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Lessons from Plants
An exploration of how plant behavior and adaptation offer valuable insights for human thriving.
We know that plants are important. They maintain the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They nourish other living organisms and supply psychological benefits to humans as well, improving our moods and beautifying the landscape around us. But plants don’t just passively provide. They also take action.
Beronda L. Montgomery explores the vigorous, creative lives of organisms often treated as static and predictable. In fact, plants are masters of adaptation. They “know” what and who they are, and they use this knowledge to make a way in the world. Plants experience a kind of sensation that does not require eyes or ears. They distinguish kin, friend, and foe, and they are able to respond to ecological competition despite lacking the capacity of fight-or-flight. Plants are even capable of transformative behaviors that allow them to maximize their chances of survival in a dynamic and sometimes unfriendly environment.
Lessons from Plants enters into the depth of botanic experience and shows how we might improve human society by better appreciating not just what plants give us but also how they achieve their own purposes. What would it mean to learn from these organisms, to become more aware of our environments and to adapt to our own worlds by calling on perception and awareness? Montgomery’s meditative study puts before us a question with the power to reframe the way we What would a plant do?
We know that plants are important. They maintain the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. They nourish other living organisms and supply psychological benefits to humans as well, improving our moods and beautifying the landscape around us. But plants don’t just passively provide. They also take action.
Beronda L. Montgomery explores the vigorous, creative lives of organisms often treated as static and predictable. In fact, plants are masters of adaptation. They “know” what and who they are, and they use this knowledge to make a way in the world. Plants experience a kind of sensation that does not require eyes or ears. They distinguish kin, friend, and foe, and they are able to respond to ecological competition despite lacking the capacity of fight-or-flight. Plants are even capable of transformative behaviors that allow them to maximize their chances of survival in a dynamic and sometimes unfriendly environment.
Lessons from Plants enters into the depth of botanic experience and shows how we might improve human society by better appreciating not just what plants give us but also how they achieve their own purposes. What would it mean to learn from these organisms, to become more aware of our environments and to adapt to our own worlds by calling on perception and awareness? Montgomery’s meditative study puts before us a question with the power to reframe the way we What would a plant do?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2021
130 people are currently reading
1832 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
May 15, 2021
This is a unique book that explores how we can learn from plants and how they survive and thrive in uncertain environments. Beronda Montgomery is a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology and her love of plants was cultivated by her parents from a young age. In school she developed a love of science and math that she paired with her love of plants to go into academia after college. This short book highlights 6 attributes of plants that could translate to people and how we can better thrive in our environments. The book is more scientific than I expected, but not un-readably so. I personally felt like it was a little too science-focused and the last few paragraphs of each chapter that highlighted the lessons for humans seemed a little forced in some cases. I did learn a lot about plants and how adaptive and advanced their systems are. If you're more interested in the science of plant adaptations this would be a great book, if not maybe pass. But, it is short and there is a lot of interesting scientific information about plants.
Some quotes I liked:
"...whereas there are still controversies about, and in some instances resistance to, seeing plants as intelligent, there is increasing consensus that plants, and other organisms such as ants and bees that lack highly developed brains, can exhibit intelligent behaviors that allow them to respond as individuals or in community to a dynamic environment." (p. 12)
"Researchers have made the remarkable finding that some plants may adjust their competitive or collaborative behavior depending on whether their neighbors are close kin or not. Such behavior is well known in animals and is thought to have evolved because kin share genes." (p. 41)
"After all, as [Robin Wall] Kimmerer explains, 'science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them.'" (p. 106)
Some quotes I liked:
"...whereas there are still controversies about, and in some instances resistance to, seeing plants as intelligent, there is increasing consensus that plants, and other organisms such as ants and bees that lack highly developed brains, can exhibit intelligent behaviors that allow them to respond as individuals or in community to a dynamic environment." (p. 12)
"Researchers have made the remarkable finding that some plants may adjust their competitive or collaborative behavior depending on whether their neighbors are close kin or not. Such behavior is well known in animals and is thought to have evolved because kin share genes." (p. 41)
"After all, as [Robin Wall] Kimmerer explains, 'science asks us to learn about organisms. Traditional knowledge asks us to learn from them.'" (p. 106)
June 21, 2023
I want 4 hours of my life back.
The narration was teeth grindingly godsawful (did they have a speech impediment??).
And the author… hmm, let’s just say that I think she has misattributed idealized human behavior to plants.
I do agree with her premise that plants have behavior.
However, I disagree with the presentation that plants are “saintly” and don’t engage in any of the (quite violent) behaviors that we animals and humans engage in.
Edit 1: there’s a certain inconsistency in the author’s argument.
For example, she asserts that we humans should reorganize our collective society to no longer be predicated upon “homophily” (sticking with kinship groups or others similar to ourselves through racial/ethnic or religious or socioeconomic commonalities) but instead be more “diverse” (a commendable ideal, but an ideal nevertheless); however, throughout her work she consistently gave (repeated) examples of plants that, when genetically related, aid and assist each other - But! even if those plants were of the same species yet not genetically related they wouldn’t assist each other. (You know… an example of Homophily in the plants.) So it was jarring and irksome to have the argument put out there that we should “be more like plants” when, it would appear from the evidence that the author has given us, we Already ARE.
There were other inconsistencies in this book. But that one kinda stood out to me.
The narration was teeth grindingly godsawful (did they have a speech impediment??).
And the author… hmm, let’s just say that I think she has misattributed idealized human behavior to plants.
I do agree with her premise that plants have behavior.
However, I disagree with the presentation that plants are “saintly” and don’t engage in any of the (quite violent) behaviors that we animals and humans engage in.
Edit 1: there’s a certain inconsistency in the author’s argument.
For example, she asserts that we humans should reorganize our collective society to no longer be predicated upon “homophily” (sticking with kinship groups or others similar to ourselves through racial/ethnic or religious or socioeconomic commonalities) but instead be more “diverse” (a commendable ideal, but an ideal nevertheless); however, throughout her work she consistently gave (repeated) examples of plants that, when genetically related, aid and assist each other - But! even if those plants were of the same species yet not genetically related they wouldn’t assist each other. (You know… an example of Homophily in the plants.) So it was jarring and irksome to have the argument put out there that we should “be more like plants” when, it would appear from the evidence that the author has given us, we Already ARE.
There were other inconsistencies in this book. But that one kinda stood out to me.
May 26, 2023
This was not what I anticipated. I wouldn’t say it’s bad, I just think the title is misleading. It is very full of scientific jargon and botany, with a couple sentences at the end of each chapter about applicable societal applications. A better title would be something like ‘Plant Adaptability and Interactions and Their Application to Current Societal Complications.’
September 30, 2021
My first NetGalley review! Thank you to Dreamscape Media.
I liked the idea of this book and the overall takeaway message, but I struggled with the details that were in each chapter. I found this both too general and too specific at the same time. It held too much scientific detail that I found myself bored, yet there not enough “lessons” and “takeaways” to apply. I think this book is meant for leaders in businesses and organizations, and this book would be fine to read. Again, it has good general ideas about diversification and lifting up individuals in the business, but there wasn't any practical steps, tips, application, or "how-to."
I liked the idea of this book and the overall takeaway message, but I struggled with the details that were in each chapter. I found this both too general and too specific at the same time. It held too much scientific detail that I found myself bored, yet there not enough “lessons” and “takeaways” to apply. I think this book is meant for leaders in businesses and organizations, and this book would be fine to read. Again, it has good general ideas about diversification and lifting up individuals in the business, but there wasn't any practical steps, tips, application, or "how-to."
March 17, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Lessons from Plants is an engaging and philosophical look at the way plants react, adapt, and survive in their ecological niche and how those mechanisms can potentially inform our human interactions. Due out 6th April 2021 from Harvard University Press, it's 240 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a well annotated and academically rigorous (but layman accessible) multi-discipline look at human behaviors with comparisons drawn from the world of botany. The chapters are written thematically: adaptability, competition and cooperation (and distinguishing between them), risk, growth and transformation, diversity, and success. This is not -just- botany as an analogy for feel-good pop psychology. This is exactly as advertised, a multi-disciplinary exploration of some complex and fascinating botanical and ecological mechanisms which are well explained, science based, layman accessible and also applicable to our lives and experiences. The author, Dr. Beronda L. Montgomery, has a calm and capable voice and does a good job of rendering concepts in understandable straightforward language. She (happily) never devolves into overwrought academic constructions to obfuscate or attempt to make herself seem more intelligent. I can easily imagine she would be a capable and worthwhile lecturer (in whatever discipline).
The book is enhanced throughout by the addition of simple line drawn graphics to illustrate salient points. The chapter annotations will provide keen readers with many hours of further reading.
This is admittedly a niche read, but it would undoubtedly make a good selection for library acquisition or book club use. I would also recommend it for the philosophy minded gardener or students of the human condition.
Four and a half stars. Rounded up for the comprehensive annotations and clear and concise writing.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Lessons from Plants is an engaging and philosophical look at the way plants react, adapt, and survive in their ecological niche and how those mechanisms can potentially inform our human interactions. Due out 6th April 2021 from Harvard University Press, it's 240 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats.
This is a well annotated and academically rigorous (but layman accessible) multi-discipline look at human behaviors with comparisons drawn from the world of botany. The chapters are written thematically: adaptability, competition and cooperation (and distinguishing between them), risk, growth and transformation, diversity, and success. This is not -just- botany as an analogy for feel-good pop psychology. This is exactly as advertised, a multi-disciplinary exploration of some complex and fascinating botanical and ecological mechanisms which are well explained, science based, layman accessible and also applicable to our lives and experiences. The author, Dr. Beronda L. Montgomery, has a calm and capable voice and does a good job of rendering concepts in understandable straightforward language. She (happily) never devolves into overwrought academic constructions to obfuscate or attempt to make herself seem more intelligent. I can easily imagine she would be a capable and worthwhile lecturer (in whatever discipline).
The book is enhanced throughout by the addition of simple line drawn graphics to illustrate salient points. The chapter annotations will provide keen readers with many hours of further reading.
This is admittedly a niche read, but it would undoubtedly make a good selection for library acquisition or book club use. I would also recommend it for the philosophy minded gardener or students of the human condition.
Four and a half stars. Rounded up for the comprehensive annotations and clear and concise writing.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
May 17, 2021
Revealing the surprising abilities of plants, Lessons from Plants is a neat little book that asks what life lessons we can draw from their biology. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2021...
April 30, 2022
This was an interesting concept, and certain portions of it were engaging. I enjoyed the elements that described the life of plants, how they "choose" how to allocate their limited resources, deal with competition in their space, "decide" whether or not to flower and when, or how high and fast to grow or in which direction based upon their environments. I'd never thought about any of these questions at all.
The "lessons" portion was just a cute gimmick at first. Toward the end of the book it got very overtly political, and in utterly absurd ways. I felt a bit hoodwinked to be reading a book about plants, only to be treated to the author's beliefs about presidential administrations and various woke social issues. If the author really felt the need to share her opinions on those topics, she should have written a different book and titled it appropriately. Then I could have chosen whether or not I cared to read it.
The "lessons" portion was just a cute gimmick at first. Toward the end of the book it got very overtly political, and in utterly absurd ways. I felt a bit hoodwinked to be reading a book about plants, only to be treated to the author's beliefs about presidential administrations and various woke social issues. If the author really felt the need to share her opinions on those topics, she should have written a different book and titled it appropriately. Then I could have chosen whether or not I cared to read it.
June 28, 2022
This is a brilliant book. The author explains the science of plant communication and behavior in a way that is accessible for anyone who is not a botanist. She also weaves through personal narratives that demonstrate the relationship between plants and their human caretakers. What makes this book special, is the exploration of all the ways we can learn to shift the paradigm of our thinking and social priorities to model plant communities.
October 25, 2021
The book was a really enjoyable read. I think we all can learn so much from plants and our environment. It is a gift to have and to learn from. The perspective this book gives is affirming and I’d recommend everyone read this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me access to this book. Happy to review it!
May 3, 2023
3.5 stars I wish the author would have expanded the ideas in the last chapter, as this portion of the book more accurately reflects the stated purpose of the book.
September 14, 2021
The conclusions chapter is by far the strongest, drawing parallels between a gardener and her plants with a leader with their organization. The rest of the book has interesting plant facts, but seems to paint animal-like/human-like intention to plant choices which feels far-fetched.
March 11, 2023
It had a pretty cover and was such a nice size but tbh don't know why I'm reading books that cover very basic plant biology and general life tips as if I don't already know it all already
June 25, 2023
الكثير مِنْ المعرفه عن النباتات والقليل مِنْ الدروس. ممتع
March 23, 2025
"Risks"
If a plants roots are located between two environments, one with a constant low level of nutrients and one with varying levels, the plant will choose to proliferate more roots into the area with varying levels. The plant is gambling on being exposed - even intermittently- to sufficient levels of nutrients"
A plants entire advantage is being able to store nutrients and average things out over time. The plant doesn't know if the low level nutrients will stay stable forever. This isn't risk.
A few pages earlier
" it is not uncommon to find individuals from marginalized or first generation backgrounds shut out of local networks of knowledge on education or professional settings.... people not gaining access to the unofficial or unwritten rules that are passed by word of mouth from those in the know. But we can learn a great deal from the network based relationships plants form. They provide examples we can apply to building an sustaining personal, professional, and learning collaborations (such as community gardens, community based mentoring programs, and collaborative professional work)..."
Really? Plants never discriminate, compete, starve out other individuals? Since when are community gardens and collaborative professional work related to interspecies symbiosis except *hand wave* ~~cooperation.~~ How is that a lesson from plants at all.
In the introduction the author was trying to describe how plants have to change their form to match their environment. But was failing to capture how fascinating, radically strange, and magical it is that they do this. Imagine carving out your own body to reflect the seasons past, making decisions across decades about which year to produce thousands of seeds, cutting into the possibilities for the next decade of weather and cycles. What would that feel like? Because this author didn't put that in this book.
I didn't get past chapter 2, but it's not going to change later on and I've already heard these things about plants so it's not a great book for me.
If a plants roots are located between two environments, one with a constant low level of nutrients and one with varying levels, the plant will choose to proliferate more roots into the area with varying levels. The plant is gambling on being exposed - even intermittently- to sufficient levels of nutrients"
A plants entire advantage is being able to store nutrients and average things out over time. The plant doesn't know if the low level nutrients will stay stable forever. This isn't risk.
A few pages earlier
" it is not uncommon to find individuals from marginalized or first generation backgrounds shut out of local networks of knowledge on education or professional settings.... people not gaining access to the unofficial or unwritten rules that are passed by word of mouth from those in the know. But we can learn a great deal from the network based relationships plants form. They provide examples we can apply to building an sustaining personal, professional, and learning collaborations (such as community gardens, community based mentoring programs, and collaborative professional work)..."
Really? Plants never discriminate, compete, starve out other individuals? Since when are community gardens and collaborative professional work related to interspecies symbiosis except *hand wave* ~~cooperation.~~ How is that a lesson from plants at all.
In the introduction the author was trying to describe how plants have to change their form to match their environment. But was failing to capture how fascinating, radically strange, and magical it is that they do this. Imagine carving out your own body to reflect the seasons past, making decisions across decades about which year to produce thousands of seeds, cutting into the possibilities for the next decade of weather and cycles. What would that feel like? Because this author didn't put that in this book.
I didn't get past chapter 2, but it's not going to change later on and I've already heard these things about plants so it's not a great book for me.
April 14, 2022
So this book didn't really tell me anything new - both regarding plants, and their lessons - but it was still an enjoyable read, and I agree with the things said in it. While I know a lot about plants and how they work - both above and below the ground - this book could be a good read for someone wanting to learn about plants but not knowing where to begin. It covers a wide area of information. I also very much appreciate that they state their sources for research, which a lot of books ''forget'' to do in audio format.
Otherwise, the main thought I'm left with is: I've never felt as much like a plant as I'm doing now.
(because I'm disabled and can't uproot easily)
Otherwise, the main thought I'm left with is: I've never felt as much like a plant as I'm doing now.
(because I'm disabled and can't uproot easily)
August 16, 2024
كتاب رائع جدا ..
النباتات تقدِّم لنا دروسًا بشأن كيفية بناء حياة عفية مدفوعة بالإحساس. فهي تستخدم أدوات الاستشعار لديها لمتابعةِ ما يجري في البيئة حولها عن كثب؛ ومن ثمَّ استخدام هذه المعلومات لاتخاذ قراراتٍ حكيمةٍ بشأن كيفية تنظيم ميزانيتها من الطاقة والحصول على الموارد والتفاعل على نحوٍ إيجابيٍّ مع جيرانها. ونحن نستطيع تطبيق هذه الدروس على حياتنا، وعلى ممارساتنا للقيادة والإشراف، وعلى علاقاتنا التبادلية بصفتنا جزءًا من مجتمعٍ أكبر. فلتتخيل أنَّ هذه الدروسَ المستقاةَ من النباتات تقدِّم لنا طريقةً بديلةً للنظر إلى العالم ووجودنا فيه، وأنها تقدِّم لبعضنا طريقةً شديدة الاختلاف في الإرشاد والتدريب والقيادة.
النباتات تقدِّم لنا دروسًا بشأن كيفية بناء حياة عفية مدفوعة بالإحساس. فهي تستخدم أدوات الاستشعار لديها لمتابعةِ ما يجري في البيئة حولها عن كثب؛ ومن ثمَّ استخدام هذه المعلومات لاتخاذ قراراتٍ حكيمةٍ بشأن كيفية تنظيم ميزانيتها من الطاقة والحصول على الموارد والتفاعل على نحوٍ إيجابيٍّ مع جيرانها. ونحن نستطيع تطبيق هذه الدروس على حياتنا، وعلى ممارساتنا للقيادة والإشراف، وعلى علاقاتنا التبادلية بصفتنا جزءًا من مجتمعٍ أكبر. فلتتخيل أنَّ هذه الدروسَ المستقاةَ من النباتات تقدِّم لنا طريقةً بديلةً للنظر إلى العالم ووجودنا فيه، وأنها تقدِّم لبعضنا طريقةً شديدة الاختلاف في الإرشاد والتدريب والقيادة.
March 28, 2023
The first 60 pages were a real slog--like reading a textbook jammed with plant facts. After that, the book slowly got more interesting as the author began expanding on the lessons and less on the facts. The best chapters were the ones that basically summarized thoughts from Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass and the conclusion of the book where the author talked about planting a tree and nurturing it/watching it grow along with her son. More exposition and creative writing would have helped this book really shine.
April 25, 2024
I’m not sure who the target audience is, here. This was a mash-up of scientific facts, general awareness of plant behaviors, and one true chapter of lessons plants can offer humans. The book starts off by saying it intends to combat plant discrimination and unfortunately here I am thinking the audiobook would be easier to listen to if the author didn’t have a lisp! All that being said, chapter 6 was worth hearing.
December 26, 2021
The passion and expertise Dr Montgomery has for plants is extremely clear throughout the book. Most of it is basic plant biology, which could be a little boring if you already have some background in biology and plant physiology. I especially looked forward to what analogies she uses to teach about mentorship and growth of scientists in training, but I wish they had been fleshed out with more detail throughout the entire book. Overall I learned a lot, the writing is really good, and the content is valuable.
February 29, 2024
This is a short book, but, honestly, it could really have been even shorter.
I really like the way she connects a growth-mindset in supporting plants to the ways we should support each other (particularly folks who exist in an oppressive environment).
I really like the way she connects a growth-mindset in supporting plants to the ways we should support each other (particularly folks who exist in an oppressive environment).
September 11, 2021
The first chapter or so felt like someone was reading a textbook to me. The science isn't too technical - probably about what is taught in a high school biology class. If you were looking for examples from nature that could be applied to human societal issues then this book would be great. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads.
September 24, 2021
I thought this book would be on the fluffier side and I'm glad it came through with much more science heavy talk.
August 7, 2024
Very sciencey, kind of interesting. Not my favorite but it just wasn’t my cup of tea really.
August 19, 2022
Interesting and informative but lacked discussing in depth the connection of the gardener and the plant.
May 10, 2021
3.5 stars if I could give half stars
This book was not quite what I expected. It was more technical, and at times written in the abstract jargon-filled register of a technical paper (and therefore pretty hard to follow). In the parts where the author did connect to broader lessons, I thought there were some brilliant points and they were clearly explained. I wish there was more of that, and the science was a bit more clear / accessible.
This book was not quite what I expected. It was more technical, and at times written in the abstract jargon-filled register of a technical paper (and therefore pretty hard to follow). In the parts where the author did connect to broader lessons, I thought there were some brilliant points and they were clearly explained. I wish there was more of that, and the science was a bit more clear / accessible.
June 7, 2022
Great book! I learned a lot of amazing things about plants. I also enjoyed the author extrapolating how we can use plants as guides to living better, kinder, and for the benefit of all.
December 10, 2021
While listening to the book and after finishing, it took me a little bit to really put my finger on what I didn't like about it. This book toes that line between being concise and lacking substance; it's quite short.
But the thing is, this is a book about plants and gardening. If you are a gardener, nothing in this book will be new to you. And if you're not a gardener, why would you even pick up this book? I can't quite tell who the ideal audience for this is. It's rather kitschy.
And finally she makes a political statement that had nothing to do with her point that I strongly disagree with and found extremely distasteful that it was placed as it was in this book.
The audiobook narration is flat though clear. It was hard to listen to at as high of speeds as I'm used to.
Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape Media for an audiobook copy to listen to and review..
But the thing is, this is a book about plants and gardening. If you are a gardener, nothing in this book will be new to you. And if you're not a gardener, why would you even pick up this book? I can't quite tell who the ideal audience for this is. It's rather kitschy.
And finally she makes a political statement that had nothing to do with her point that I strongly disagree with and found extremely distasteful that it was placed as it was in this book.
The audiobook narration is flat though clear. It was hard to listen to at as high of speeds as I'm used to.
Thank you Netgalley and dreamscape Media for an audiobook copy to listen to and review..
October 8, 2021
A highly informative and readable book that is scientific without becoming overly difficult. It is a good book for an entry into learning about how plants work, cooperatively and individually. The author also compares this to human systems, to ourselves, which was a fascinating way to learn the concepts.
While I listened to the audiobook, I did not have a problem with the narrator as other reviews mentioned. But I would suggest reading the print or eBook copy as well. My library bought copies of this book and there are nice line drawings with a quote between chapters.
If you want to learn more about how plants work, this would be a good book to help in that endeavor.
While I listened to the audiobook, I did not have a problem with the narrator as other reviews mentioned. But I would suggest reading the print or eBook copy as well. My library bought copies of this book and there are nice line drawings with a quote between chapters.
If you want to learn more about how plants work, this would be a good book to help in that endeavor.
October 2, 2021
Mmm, not feeling this book. Previously I read "The Hidden Life of Trees" by Peter Wohlleben, which focuses on lesser known research of plant behavior (lesser known to the general public anyway). I thought this book would be like that. I didn't read the last paragraph of the description close enough... While the first few chapters do center on plant behavior, much of the book connects plant life to human social behavior and how we can make society better by living like plants. The audiobook narrator's voice is pleasant, but the text is very dry with few interesting nuggets sprinkled around. Not my cup of tea.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.
September 27, 2021
DNF 30%. I was really hoping this book was going to be similar to how to be a good creature but unfortunately it was not. The chapters are too long and for a layperson, it was too technical and sciencey. I wanted something to give me some insights on plants and also some meaningful lessons on how to be more connected and better humans. This was not that book.
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