The Serviceberry - Outside of a Dog

Audiobook

English language

Published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

Audible ASIN:: B0D2FGQMWT
Goodreads:: 208840291-the-serviceberry

As Indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most?

Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love. Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution ensures its own survival.

The Serviceberry is an antidote to the broken relationships and misguided goals of our times, and a reminder that “hoarding won’t save us, all flourishing is mutual.”

1 edition

durian reviewed The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Such a wonderful and inspiring book

5 stars

Loved this book! It's inspiring, and I resonate a lot with the writing. Very timely too now that juneberries are ripening. The book helped me have a better understanding of these trees, their history with indigenous peoples, and their role in the ecosystem.

I feel connected to the trees more and I find myself connecting with my neighbors too. Some who don't know about the serviceberry see me picking them and they ask me all about these berries. Some who are very familiar with them talked to me about the cedar waxwings that absolutely love these berries.

Only thing I don't agree is I think there's a part that says, "we need to elect leaders who believe in [protecting Nature]" but I think from an anarchist's lens the people at the top are the ones who are most likely to destroy nature because of the power they hold.

Loved this book! It's inspiring, and I resonate a lot with the writing. Very timely too now that juneberries are ripening. The book helped me have a better understanding of these trees, their history with indigenous peoples, and their role in the ecosystem.

I feel connected to the trees more and I find myself connecting with my neighbors too. Some who don't know about the serviceberry see me picking them and they ask me all about these berries. Some who are very familiar with them talked to me about the cedar waxwings that absolutely love these berries.

Only thing I don't agree is I think there's a part that says, "we need to elect leaders who believe in [protecting Nature]" but I think from an anarchist's lens the people at the top are the ones who are most likely to destroy nature because of the power they hold.

Subjects

Biology
Ethnobotany
Human-plant relationships
Indigeneity