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Plants Are Like People
Octavo, , PP.363, HOW TO GROW A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER GARDEN FROM AMERICAS MASTER GARDENER; Signed At Fep By Jerry Baker
363 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 30, 2026
Gardening with a sense of humor and in a presentable manner. I first read this book years ago, and it continues to offer accessible, humorous advice. Rather than portraying plants as passive organisms rooted in place, the author demonstrates that they compete, communicate, cooperate, defend themselves, and have "behaviors" that help them to adapt to changing environments in ways that often invite comparison with human behavior.
These metaphors that compare to human behavior are probably the greatest strength of this book. By comparing plant strategies to familiar human experiences, it transforms topics such as chemical signaling, competition for resources, and reproduction into stories that are easy to understand. These analogies are effective teaching tools, particularly for readers with little background in botany, and they convey the complexity of plant life without requiring extensive scientific knowledge or the gardening-babble so often found in other gardening books.
Ok, I have not focused on the entire book in this round, but used it to better understand my garden, a small plot of soil alongside my home and a set of containers with potatoes, sweets, and tomatoes. I skimmed the materials on indoor gardening, but have already made some changes to where I position my plants and how I feed them.
Baker's book highlights the sophistication of plant life and demonstrates that organisms lacking brains, muscles, or even a central nervous system can have effective solutions to the challenges of survival. By the end of the book, even familiar trees, flowers, and weeds seem considerably more dynamic and complex than they first appear.
These metaphors that compare to human behavior are probably the greatest strength of this book. By comparing plant strategies to familiar human experiences, it transforms topics such as chemical signaling, competition for resources, and reproduction into stories that are easy to understand. These analogies are effective teaching tools, particularly for readers with little background in botany, and they convey the complexity of plant life without requiring extensive scientific knowledge or the gardening-babble so often found in other gardening books.
Ok, I have not focused on the entire book in this round, but used it to better understand my garden, a small plot of soil alongside my home and a set of containers with potatoes, sweets, and tomatoes. I skimmed the materials on indoor gardening, but have already made some changes to where I position my plants and how I feed them.
Baker's book highlights the sophistication of plant life and demonstrates that organisms lacking brains, muscles, or even a central nervous system can have effective solutions to the challenges of survival. By the end of the book, even familiar trees, flowers, and weeds seem considerably more dynamic and complex than they first appear.
September 16, 2018
One of my favorite gardening books I read as a kid. I still use many of Jerry Baker's gardening tips in my garden today. 🌻🐝🐞
♥️We had this book in our family library, and I enjoyed reading it from time to time as a kid.
📖 Book version.
♥️We had this book in our family library, and I enjoyed reading it from time to time as a kid.
📖 Book version.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews