Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
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- Create Date：2021-03-25 15:32:27
- Update Date：2025-09-08
- Status：finish
- Author：Robin Wall Kimmerer
- ISBN：1571313567
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Summary
As a botanist， Robin Wall Kimmerer as been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science。 As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation， she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers。 In Braiding Sweetgrass， Kimmerer brings these lenses of knowledge together to show that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world。 For only when we can hear the languages of other beings are we capable of understanding the generosity of the earth， and learning to give our own gifts in return。
Reviews
Maggie
，
This book opened my eyes and changed me -- I learned SO MUCH -- but it also spoke truths I already knew， deep down in my soul。 The very best combo; makes for amazing narrative nonfiction。Someone on Twitter posed this question: "What's something that feels Christian， but isn't？" One response: Braiding Sweetgrass。 Ding Ding Ding。As an aside， whenever I read books on ecology and such， the common thread is always: Don't fuck with wetlands。 I'm writing this in North Linden - a neighborhood that， base This book opened my eyes and changed me -- I learned SO MUCH -- but it also spoke truths I already knew， deep down in my soul。 The very best combo; makes for amazing narrative nonfiction。Someone on Twitter posed this question: "What's something that feels Christian， but isn't？" One response: Braiding Sweetgrass。 Ding Ding Ding。As an aside， whenever I read books on ecology and such， the common thread is always: Don't fuck with wetlands。 I'm writing this in North Linden - a neighborhood that， based on the vernal pools and street flooding， was surely once a wetland。 It hurts。Quotes I want to remember:The market economy story has spread like wildfire， with uneven results for human well-being and devastation for the natural world。 But it is just a story we have told ourselves， and we are free to tell another， to reclaim the old one。 （31）Despair is paralysis。 It robs us of agency。 It blinds us to our own power and the power of the earth。 Environmental despair is as poison every bit as destructive as the methylated mercury in the bottom of Onondaga Lake。。。Restoration is a powerful antidote to despair。 Restoration offers concrete means by which humans can once again enter into positive， creative relationship with the more-than-human world， meeting responsibilities that are simultaneously material and spiritual。 It's not enough to grieve It's not enough to just stop doing bad things。 （328）For what good is knowing， unless it is coupled with caring？ Science can give us knowing， but caring comes from someplace else。 （345）Wewene， I say to myself: in a good time， in a good way。 There are no shortcuts。 It must unfold in the right way， when all the elements are present， mind and body harnessed in unison。 （361）Gratitude is a powerful antidote to Windigo psychosis。 （377）The earth gives away for free the power of wind and sun and water， but instead we break open the earth to take fossil fuels。 Had we taken only that which is given to us， had we reciprocated the gift， we would not have to fear our own atmosphere today。 （383） 。。。more
Amelia Walley
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a good reminder that we are nature's students， not its masters a good reminder that we are nature's students， not its masters 。。。more
Todd
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I enjoyed this。 It reads almost like a nature/natural/questioning devotional。 Near the end， some limited-binary writing about sex and gender roles does not match the rest of the great book。 For now， I'm seeing that as a limited section in need of clarification。 I enjoyed this。 It reads almost like a nature/natural/questioning devotional。 Near the end， some limited-binary writing about sex and gender roles does not match the rest of the great book。 For now， I'm seeing that as a limited section in need of clarification。 。。。more
Angie
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I started listening to the audiobook because it's on some list of good audiobooks plus the author narrates it herself。 Before being halfway finished， I bought a physical copy because I was blown away and knew this is an author I want to support， and this is a book I need on my shelves。Robin Wall Kimmerer is a scientist， Native American and a poet and Braiding Sweetgrass is a perfect blend of those points of views。 Her writing and narrating is so empathetic and understanding yet breathes her conv I started listening to the audiobook because it's on some list of good audiobooks plus the author narrates it herself。 Before being halfway finished， I bought a physical copy because I was blown away and knew this is an author I want to support， and this is a book I need on my shelves。Robin Wall Kimmerer is a scientist， Native American and a poet and Braiding Sweetgrass is a perfect blend of those points of views。 Her writing and narrating is so empathetic and understanding yet breathes her convictions。 Braiding Sweetgrass not only teaches us about plants （from a scientific stand point）， but about Earth and nature as a respected being， and how humans could lift her up rather than tear her apart。 Her stories and outlooks made me cry more than once， for what the earth has lost， been through and how it could be。I didn't think this book was going to be that interesting before I went into it。 I had heard about it here and there and thought， eh， I'll get to it sometime。 Why did I wait。 It's beautiful and I recommend it （aggressively！） to anyone who wants to treat the earth with the respect it deserves， anyone who enjoys nature， anyone who can see the beauty of nature or anyone who cares。 。。。more
Nancy
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As I've mentioned I'm in the midst of reading the Norton Anthology of African American Literature。 An amazing compilation， but heart rending。 This book of Indigenous wisdom was a breath of fresh air with its feeling of hope。 I was saddened by the great losses of these people。 Lost homes， land， language and culture。 Throughout this book there is an air of hope in spite of the evils perpetrated on these peoples country and the continuing degradation of our environment。 It opened my eyes to a new w As I've mentioned I'm in the midst of reading the Norton Anthology of African American Literature。 An amazing compilation， but heart rending。 This book of Indigenous wisdom was a breath of fresh air with its feeling of hope。 I was saddened by the great losses of these people。 Lost homes， land， language and culture。 Throughout this book there is an air of hope in spite of the evils perpetrated on these peoples country and the continuing degradation of our environment。 It opened my eyes to a new way of looking at the world around me。 A lifting of gratitude for all around us。 I found it a little slow at the start but later found myself longing to hear Robin Wall Kimmerer's voice telling me more stories。 I picked up the print book to help me see the words she used from the Native tongues。 。。。more
Miah
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Brilliant book。 Read it first then listened to the audio。 Both excellent ways to reconnect with the natural world。 I found it really filled up my cup。
Miriam
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If I could give this 10 stars I would， this book is stunning。 Deeply compassionate and gentle， Kimmerer patiently guides is to truth about the earth and our relationships to it and eachother by way of the wisdom of Native American teachings and the biology of plant life。 I felt both the weight and tragedy of what we've lost and the hope of healing and repentance。 I feel like someone shook me awake。 If I could give this 10 stars I would， this book is stunning。 Deeply compassionate and gentle， Kimmerer patiently guides is to truth about the earth and our relationships to it and eachother by way of the wisdom of Native American teachings and the biology of plant life。 I felt both the weight and tragedy of what we've lost and the hope of healing and repentance。 I feel like someone shook me awake。 。。。more
Julie Bertrand
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I have so much to say about this book。First， it took me nearly 5 months to get through it。 I struggled to pick it up for the first few months， but then discovered the audiobook narrated by the author herself。 Her voice is the perfect pairing for this book and would strongly recommend considering this option。 It is her narration that got me through the book。The book is filled with stories of indigenous teachings paired with the scientific reasoning that supports them。 The level of details in whic I have so much to say about this book。First， it took me nearly 5 months to get through it。 I struggled to pick it up for the first few months， but then discovered the audiobook narrated by the author herself。 Her voice is the perfect pairing for this book and would strongly recommend considering this option。 It is her narration that got me through the book。The book is filled with stories of indigenous teachings paired with the scientific reasoning that supports them。 The level of details in which the stories are told are impressive and give you the feeling that you are learning from an Indigenous elder。 The lessons shared are important reminders of reciprocity， appreciation for the land and the importance of taking care of one another。 This book is beautifully written。 I particularly loved her stories of strawberries， cedars， maples， the three sisters and the Windigo。From my own experiences， I have come to understand the importance of storytelling in the Indigenous ways of knowing。 I have found that the level of detail that is most often used in Indigenous storytelling to be abundant， which has at times， has tested my own level of patience。 This book did just that。 It made me sit with my own impatience and reinforced my tenacity， recognizing that these teachings cannot be learned and absorbed in point form。 Will be re-reading this one。 。。。more
Carly Jane
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Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom， Scientific Knowledge， and the Teachings of Plants is now amongst the shortlist of books I will read and re-read for the remainder of my life。 As I neared the end of the book， I found myself wanting the pages to last forever。 Turning the last page was a moment of intense gratitude for the journey I had just embarked on and a mourning of the end。 The mixture of biology and Indigenous teachings presented poetically by Kimmerer's talent for the written word re Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom， Scientific Knowledge， and the Teachings of Plants is now amongst the shortlist of books I will read and re-read for the remainder of my life。 As I neared the end of the book， I found myself wanting the pages to last forever。 Turning the last page was a moment of intense gratitude for the journey I had just embarked on and a mourning of the end。 The mixture of biology and Indigenous teachings presented poetically by Kimmerer's talent for the written word reminded me of my humanness and what it means to be of this earth。 It was an abundance of reality， reciprocity， and responsibility for the mind and soul。 A book to be treasured and enjoyed at whatever pace you need。 I myself took it slow。 Stopping to ruminate in the teachings and questions that arose within me as I gently stepped along the path laid out by Kimmerer。 I am looking forward to reading more works by her and diving into some of the source texts in the back of the book。 。。。more
Tanya Neumeyer
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I'm deeply grateful for this book and Robin Wall Kimmerer's beautiful storytelling。 I highly recommend this book - and the audiobook read by the author - and I look forward re-reading it and discussing it for years to come。 I'm deeply grateful for this book and Robin Wall Kimmerer's beautiful storytelling。 I highly recommend this book - and the audiobook read by the author - and I look forward re-reading it and discussing it for years to come。 。。。more
Brigid
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One of my all-time favorite books。 I've been putting off finishing it because I couldn't bare for it to end。 Robin Wall Kimmerer has forever changed the way I see the world around me and I am eternally grateful。 Buy a copy if you can so you can highlight。 You'll definitely be coming back to it。 One of my all-time favorite books。 I've been putting off finishing it because I couldn't bare for it to end。 Robin Wall Kimmerer has forever changed the way I see the world around me and I am eternally grateful。 Buy a copy if you can so you can highlight。 You'll definitely be coming back to it。 。。。more
Simone
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I read this following to other really heavy non-fiction books because the audiobook was due back to the library soon， and I had planned to discuss it with some friends。 Aka， the story of my reading life。 I didn't realize this was essentially a series of essays， and I should have tried spacing them out reading a few stories a day。 Instead I was trying to read it over the course of a few days， and I couldn't quite take it in the same way。 I liked some of the essays more than others， and I did like I read this following to other really heavy non-fiction books because the audiobook was due back to the library soon， and I had planned to discuss it with some friends。 Aka， the story of my reading life。 I didn't realize this was essentially a series of essays， and I should have tried spacing them out reading a few stories a day。 Instead I was trying to read it over the course of a few days， and I couldn't quite take it in the same way。 I liked some of the essays more than others， and I did like Kimmerer's combination of indigenous wisdom and her biology training toward a sort of third path。 But， the writing style was occasionally too over-the-top for me。 Again， that might have been influenced by me attempting to read the book more quickly than I should have。 Still I'm glad I read it， and I would recommend it。 。。。more
Lauren Davis
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EssentialThere are few books I say are essential reading， but this is one of them。 If this book were to be read， and truly understood， by politicians， leaders of industry， doctors， teachers， spiritual leaders， activists， and pretty much everyone else you can name， I believe it would change the world in such a way that the very atoms holding it all together would break out in joyful song。
Kaila
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It is difficult to summarize the importance of this book for all people。 We do not merely live on this planet and take from it。 We are connected to this land and have the profound kuleana （responsibility） of caring for it。 It is our responsibility to nurture that relationship in order to maintain a livable environment。 If we don’t realize that humanity must approach our relationship with the world through an indigenous perspective， climate change will make it uninhabitable sooner than you think。 It is difficult to summarize the importance of this book for all people。 We do not merely live on this planet and take from it。 We are connected to this land and have the profound kuleana （responsibility） of caring for it。 It is our responsibility to nurture that relationship in order to maintain a livable environment。 If we don’t realize that humanity must approach our relationship with the world through an indigenous perspective， climate change will make it uninhabitable sooner than you think。 Everyone should read this book but for me， as a person of native Hawaiian heritage， the content was overwhelming at times and brought me to tears several times。 I am extremely thankful to the author for her generosity of sharing her knowledge and her genuine desire to share， learn， and grow together as a people connected to this awe inspiring land。 Now， I quietly thank the blueberries in my shake， the spinach I eat in the morning， and my older sibling Haloa （the kalo） for poi， and everything the land provides us。 Thank you for reminding me to appreciate it all。 I will listen to the voice of the rain and thank the ʻĀina for the privilege of breath。 。。。more
Lindsay
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I don't think I've recommended a book to so many people before！ Braiding Sweetgrass braids together a broad array of topics so beautifully。 I pushed it as hard on my horticulturist cousin as I did to an anthropologist colleague， to an officemate who studied food inequality， and to an eco-minded college clique。 The power in different ways of knowing is profound here。 There is a strong emphasis on Eastern U。S。 forests and I selfishly wish that I had a Western parallel from Kimmerer in order to mor I don't think I've recommended a book to so many people before！ Braiding Sweetgrass braids together a broad array of topics so beautifully。 I pushed it as hard on my horticulturist cousin as I did to an anthropologist colleague， to an officemate who studied food inequality， and to an eco-minded college clique。 The power in different ways of knowing is profound here。 There is a strong emphasis on Eastern U。S。 forests and I selfishly wish that I had a Western parallel from Kimmerer in order to more easily slip into the landscape she described。I audiobooked this one （finished Feb 2021） and might even recommend that over reading it （gasp！） because listening to the author read her own novel was pleasant and peaceful。 。。。more
Rachel Shields Ebersole
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A book I hope to reread again and again to let both the worldview and the knowledge of the natural world sink in。 I am grateful for its existence。 The audiobook was lovely。
Gretchen
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this book has changed the way i think about the relationship between humans， plants， animals， and the earth
Lin
，
It's difficult to rate a book of essays- some of them were excellent and deserve 5 stars， while others merely 2。 The book had a beautiful message and the stories were wonderful， but the repetitiveness of the theme （reciprocity！） was so fatiguing that I almost had trouble finishing the entire thing。 This book would have benefited if Kimmerer had allowed the reader to do some of the thinking instead of over-explaining her theme again and again。 3。5 stars。 It's difficult to rate a book of essays- some of them were excellent and deserve 5 stars， while others merely 2。 The book had a beautiful message and the stories were wonderful， but the repetitiveness of the theme （reciprocity！） was so fatiguing that I almost had trouble finishing the entire thing。 This book would have benefited if Kimmerer had allowed the reader to do some of the thinking instead of over-explaining her theme again and again。 3。5 stars。 。。。more
Zenia
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4。5
Cindy
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Beautiful message！ I feel it could have made it’s point in half the words。
Myr
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A lot to read in one go - this would make a terrific night stand book， as each essay really begs to be sat with a while， and considered。 I enjoyed the author's writing style and I hope to be more aware of the world around me as I move through it and on it。 I especially enjoyed "Windigo Footprints”， “The Sacred and the Superfund”，“People of Corn， People of Light”， and “Collateral Damage” - all from the final section of the book。 A lot to read in one go - this would make a terrific night stand book， as each essay really begs to be sat with a while， and considered。 I enjoyed the author's writing style and I hope to be more aware of the world around me as I move through it and on it。 I especially enjoyed "Windigo Footprints”， “The Sacred and the Superfund”，“People of Corn， People of Light”， and “Collateral Damage” - all from the final section of the book。 。。。more
Christine
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This is， perhaps， the most impactful book I've read in my life。 This is， perhaps， the most impactful book I've read in my life。 。。。more
Myc
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Braiding Sweetgrass is a beautifully written collection of essays on the importance of various ways of knowing。 Kimmerer does an excellent job of explaining the limitations of scientific ways of knowing and how those paradigms aren’t always the only （or best！） methods for understanding the natural world。 She explores the complicated intersection of culture， belief， nature， and science in essay after essay。 If there are major critiques of this collection， it’s would be the often repetitive nature Braiding Sweetgrass is a beautifully written collection of essays on the importance of various ways of knowing。 Kimmerer does an excellent job of explaining the limitations of scientific ways of knowing and how those paradigms aren’t always the only （or best！） methods for understanding the natural world。 She explores the complicated intersection of culture， belief， nature， and science in essay after essay。 If there are major critiques of this collection， it’s would be the often repetitive nature of and the lack of a narrative arc between chapters。 But these are easily forgiven as Kimmerer is blending genres and styles—scientific writing， indigenous storytelling， political and cultural commentary， and activist expression are all evident in her writing。 Some may see this book as overly flowery or "hippie"， but I would just say it has a clear cultural perspective that creates the sense of an eco-friendly agenda。 I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the dialectic between different ways of knowing， botany， or those interested in traditional customs and beliefs。 。。。more
Bookishfolk
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This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read。 Highly suggest
Laura
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This is a book that is best read slowly so that you can digest， reflect， and notice how the author's words can change the way you perceive the world around you。 The only reason it didn't get five stars from me was I felt like the author left some of the weaker chapters for the end。 This is a book that is best read slowly so that you can digest， reflect， and notice how the author's words can change the way you perceive the world around you。 The only reason it didn't get five stars from me was I felt like the author left some of the weaker chapters for the end。 。。。more
Allison Sylviadotter
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Absolutely amazing。
Lucy B。
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Robin's writes really well， reading this while in Minnesota but being from Montréal was very interesting。 I am happy to have read it。 As another reviewer mentionned， its written like a poem， you can be there with her。 Robin's writes really well， reading this while in Minnesota but being from Montréal was very interesting。 I am happy to have read it。 As another reviewer mentionned， its written like a poem， you can be there with her。 。。。more
Myshia Liles-Moultrie
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I took my time with this book to really take in the information。 I learned so much and I have a new appreciation for the earth and all that it gives us。 I will always be thinking about this book。
Jacquie
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Beautiful。 A must read。
Kendra
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