberry I often fight in the landscape is so successful. Who knew that fish disperse seeds?
If you like botany and plants, get this book. You'll learn a great deal. I listened to the main plant chapters twice.
The narration is solid. I hope I'm this happy with all of my book purchases in 2021.

Fascinating

great book, narrator was good as well. I do kind of wish Matt would have just narrated it himself since a lot of its written in his own perspective. after binging the podcast it took me a few minutes to adjust to hearing someone else narrating thoughts.

Excellent journey into the world of plants

This book is an enthusiastic exploration into the wonderful world of plants, from orchids to carnivorous plants to butterfly host plants this book has something for every plant lover.

It’s like listening to a documentary

I liked the first and last chapters. The middle section was very scientific and a little unrelatable. It felt like it was written more for botanists or ecologists than for the common gardener.

This will open your eyes to the living green world

I was already in love with green living things before listening to this, but this deepened my amazement at the complex and wonderful lives of plants. Learning about the living things around me has made every walk outside more beautiful exciting, and interesting day by day.