The Democracy of Species

by Robin Wall Kimmerer

In twenty short books, Penguin Classics brings you the ideas that have changed the way we think and talk about the living Earth.

Over the past 75 years, a new canon has emerged. As life on Earth has become irrevocably altered by humans, visionary thinkers around the world have raised their voices to defend the planet, and affirm our place at the heart of its restoration. Their words have endured through the decades, becoming the classics of a movement. Together, these books show the richness of environmental thought, and point the way to a fairer, saner, greener world.

In The Democracy of Species Robin Wall Kimmerer guides us towards a more reciprocal, grateful and joyful relationship with our animate earth, from the wild leeks in the field to the deer in the woods.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Environment, Ecology, Science, Indigenous, Essays

88 pages, Paperback

Published August 26, 2021

About the author

Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer (also credited as Robin W. Kimmerer) (born 1953) is Associate Professor of Environmental and Forest Biology at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF). She is the author of numerous scientific articles, and the book Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. She is Potawatomi and combines her heritage with her scientific and environmental passions.

Reviews

[Christina Dongowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant little book that all of you should read, especially if climate grief & anxiety and / or the pandemic really gets you down. Kimmerer acknowledges the mess we are in, without resorting to an anti-science & purely anti-western worldview. Instead she’s trying, in my opinion very convincingly, to weave together a scientific, materialistic and a more spiritual, holistic view of Natur & the environment and the place of humans in it. I liked it immensely.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I shit you not when I tell you this has become my Bible. My sacred text. I'm so moved. Dare I say spiritually shook.

This is a collection of 3 essays that show different ways in which indigenous language, knowledge, and wisdom allow humans to form a gratitude-, reciprocity-based relationship to the more-than-human. The author is a scientist herself and, while acknowledging the scientific language as a helpful tool, urges us to interact with the world in this intuitive way that we experience when truly immersed in nature. Urges us to see nature not as "it" but as a complex web of life buzzing with wisdom that must be respected and honored. Urges us to take mindfully, and to find the ways in which we can give back.

Honestly I find it hard to put into words how beautiful this worldview is, how much it spoke to me, how I want to embody this, spread the word (truly I sound like a convert!!). Like this book features the rules of the Honorable Harvest and I swear this will become my Our Father. As a secular late-stage capitalism girlie I feel like these are the kind of stories and narratives of the world that fill my spirit with meaning, give me a sense of communion and belonging, inspire me, give me direction. This truly IS my Bible, fight me!!!!!!

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Halfway through the Penguin Green Ideas collection ... but more on that below.

A number of readers I trust have recommended Braiding Sweetgrass to me, but it hasn't (yet) percolated to the top of my list, so I was pleasantly surprised when this was the next (little) installment I pulled out of the (nicely packaged) Penguin series/collection box. A good sized chunk of this (again, little) book reprints content from Braiding Sweetgrass, but also includes a couple of other shorter pieces.

I've read enough to see the attraction of the author's style and her larger message/worldview. I guess time will tell whether I eventually re-read this as part of the larger work. I also see why the book didn't appeal to everyone (but that does not in any way suggest criticism of the author or the content, and may or may not be perceived as a broader frustration with general closed-mindedness in the reading public (or, more broadly, the general population), but I digress). At the same time, this little volume felt more like a taste or a teaser than a unified whole.

In any event, the pieces are repackaged/republished here as volume 10 in the Penguin Green Ideas collection, which I'm finding well worth the investment ... and the minor hassle of acquiring it... Sadly, as my local independent bookstore confirmed, it is not available for sale (in the slipcase collection) in the U.S. (but it's not that difficult to order it from a UK supplier).

[Emma Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

good read (a little bit of looking through a tunnel to reinforce one’s argument, but overall, lovely)

[Zee Ahmad · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Democracy of Species is beautiful and the short stories layered throughout were insightful. The buck story and the grandmother from Turkey’s story were especially memorable, showing how gratitude and reciprocity (a common theme) can look in different lives. Kimmerer blends Indigenous wisdom and science in such a graceful way, reminding us that plants, animals, rivers, literally everything deserve a place in our shared democracy. It left me feeling more grateful and more aware of how I move through the world. I liked this one immensely and I promise to do better.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of the Penguin series "Green Ideas" - a collection of 20 short books on the environment. Other authors with books in the series include Naomi Klein, Michael Pollan, Amitav Ghosh and Rachel Carson.

I jumped at the chance to get an ARC of Robin Wall Kimmerer's book included in the collection. I've heard universally excellent things about Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, and thought this would be a good opportunity to sample her writing and ideas.

The main focus of the book is how humans can work to have a more reciprocal relationship with the natural world -- think taking what you need in a conscious manner rather than endless exploitation. This idea is explored through the idea of the 'Honourable Harvest'. Kimmerer also reflects on her indigenous ancestry and their relationship with the world around them, and how language can shape our connections with plants and animals.

A very enjoyable read. Recommended, and I'll definitely be checking out more books from the series.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin UK for the advance copy, which was provided in exchange for an honest review.

[Kenzie Waller · Rating 3 out of 5]

if you want me to stop logging short texts in my reading challenge, you’ll have to pry this app from my dead, cold hands.

[A. _____ · Rating 5 out of 5]

And just like that, the world seems a little bit more alive. Fantastic. RTC.

---

"[W]e are called to go beyond cultures of gratitude, to once again become cultures of reciprocity".

In The Democracy of Species, Robin Wall Kimmerer tells us a story and teaches us a lesson. She tells us about learning Potawatomi, a language that should have been her first, but is now reduced to 9 native speakers and video lessons. She tells us the story of discovering this language and learning to see the world anew through it.

Languages hold ideas and worldviews that shape our perspective in ways we cannot articulate or comprehend unless we are confronted by something outside of it. Kimmerer explores how the animacy of the natural world is built into Potawatomi; trees, rocks, rivers, animals and people are alive, have agency and value, and deserve respect. The natural world is not a collection of objects, nature is not an 'it', but a 'who'.

Kimmerer asks us to imagine "the access we would have to different perspectives, the things we might see through other eyes, the wisdom that surrounds us" if we could learn this grammar of animacy.

From this question, Kimmerer leads us deftly to one possibility--the Honourable Harvest, a collection of indigenous American principles and practices on sustainable land stewardship. This is the heart of the book--exploring the question of responsibility and reciprocity, the Honourable Harvest, and the idea of an equal relationship with the land rather than just taking.

Kimmerer is a compelling writer and has a talent for showing perspective, for showing us the whys, hows and whats-nexts of looking at the world in a certain way. Through stories and myths, Kimmerer guides us toward an understanding of this new perspective. She takes from one step to the next, to ask

"what is our responsibility is perhaps also to ask, What is our gift? And how shall we use it?"

Though this story and lesson deal so much with loss, Kimmerer ends on a very positive, uplifting note. We still have agency, we still have gifts that we can use to mend our breaking world. This 96-page book has already opened my world a little, made it a little more alive.

The Democracy of Species is a part of a 20 book collection from Penguin: Green Ideas, "the classics of the environmental movement". I will definitely be reading more books in the series.

(I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

[Julia Kampmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Den visdom, som denne bog deler ud af, var for mig noget helt særligt. Revolutionerende og i virkeligheden ret grundlæggende tanker om, hvordan vi som mennesker kan forstå samspillet mellem hele naturen med os som en del af den. Dette er et smukt verdenssyn, og det var fantastisk at finde én, der kunne sætte ord på dette spirituelle fællesskab mellem os mennesker og naturen.

Jeg føler mig inspireret til at komme ud og få jord under neglene igen i dag.

[Johan Gerhardsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this thoughtful little book, Kimmerer, who is a scholar of indigenous knowledge and herself of indigenous descent, offers us her eye-opening perspectives on humans’ relationship to nature and nurturing. I particularly enjoyed her reflections around the Honorable Harvest; on how we should consider our harvests as an exchange between humans and nature, rather than as extractive actions with no limits. I also very much enjoyed her reflections on how Potawatomi, her indigenous language, inherently is closer to nature through the personification of natural objects. I think the perspectives she present is a valuable addition the current necessity of reconnecting with nature. Recommend ✨

[Emre · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Only take what is given. Never take more than you need." Just beautiful. Democracy of Species introduces the idea of treating non-human living beings like persons, not like objects, changing the way we interact with the world. Because everything, even the plants that surround us, is alive, has a consciousness, has a part to play. No more squashing bugs because we find them annoying. Instead a sense of wonder: "Who might you be? What are you trying to do?".

Makes me wanna drop out society and live off the land. That would be too impulsive though

[Raven Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this little book!! i read this in like 2 hours bc it is very short and forgot to update this - made me WEEP when talking about language loss etc. - these are included in braiding sweetgrass and for anyone who liked braiding sweetgrass i would recommend her other books too because braiding sweetgrass is like an intro and her other books i.e. gathering moss go into specific things more deeply !

[Josefien Linders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vooral de eerste essay heeft me ontzettend geïntrigeerd. Het verband van hoe taal levenswijze en traditie kan weerspiegelen en verklaren heeft me doen nadenken.

Deze drie essays in hun geheel hebben me een nieuwe manier van naar de wereld kijken laten zien. Met dankbaarheid, gelijkwaardigheid en wederkerigheid. Ik verwacht dat dit me nog lang zal bezighouden.

[Antony Monir · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of three essays by the botanist and indigenous philosopher Robin Kimmerer.

In this book, Kimmerer offers a philosophy combining traditional indigenous knowledge and practices with scientific epistemology. In this short book, which can be read as a sampler or primer for her amazing Braiding Sweetgrass invites us to reconsider our relationship with our environment. It doesn’t prescribe any difficult rules to follow. Simply, do not take more than you really need.

The first essay focuses on indigenous Potawatomi language and its grammatical animism. Here the author argues that the inherent animism present in some indigenous languages shapes the worldview of their speakers, making them see and respect the beauty in their environment. Regardless of whether or not linguistic determinism is real, this essay will make you reconsider your views by showing that there is a different way of seeing and understanding, a way that you may have never encountered before.

The second essay is focused on the “honorable harvest” a concept which is rooted in taking no more than one really needs. In this essay, Kimmerer shows how traditional indigenous views conflict with western ideas with regard to waste and sustainability. Here, the author asks of us to reconsider our relationship with nature. Instead of seeing what we can take from nature, the author argues that we should consider what we can give instead. Perhaps we wouldn’t have the need for all these sustainability measures if we saw Nature as a person, worthy of respect as much as anyone else.

The third and final essay focuses on why humans are special (and why they’re not) based on a traditional Mayan origin myth. Here, the author argues that science and tradition are not at odds with each other. Rather, science can reinforce traditional beliefs, conveying beautiful stories and concepts to the world such as the fact that the saliva of grazing buffalo causes grass to grow taller. Science can be a beautiful and humbling way of understanding the world. But it should not be our way of viewing it. Reducing everything to “materialist economic and political agendas” is misappropriating the scientific method to create an illusion of understanding when the reality is more complex. Like Kimmerer says, “what lies beyond our grasp remains unnamed”.

Overall, this is one of the best introduction to Kimmerer’s philosophy, which combines scientific thinking with indigenous knowledge. It offers a powerful and holistic way of viewing the world. In a decade marked by conflict, worldwide crises, and runaway global warming, perhaps a kinder view of the world is what we need. 4/5

[Elsa Kivinen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main message of the book is good (reciprocity with nature’s ecosystems, as we are part of them) but even that is left quite superficial as the author tries to project relatability with the intended audience, or so it seemed to me when I was reading, especially the parts about consumption and going to a shopping mall with Honorable Harvest in mind.

At the beginning of book, the thoughts about indigenous language preservation, linguistics, and learning to connect with one’s indigenous ancestry and what it can teach, were interesting and probably the most enjoyable and enlightening part of the book.

However, the title of the booklet, “Democracy of Species” does not really describe the content, and a more appropriate name could have been something along the lines of “Reciprocity with the land” or something like that. Those who have read about indigenous land protectors, and social ecology and know more languages than just English probably don’t gain many new insights from this book, but maybe that is because the booklet might be intended for a more elementary and most likely very Anglophone audience?

[Marcin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This (short but entertaining) read is an introduction to the Penguin series showcasing some ideas that could change the way we think and talk about nature and Earth, and how language detarmins the way we think. While I am sceptical if this is truly a democracy of species, it certainty brings us closer to such an idea. Also, I wonder if 'Honourable Harvest' would not be a more suitable title of this book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and lovely book on nature and humans relationship with it. The author touched upon how we should show gratitude towards the earth and how we have the responsibility to what we are taking from the land. Definitely left me wanting to explore more of her writing.
Thank you Penguin press and Netgalley for the e-ARC.

[Jennifer Westermann-Guild · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I did enjoy this short book, I would have enjoyed it a lot more had I not just read Braiding Sweetgrass (which is word for word was is in this book). A nice short version of that book for people who don’t won’t to read the whole thing.

[Irthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything written by Robin Wall Kimmerer deserves to be plastered literally everywhere and I gently albeit slightly forcefully urge ANYONE and their mother to read her work.

[Smita · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start my 2022, this book is really remarkable. Such amazing essays that explores ecology, indigenous way of life and knowledge.

[Skye Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to give this book to everyone I know

[Lucas Dolanjski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetic and powerful. Can we leave the world a better place than we found it?

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Robin Wall Kimmerer

[Diah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is perfect introduction book if you haven't read Robin Wall Kimmerer before. Braiding sweetgrass is possibly the extended version of this

[Jelka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book contains three chapters from Kimmerer‘s Braiding Sweetgrass. I really enjoyed rereading some of her writings. I love her view of the world and how she communicates it through her writing.

[Harsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve loved the chapter that Robin had in the Climate Book, and love the perspective of this short novel!

[Ulrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dit boekje heeft mij echt geraakt en geïnspireerd!

[Sebvand · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this book contains no new material: It’s a collection of 4 chapters from Braiding Sweetgrass, by the same author. However these are some of the most inspiring and impressive parts. If it piqued your curiosity, do read the entirety of Braiding Sweetgrass, which I found to be one of the most interesting, confronting and inspiring books I have ever read.

[dunia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i didn’t realize when buying this that it was a few chapters from braiding sweetgrass, but i’m always happy to reread. i found myself tearing up out of gratitude for our gift of language and words that robin wall kimmerer herself accepts and returns with such grace. i’m going to make it a rule to read four chapters of braiding sweetgrass a week, to keep myself in this world she proposes which i so deeply hope to recreate in my own actions

[Sophie (RedheadReading)]

Hadn't realised this was largely extracts from Braiding Sweetgrass but still loved revisiting those!