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Table of Contents
About The Book
Chosen by WATERSTONES as one of their BEST NATURE WRITING BOOKS of 2024
Can you tell a tomato from a grape? Lawn from an oak tree? Then congratulations - you are a botanist.
Self-confessed bad birdwatcher Simon Barnes thought he knew nothing about plants. He didn't object to them: trees are interesting, because birds perch in them; plants are useful as they create habitats and birds live in habitats. But while admiring the tenacity of some sea kale and yellow-horned poppy to thrive on an inhospitable shingle beach, he was struck by a truth - it all begins with plants.
In this funny and inspiring book, Simon Barnes tells the story of a lifelong relationship with plants, and the realisation of the fact. Taking us from thinking ourselves ignorant about plants, to gently starting to observe seasons, patterns and places, Barnes guides us on a journey to better observing the beauty and diversity of the natural world.
Both a primer on how to appreciate the plants around us and an exploration on how they make our external and interior worlds, How to be a Bad Botanist opens our eyes to the wonders around us. Plants are everywhere, in every part of your life, and you know more than you think.
Can you tell a tomato from a grape? Lawn from an oak tree? Then congratulations - you are a botanist.
Self-confessed bad birdwatcher Simon Barnes thought he knew nothing about plants. He didn't object to them: trees are interesting, because birds perch in them; plants are useful as they create habitats and birds live in habitats. But while admiring the tenacity of some sea kale and yellow-horned poppy to thrive on an inhospitable shingle beach, he was struck by a truth - it all begins with plants.
In this funny and inspiring book, Simon Barnes tells the story of a lifelong relationship with plants, and the realisation of the fact. Taking us from thinking ourselves ignorant about plants, to gently starting to observe seasons, patterns and places, Barnes guides us on a journey to better observing the beauty and diversity of the natural world.
Both a primer on how to appreciate the plants around us and an exploration on how they make our external and interior worlds, How to be a Bad Botanist opens our eyes to the wonders around us. Plants are everywhere, in every part of your life, and you know more than you think.
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (April 25, 2024)
- Length: 224 pages
- ISBN13: 9781398518926
Raves and Reviews
‘I can’t think of a better introduction for an intelligent reader . . . a book whose time has come’
– Country Living
'Funny and inspiring'
– People's Friend
‘I’d give Simon Barnes’s How to Be a Bad Botanist to anyone interested in what we take for granted, the plants around us. He writes as an everyman, not an expert, which makes the book accessible and appealing.'
– Michael Palin, Observer Best Books of 2024
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): How to be a Bad Botanist eBook 9781398518926
