Braiding Sweetgrass Evaluation

Holly Hogan

EN 102

02/13/18

Book Evaluation 1

Braiding Sweetgrass: An Eyeopener

Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book of nonfiction science and nature essays, compiled in Braiding Sweetgrass, should be broad casted everywhere. Kimmerer has divided the book into seven sections, in each she always goes back to her main emphasis: to treat the Earth in the same manner that you would treat someone dear to you. Kimmerer is a Native American and a science professor, she intertwines both pieces of her life to share advice on how we can heal our Earth. Kimmerer consistently reinforces the idea that as humans we have become so possessed by our lives, society, and material that we have forgotten how to care for our home on Earth, as we only see the land as a profit. Throughout her writing, Kimmerer is trying to educate her audience on caring for our environment, and she reminds us all that it is not too late.

As someone who is very connected to nature, I found this book very inspiring. As more and more people of today’s culture seem to be taking the Earth for granted, I was beginning to feel doomed for the future of our Earth, our home. After reading Braiding Sweetgrass, hope has been restored. Kimmerer reminds us all that we are Earth’s children, and we too can become indigenous to our Earth. Kimmerer defines ‘indigenous’ by “...Living as if your children’s future mattered, to take care of the land as if our lives, both material and spiritual depended on it”(Kimmerer, 9). This quote is moving, because it encourages us to preserve Earth’s beauty for our children, so that our home does not crumble. Kimmerer writes in a very interesting way with an extravagant amount of detail, and her incredible imagery takes you away.

This book enhanced my outlook on our natural world, making me even more cautious of taking this gift for granted. Marion Agnew of Brevity Magazine reviewed Kimmerer’s book, and shared my enthusiasm for nature that Robin Wall Kimmerer enhanced. Agnew also shares my theory of letting nature be, which is something we share with Kimmerer and her teachings. I have currently recommended this lovely book to many friends, as Kimmerer offers a very crucial notion we must follow and pass on for our Earth to remain our home. I think anyone with an empathetic heart would enjoy this book, or anyone who is in love with our Earth and cares what is going to happen to it. The more people that are aware of the damage to our environment, then there are more people apt to help reverse the damage. If sharing Kimmerer's lessons through this book would help us step closer to a better day, I would share this book tirelessly.

Works Cited

Agnew, Marion. "A Review of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass." Review of Braiding Sweetgrass, by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Brevity, 03, Nov. 2015.

Kimmerer, Robin Wall. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and

the Teachings of Plants. Milkweed Editions, 2013.