The Triumph of Seeds: How Grains, Nuts, Kernels, Pulses, and Pips Conquered the Plant Kingdom and Shaped Human History
Mar 2015 · Sold by Basic Books
star
3 reviews
Ebook
288
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
About this ebook
A natural and human history of seeds, the marvels of the plant kingdom.
“The genius of Hanson's fascinating, inspiring, and entertaining book stems from the fact that it is not about how all kinds of things grow from seeds; it is about the seeds themselves.” ―New York Times Book Review
We live in a world of seeds. From our morning toast to the cotton in our clothes, they are quite literally the stuff and staff of life: supporting diets, economies, and civilizations around the globe. Just as the search for nutmeg and pepper drove the Age of Discovery, so did coffee beans fuel the Enlightenment and cottonseed spark the Industrial Revolution. Seeds are fundamental objects of beauty, evolutionary wonders, and biological linchpins. Yet, despite their importance, seeds are often seen as commonplace, their extraordinary natural and human histories overlooked. Thanks to this stunning book, they can be sidelined no more.
“The genius of Hanson's fascinating, inspiring, and entertaining book stems from the fact that it is not about how all kinds of things grow from seeds; it is about the seeds themselves.” ―New York Times Book Review
We live in a world of seeds. From our morning toast to the cotton in our clothes, they are quite literally the stuff and staff of life: supporting diets, economies, and civilizations around the globe. Just as the search for nutmeg and pepper drove the Age of Discovery, so did coffee beans fuel the Enlightenment and cottonseed spark the Industrial Revolution. Seeds are fundamental objects of beauty, evolutionary wonders, and biological linchpins. Yet, despite their importance, seeds are often seen as commonplace, their extraordinary natural and human histories overlooked. Thanks to this stunning book, they can be sidelined no more.
The Triumph of Seeds is a book of knowledge, adventure, and wonder, spun by an award-winning writer with both the charm of a fireside storyteller and the hard-won expertise of a field biologist. A fascinating scientific adventure, it is essential reading for anyone who loves to see a plant grow.
A natural and human history of seeds, the marvels of the plant kingdom.
“The genius of Hanson's fascinating, inspiring, and entertaining book stems from the fact that it is not about how all kinds of things grow from seeds; it is about the seeds themselves.” ―New York Times Book Review
We liv...
Discover more
Ratings and reviews
3 reviews
Lola Granola
- Flag inappropriate
March 4, 2019
Perfect balance of information, humor, and heart.
2 people found this review helpful
About the author
Thor Hanson is a conservation biologist, Guggenheim fellow, and author of award-winning books including Close to Home, Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid, Buzz, and Feathers. He lives with his family on an island in Washington State.
Thor Hanson is a conservation biologist, Guggenheim fellow, and author of award-winning books including Close to Home, Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid, Buzz, and Feathers. He lives with his family on an island in Washington State.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
