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The History of the World in 100 Plants
From the author of The History of the World in 100 Animals, a BBC Radio Four Book of the Week, comes an inspirational new book that looks at the 100 plants that have had the greatest impact on humanity, stunningly illustrated throughout.
As humans, we hold the planet in the palms of ours hands. But we still consume the energy of the sun in the form of food. The sun is available for consumption because of plants. Plants make food from the sun by the process of photosynthesis; nothing else in the world can do this. We eat plants, or we do so at second hand, by eating the eaters of plants.
Plants give us food. Plants take in carbon dioxide and push out they give us the air we breathe, direct the rain that falls and moderate the climate. Plants also give us shelter, beauty, comfort, meaning, buildings, boats, containers, musical instruments, medicines and religious symbols. We use flowers for love, we use flowers for death. The fossils of plants power our industries and our transport. Across history we have used plants to store knowledge, to kill, to fuel wars, to change our state of consciousness, to indicate our status. The first gun was a plant, we got fire from plants, we have enslaved people for the sake of plants.
We humans like to see ourselves as a species that has risen above the animal kingdom, doing what we will with the world. But we couldn’t live for a day without plants. Our past is all about plants, our present is all tied up with plants; and without plants there is no future.
From the mighty oak to algae, from cotton to coca here are a hundred reasons why.
As humans, we hold the planet in the palms of ours hands. But we still consume the energy of the sun in the form of food. The sun is available for consumption because of plants. Plants make food from the sun by the process of photosynthesis; nothing else in the world can do this. We eat plants, or we do so at second hand, by eating the eaters of plants.
Plants give us food. Plants take in carbon dioxide and push out they give us the air we breathe, direct the rain that falls and moderate the climate. Plants also give us shelter, beauty, comfort, meaning, buildings, boats, containers, musical instruments, medicines and religious symbols. We use flowers for love, we use flowers for death. The fossils of plants power our industries and our transport. Across history we have used plants to store knowledge, to kill, to fuel wars, to change our state of consciousness, to indicate our status. The first gun was a plant, we got fire from plants, we have enslaved people for the sake of plants.
We humans like to see ourselves as a species that has risen above the animal kingdom, doing what we will with the world. But we couldn’t live for a day without plants. Our past is all about plants, our present is all tied up with plants; and without plants there is no future.
From the mighty oak to algae, from cotton to coca here are a hundred reasons why.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 27, 2022
49 people are currently reading
819 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 4, 2025
My mind was repeatedly blown by this surprisingly entertaining read.... I felt simultaneously guilty disconnect to the plant world while feeling ecstatic comfort in being connected to it all.
"We take many powerful symbols from the natural world because the human mind responds to them so vigorously, filling them with meanings, many of them contradictory. Plants fill our minds: plants wanted and unwanted, plants cultivated and plants routinely killed when they get in our way, are all part of the furniture of our minds. Right and wrong, life and death: all summed up in a weed."
"There are many, many plants with properties still untested by science. There are many, many arguments for maintaining the biodiversity and the bioabundance of the planet we live on. Here is one that doesn't require imagination or altruism or breadth of thinking or understanding of deep time. There are plants out there that will keep death away, at least for a while. As we destroy the planet's natural resources, so we destroy possibilities for the future."
"We take many powerful symbols from the natural world because the human mind responds to them so vigorously, filling them with meanings, many of them contradictory. Plants fill our minds: plants wanted and unwanted, plants cultivated and plants routinely killed when they get in our way, are all part of the furniture of our minds. Right and wrong, life and death: all summed up in a weed."
"There are many, many plants with properties still untested by science. There are many, many arguments for maintaining the biodiversity and the bioabundance of the planet we live on. Here is one that doesn't require imagination or altruism or breadth of thinking or understanding of deep time. There are plants out there that will keep death away, at least for a while. As we destroy the planet's natural resources, so we destroy possibilities for the future."
July 1, 2025
It was okay, I would be hesitant to give this book 2 stars as that seems harsh; however, it was just a bit of a drag - the few fun facts that I genuinely enjoyed did not make up for the rest of the slog that I felt this book was.
Perhaps if I had read a little slower, a coffee book table, if you will, it would have had less of an impact on me; however, I did not read it like this, and so did not enjoy it as I hoped I would have.
Perhaps if I had read a little slower, a coffee book table, if you will, it would have had less of an impact on me; however, I did not read it like this, and so did not enjoy it as I hoped I would have.
July 21, 2025
It is to be expected, but this book is shallow in detail and research. although it is very good at pointing you to directions that might interest you, for you then to look into more detail yourself.
~20% of the book seems to be trying to convince you that global warming exists. I would have preferred more plant facts.
I am also disappointed that the author missed one of the biggest mysteries in one of the largest energy sources to people on the planet: the Nixtamalization of corn (maize).
~20% of the book seems to be trying to convince you that global warming exists. I would have preferred more plant facts.
I am also disappointed that the author missed one of the biggest mysteries in one of the largest energy sources to people on the planet: the Nixtamalization of corn (maize).
January 25, 2023
fantastic premise but too much injection from the author, I would have preferred less anecdotes and fewer religious comparisons
found myself frequently rolling my eyes and skimming chunks of the text to find the actual relevant information on the plant named
found myself frequently rolling my eyes and skimming chunks of the text to find the actual relevant information on the plant named
October 9, 2025
I'm not sure what made me pick up this book, as I didn't think I was particularly interested in plants, but I'm so glad I did.
I learnt such a lot, and its written in an accessible yet not patronising way, that educates informs and draws information and ideas together in a most satisfying way. I think I picked up much more basic knowledge about plants than I ever got from studying Biology to A level, plus helped to see how various plants fit into the big picture of world economy, history and culture. And not a photograph in sight, all the illustrations were beautiful artwork of various type. Recommended even for people who are not gardeners or farmers etc!
I learnt such a lot, and its written in an accessible yet not patronising way, that educates informs and draws information and ideas together in a most satisfying way. I think I picked up much more basic knowledge about plants than I ever got from studying Biology to A level, plus helped to see how various plants fit into the big picture of world economy, history and culture. And not a photograph in sight, all the illustrations were beautiful artwork of various type. Recommended even for people who are not gardeners or farmers etc!
December 8, 2022
Just been gifted this book and it is beautiful! Honestly plants is a topic I know nothing about but have always been interested in. The Book is laid out across 100 small chapters going through all the different types of plants and how they have been important through the years. The illustrations are beautiful too!
January 26, 2023
All I can say is wow what a book ! Goes through 100 plants and describes each in great detail and history and uses such as aspirin from willow etc ! Technically it’s not all plants as the author covers a number of different fungi including the most important mycelia ! I am inspired and satisfied by this book which I purchased in hardback x
February 8, 2023
This book is comprised of 100 short chapters each covering a different plant that has had a profound effect on humanity. Each chapter is laid out in an easy-to-follow format. Some chapters were skimmable but many were eye-opening on the relationship between man and plants. If you are interested in the natural world you might find this interesting.
May 28, 2023
A superb book that succeeded in making me think deeply about the natural world. Humanity's debt to plants in incalculable, and as Simon Barnes frequently highlights, we destroy the natural world at out peril. The cultural and historical background in the chapters is fascinating, with very well sourced illustrations. Highly recommended.
December 20, 2022
For book about plants it has fungi in it
Dude fungi are not plants
Dude fungi are not plants
August 9, 2023
I adore this writer's way with words. This book was a gift and every moment reading it was so.
October 30, 2023
Absolutely fantastic piece of work. Compelling and evocative. The author’s love for the natural world and his despair at what is happening to it, both come through his words. Will read his other books too.
February 13, 2024
Sällsynt välskriven, underhållande men ändå väldigt informationstung. Är man intresserad av växter är detta måste-läsning!
July 29, 2024
Liked it enough to finish it. It was interesting enough but I feel there wasn't enough time for each plant to really shine.
November 14, 2024
One of the best books I’ve ever read.
July 23, 2025
Hailee Steinfeld made me read this.
Entertaining enough. Beautiful coffee table book. Some parts were a drag, but I don’t hate it.
Entertaining enough. Beautiful coffee table book. Some parts were a drag, but I don’t hate it.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews