3.5-4 stars. Not the most engaging book (though some parts certainly are). But this is a solid popular science work, and is interesting. The chapter on coffee is soooo much better than the coffee chapter in [b:A History of the World in 6 Glasses|3872|A History of the World in 6 Glasses|Tom Standage|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415681601s/3872.jpg|7600]. There is a fair amount of botany in this book, and a lot of references to historical figures (Darwin, Mandeville, and more). It might help to have a bit of a background in botany--or at least a gardener's knowledge.

As usual, I wish there were footnotes. Even endnotes. Not the stupid by-chapter and page number references at the back, that are so popular these days.