When I read his first book, The Botany of Desire, I was hooked on Michael Pollan. The basic premise of this book and a major theme in the rest of them, is that from a plant's-eye view, humans are not really in charge of nature like we think we are. Even in the garden, where we select the flowers, fruit and vegetables that we want to grow. Actually, we are more like the bees, attracted by a plant's beauty, colours, patterns, flavour and/or fragrance, and compelled to propogate that plant. Then he uses this idea to discuss gardening, the history of various plants, industrial vs. organic. vs. local food and more in his other books. It's fascinating stuff (and I've posted links to his writing before).
Well, I didn't put it as eloquently as Michael Pollan, so check this out. It's a brief summary of some of the themes covered in The Omnivore's Dilemma, which I'm currently reading. The discussion below is also interesting.
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