The botany of desire, to be broadcast on wednesday on many public television stations, is based on michael pollans 2001 examination of plant history and evolutionary science. Plant domestication paved the way to agriculture which enabled. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the botany of desire. The four plants are apples, tulips, cannabis, and potatoes. A plantseye view of the world by michael pollan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Shot in stunning high definition photography, the program begins with michael pollan in a california garden and sets off to roam the world. Pollan was born to a jewish family on long island, new york. The botany of desire pdf summary michael pollan 12min blog. He decided that he coexists with his plants in a coevolutionary bargain similar to the one between the bee and the apple tree. The botany of desire pdf summary whenever we think of ourselves as humans, we think of ourselves as subjects or the ones that can influence everything. The botany of desire by michael pollan is an excellent resource on this topic. Like sooner or later your fingers close on that one moistcold spud that the spade has accidentally sliced clean through, shining wetly white and giving off the most unearthly of earthly aromas. The botany of desire by michael pollan 1462 words 6 pages.
Michael pollan, a professor of journalism and a student of food, presents the history of four plants, each of which found a way to make itself essential to humans, thus ensuring widespread propagation. Featuring michael pollan and based on his bestselling book, this special takes viewers on an eyeopening exploration of the human relationship with the plant world, seen from the plants point of. A plantseye view of the world is a 2001 nonfiction book by journalist michael pollan. A plantseye view of the world ebook written by michael pollan. A plantseye view of the world new edition by pollan, michael isbn. The botany of desire brings michael pollan s bestselling book to pbs, showing how human desires are an essential, intricate part of natural history. Books and films the botany of desire pbs documentary featuring. Michael pollans 2001 nonfiction book, the botany of desire. Discussion created by alissa smith on mar 8, 2011 latest reply on mar 8. A plantseye view of the world, asks the reader to stop considering only the human point of view of nature and to take the perspective of the plants themselves. The botany of desire is an rewarding movie about how certain plants effect our lives and have evolved to better our lives through research and science. Featuring michael pollan and based on his bestselling book, this special takes viewers on an eyeopening exploration of the human relationship. The botany of desire 2001 explores the complex and fascinating relationship between humans and plants.
They have a young readers edition, which, even though geared for 8th graders, works really well for high. The first edition of the novel was published in 2001, and was written by michael pollan. Working in his garden one day, michael pollan hit pay dirt. Film version of michael pollans botany of desire now online. The botany of desire 1 cannabis, forgetting, and the botany of desire michael pollan i want to get a couple things about myself out of the way before i start. Pollans work has played a significant role in my personal perceptions of the connections between nature and culture. Documentary on pollans the botany of desire sfgate. The botany of desire examines this relationship by telling the stories of four plants that ensured their survival and expanded their habitat by satisfying our most basic yearnings. Michael pollans bestselling book, botany of desire, is now a film, and you. Whenever i take questions from an audience, which i hope to do when i finish speaking, there s always someone who. Pollan presents case studies that mirror four types of human desires that are reflected in the way that we selectively grow, breed, and genetically engineer our plants. Using this provocative question as a jumping off point, the botany of desire, a twohour pbs documentary based on the bestselling book by michael pollan.
In the botany of desire, michael pollan ingeniously demonstrates how people and domesticated plants have formed a similarly reciprocal relationship. The narrator wonders about his relationship to his garden. You probably see plants on the cover thinking its a documentary of plants. I had it sit in my library of blinks for a while, thinking it had something to do with how plants influence sex, for example explaining aphrodisiacs. In it, author michael pollan explores human impulse and its connection to the life of plantsour desire for the apples sweetness, the tulips beauty, the. A longtime contributing writer to the new york times michael pollan, recently featured on netflix in the fourpart series cooked, is the author of seven previous books, including food rules, in defense of food, the omnivores dilemma, and the botany of desire, all new york times bestsellers. The botany of desire brings michael pollans bestselling book to pbs, showing how human desires are an essential, intricate part of natural history. Pollan a place of my own, 1997 uses four plant species to support his thesis. Based on michael pollans bestseller, this intriguing pbs documentary examines the ways that humans rely on and relate to four key plants. In telling the stories of four familiar plant species that are deeply woven into the fabric of our lives, pollan illustrates how they evolved to satisfy humankindss most basic yearnings and. Michael pollans premise is that by satisfying a human need, or desire, each of these four. In it, author michael pollan explores human impulse and its. The botany of desire michael pollan nature documentaries. In the botany of desire, pollan explores the concept of coevolution.
Weve always had this idea that we are in charge, but what if, in fact, they have been modeling us. Michael pollens book the botany of desire is now a documentary produced by pbs. In the botany of desire, michael pollan argues that the answer lies at the heart of the intimately reciprocal relationship between people and plants. The botany of desire michael pollan pbs nature documentaries.
The only complaint i have about the botany of desire is that the title is misleading. He masterfully links four fundamental human desiressweetness, beauty, intoxication, and controlwith the plants that satisfy them. There are a few dvd extras that include deleted scenes, more of michael pollans interview and perspectives form artists, humanities, and sciences. Each, by offering some quality that we humans find valuable, has managed to propagate itself throughout the world. The botany of desire, by michael pollan essay 946 words. Based on the 2001 book of the same name and directed and produced by michael schwarz, the botany of desire is as faithful a tv adaptation as tv. Michael pollan s 2001 nonfiction book, the botany of desire. Botany of desire a plantseye view of the world the newshour with jim leher, june 29, 2001. Michael pollan is an author who teaches journalism at the uc berkeley. For more films, please visit our collection of free movies online. Michael pollans the botany of desire tells the story of four familiar plantsthe apple, the tulip, the marijuana plant, and the potatoand the human desires that link their destinies to our.
In plants harvestability through selection of nonshattering seeds was the first trait of domestication. In telling the stories of four familiar plant species that are deeply woven into the fabric of our lives, pollan illustrates how they evolved to satisfy humankindss most basic yearnings and by. Botany of desire has anyone used this book movie in class. The botany of desire brings michael pollans bestselling book to pbs, showing. The first one is that, as you know, i write about plants. A plantseye view of the world green cargoes a perfect red. Documentary based on the book of the same name by michael pollan, looking at ways in which. Michael pollan, recently featured on netflix in the fourpart series cooked, is the author of seven previous books, including food rules, in defense of food, the omnivores dilemma, and the botany of desire, all new york times bestsellers. In the novel, the botany of desire, michael pollan tells the intriguing story of how plants are domesticated from the perspective of the plant with regards to four specific plants the four plants he chose. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 297 pages and is.
Explore the history of john chapman johnny appleseed by viewing clip 4 from the botany of desire and reading. Botany of desire has anyone used this bookmovie in. The botany of desire is a documentary based on the book by michael pollan. He writes about how humans have affected the evolution of plants and in turn plants have affected our evolution as well. A fascinating look at how plants and humans have interacted, down through the ages, benefiting both. In animals first trait selected by humans was behavior. Michael pollan, a professor of journalism and a student of food, presents the history of four plants, each of which found a way to make itself essential to humans. The botany of desire 2009 watch free documentaries online. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
A twohour pbs documentary based on the bestselling book by michael pollan, the botany of desire takes us on an eyeopening exploration of our relationship with the plant world seen from the plants point of view. In these blinks, well see how plants manipulate humans by taking advantage of our four basic desires for sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control, and how, in turn, we help plants reproduce and even grow stronger. In 1985 henry hobhouse published an important and original piece of historical writing. Michael pollan, author of cooked in his latest book, the author of the omnivores dilemma and in defense of food turns his attention. Perhaps it is this invigoration of growth that compelled me to reread michael pollans book, the botany of desire. He is the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed the omnivores dilemma as well.
He is the son of author and financial consultant stephen pollan and columnist corky pollan. The botany of desire michael pollan pbs 2009 domestication is a defining feature of recent human evolution. Pollan presents case studies that mirror four types of human desires that are. The botany of desire 2009 rotten tomatoes movie trailers.
745 109 1526 403 1398 386 240 1560 1142 273 1569 574 1084 1448 562 1421 814 375 681 1669 1218 182 723 141 1437 1446 193 35 377 1122 1242 874 187 879 600 294 918