Reaching for the Sun: How Plants Work

by John King

From their ability to use energy from sunlight to make their own food, to combating attacks from diseases and predators, plants have evolved an amazing range of life-sustaining strategies. Written with the non-specialist in mind, John King's lively natural history explains how plants function, from how they gain energy and nutrition to how they grow, develop and ultimately die. New to this edition is a section devoted to plants and the environment, exploring how problems created by human activities, such as global warming, pollution of land, water and air, and increasing ocean acidity, are impacting on the lives of plants. King's narrative provides a simple, highly readable introduction, with boxes in each chapter offering additional or more advanced material for readers seeking more detail. He concludes that despite the challenges posed by growing environmental perils, plants will continue to dominate our planet.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Biology, Biography, Gardening

312 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

John King is the author of eight novels – The Football Factory, Headhunters, England Away, Human Punk, White Trash, The Prison House, Skinheads and The Liberal Politics Of Adolf Hitler. The Football Factory was turned into a high-profile film. A new novel – Slaughterhouse Prayer – was published on 8 November 2018.

King has written short stories and non-fiction for a number of publications, with articles appearing in the likes of The New Statesman, Le Monde and La Repubblica. His books have been widely translated abroad. He edits the fiction fanzine Verbal and lives in London.

Reviews

[Aaron Zaremsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating take on the evolution and processes plants make on their journey through life. This book is close to a textbook in its depth and analysis on the adaptations plants have to their environments and their fellow flora/fauna, but very palatable and accessible to the average reader.

Given to me by a family friend and employer who runs a gardening company in town, this book gave me a significant in-depth look into the world of plants and how they function. Also, it gave me a new-found respect for how much we depend on them for oxygen, food, medicine, and many other benefits.

If you are a gardener, have a vested interest in plants, and are looking to expand your knowledge base about them, I highly recommend this book.

[Jonathan Lazaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

its a very thorough and simplified account of plant biology. reads like a novel and doesnt get too scientific. Id like to add that i loved it so much that i bought a copy, the first was from the library and they no longer have it (somebody stole it) im reading it again 7 years later and am still enjoying it just as much

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it a few years ago. It was very interesting and informative.