Scan barcode
A review by pangnaolin
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.75
I've been having a hard time figuring out what books to give five stars lately, and even though I feel like this one truly deserves it, it didn't exactly affect me in the same way my other five star reads did, and so I had to give it 4.75 stars on a personal level, even though it was 5 on a quality level. I do think this is 5 star quality-- please understand.
I started Braiding Sweetgrass a long time ago... like, a year ago. I read half of it, and then I stopped for about 8 months, and then got back to it recently. I know it was necessary, too-- that time to soak it all in and integrate all that she taught me already into my life and practice. I'm glad I took that time for myself, even if it means this book took me a long time. It's certainly not the kind of book you should try to rush through.
I'm not quite sure where to begin. Kimmerer is such a beautiful writer, and so much of what she shared has stuck with me. In fact, I wrote an essay last year on a short story called The Very Old Man With Enormous Wings, and I included a few paragraphs on a quote of hers where she described how we're more hesitant to cut down the maple tree that is a 'she' than one that is an 'it'. I still think about it often.
I was struck by chapters throughout the book-- some of my favorites being The Gift of Strawberries, The Honorable Harvest, and Windigo Footprints. Kimmerer has these moments where she says something that just... feels right. It's especially true listening to the audiobook, and getting to fall into her cadence-- the soft lulls in her voice. I've definitely gone "mm" out loud a few times while reading and/or listening.
Braiding Sweetgrass didn't hit me hard emotionally like a lot of my other favorite books. I wouldn't even say it left me with my mind blown, trying to reorganize my thoughts and brain. It did, though, slowly, slowly change everything for me. I interact with the things around me differently. I think of her words often. This book is impactful in a way not much else I've ever found is.
It's a bit long, especially if you listen to the audiobook-- Kimmerer really takes her time with the reading of it-- and I honestly did get a little impatient with it at times, but it was worth it all. Please do give Braiding Sweetgrass a read-- even just one chapter.
I started Braiding Sweetgrass a long time ago... like, a year ago. I read half of it, and then I stopped for about 8 months, and then got back to it recently. I know it was necessary, too-- that time to soak it all in and integrate all that she taught me already into my life and practice. I'm glad I took that time for myself, even if it means this book took me a long time. It's certainly not the kind of book you should try to rush through.
I'm not quite sure where to begin. Kimmerer is such a beautiful writer, and so much of what she shared has stuck with me. In fact, I wrote an essay last year on a short story called The Very Old Man With Enormous Wings, and I included a few paragraphs on a quote of hers where she described how we're more hesitant to cut down the maple tree that is a 'she' than one that is an 'it'. I still think about it often.
I was struck by chapters throughout the book-- some of my favorites being The Gift of Strawberries, The Honorable Harvest, and Windigo Footprints. Kimmerer has these moments where she says something that just... feels right. It's especially true listening to the audiobook, and getting to fall into her cadence-- the soft lulls in her voice. I've definitely gone "mm" out loud a few times while reading and/or listening.
Braiding Sweetgrass didn't hit me hard emotionally like a lot of my other favorite books. I wouldn't even say it left me with my mind blown, trying to reorganize my thoughts and brain. It did, though, slowly, slowly change everything for me. I interact with the things around me differently. I think of her words often. This book is impactful in a way not much else I've ever found is.
It's a bit long, especially if you listen to the audiobook-- Kimmerer really takes her time with the reading of it-- and I honestly did get a little impatient with it at times, but it was worth it all. Please do give Braiding Sweetgrass a read-- even just one chapter.