The Incredible Journey of Plants

“A gripping series of evolutionary history vignettes about plants that have coexisted either in spite of or due to human intervention…a new perspective on that hazy term, ‘nature.’” — Salon “An absorbing overview of botanical history and why its understanding is vital to the earth’s future.” — Parade “Anecdotes enliven Mancuso’s quirky little global history, which argues that plants ‘are more sensitive than animals.’” — Nature “[An] elegant and charmingly illustrated survey…The topics of human intervention and plant evolution are gracefully intertwined in discussions of coconut trees, date palms, and bristlecone pines…naturalists and the culinary-inclined will cherish this collection of botanical vignettes.” — Publishers Weekly “Illuminating and surprisingly lively…[Mancuso] smoothly balances expansive historical exploration with recent scientific research…An authoritative, engaging study of plant life, accessible to younger readers as well as adults.” — Kirkus Reviews “A love letter from a botanist to the plants he studies, written in a breezy and poetic style. Reading this book will give you a whole new appreciation for plants and their many remarkable lifestyles and adaptations. You’ll never look at a blade of grass or a forest of trees the same way again!” —Steve Brusatte, University of Edinburgh paleontologist and New York Times/ Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs Praise for The Revolutionary Genius of Plants: “Thought-provoking...Mancuso considers the fundamental differences between plants and animals and challenges our assumptions about which is the ‘higher‘ form of life.” — Wall Street Journal “Fascinating...full of optimism...This quick, accessible read will appeal to anyone with an interest in how plants continue to surprise us.” — Library Journal