Rating: 
Summary: Bad science, poor research
Review: Michael Pollan starts off with what sounds like an interesting thesis: plants have manipulated humans for their own ends. Ambitious? Yes. Especially when trying to champion a "plant's-eye view of the world." Things start with a lazily-researched section on Johnny Appleseed. When Pollan reaches his second epiphany in the book: "[Appleseed] was kind of like a Satyr without the sex", one feels this thesis isn't going too far.What follows is a collection of musings on everything from the phallic shape of a tulip to Apollo and Dionysus. Monocultures are bemoaned. This would seem to be a pyrrhic victory for the plants, but this is not addressed. What is unfortunate about this book is that it has and will be read by many people who have not been exposed to much science writing and, even worse, think that what Pollen is writing about is well-reasoned and insightful. It is neither. Dates and facts are routinely confused and the grasp of theology is as weak as science. If one is interested in evolution, Stephen Jay Gould is a good place to start; for natural history, Diane Ackerman is a great writer who also knows how to do her research.
Rating: 
Summary: A Humanist's Attempt to be a Botanist
Review: BOOK REVIEW - Michael Pollan, The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World, Random House, NY, 2001.
A Humanist's Attempt to be a Botanist The main thesis is that plants quietly manipulate animals, including insects, as much or more than the other way around, which is the commonest view. There are several main sections to carry the story, and and epilogue. Pollan's writing is exquisite, nearly poetry in prose with very few incomprehensible lines; the nirvana of his writing is 5-star.
Apples: Pollan found that there really was a Johnny Appleseed. I had not known that apples were drunk as cider, hard cider or applejack until better cloned varieties appeared in the late 19th century, which being much sweeter, could be eaten. The wild Asian origins of the inedible apple were compared unfavorably with the reduction in biodiversity that yielded our 10 or so favorite varieties.
Tulips: Pollan's parentally enforced tulip plantings were confessed. The origin of the domesticated tulip in the Ottoman Empire and the wild speculation in 17th century Holland were brought out. Pollan believes that flowering plants that produced sugars and proteins (p109) made mammals possible.
Marihuana: Pollan's own experimentation was justified by results - heightened awareness with no bad side-effects. The US government's war on marihuana was described with the implication that it had no technical basis. Why were the obvious motives of tobacco, alcohol and drug companies not aired? The cultivation of marihuana clones hydroponically on a huge scale was described. The obstruction to the medical uses of marihuana was deplored, and, in my opinion, this is highly justified.
Potato: The failure of the Irish potato crops in the 1840s due to lack of biodiversity was described. GM potato with Bt gene (Monsanto's NewLeaf) was compared as an undesirable monoculture, opposite to organic farming of a number of varieties. The advantages of biological (still chemical, remember) control of pests over chemical control was properly described. The inherently higher costs of organicly grown potato were acknowledged. But Pollan ate NewLeaf potato on a farm in Idaho, more of them as French fries from McDonald's, and then refused to eat his own or serve them at a picnic! All this fuss over possible dangers of eating Bt, yet not a word about the absolutely known dangers of trans fat in those fries!...Like too many non-chemists, Pollan made some blunders: "...since sugar is the form in which nature stores food energy" (p19). Other than in sugar cane and beets, the primary storage in plants is as starch and cellulose. In animals it is glycogen and fat. (John de Man, Food Chemistry, 3rd ed., Aspen, Gaithersburg, MD, 1999.)
Here and there global warming by humans is noted as a given, when of course nothing of the sort has been proven, or even accepted by a majority of scientists and engineers (S. Fred Singer, Hot Talk, Cold Science, The Independent Institute, Oakland, CA; Bjørn Lomborg, The Skeptical Environmentalist, Cambridge University Press, 2001; and now C. Essex and R. McKitrick, Taken by Storm, Key Porter, Toronto, 2002, available from Amazon Canada).
One of the most egregious eco-lies of all time is repeated as gospel (p211): that DDT caused thinning of bird eggshells, and loss of bird populations. This nonsense is exposed in S. Fred Singer, Science does not justify Ban on DDT, Environment & Climate News, 2003;6(3):2; Adam J. Lieberman, Facts vs. Frears: A Review of the 20 Greatest Unfounded Health Scares of Recent Times, American Council on Science and Health, 1997...
Another is that "we" have no idea how to safely dispose of nuclear wastes (p215). In 1978, Norman Rasmussen, Professor of Nuclear Engineering, MIT, described how nuclear fuel assemblies were placed under water until the short-lived isotopes decayed, then reprocessed to recover uranium and plutonium, the remainder being cast into cement in stainless steel drums which could safely be stored. All the uproar has been over where to store the drums because eco-nuts have labeled them as highly dangerous. (See Dixy Lee Ray, Trashing the Planet, Regnery, Washington, DC, 1990, pp147-156.)
Some pesticides are described as "chemicals of unspeakable toxicity" (p216). This epithet should be saved for nerve gas, aflatoxin, botulinum toxin and coral snake venom. Pollan should give thanks that we do not have to use bleach or drain cleaner as pesticides.
In the end the main thesis is not supported. Plants do what they do, and the presence of animals and insects will favor some of their activities. Pollan's view is actually extremely humanistic, which is OK, but with a technophobic slant, some of which may turn out to be justified; but it is anything but "a plant's-eye view of the world". Pollan often failed to check viewpoints on which there is legitimate controversy, and parroted anti-technology views consistenly. How appropriate that this book is classified under the Dewey Decimal System as philosphy rather than science or technology!
Rating:
Summary: A Humanist¿s Attempt to be a Botanist
Review: The main thesis is that plants quietly manipulate animals, including insects, as much or more than the other way around, which is the commonest view. There are several main sections to carry the story, and and an epilogue. Pollan's writing is exquisite, nearly poetry in prose with very few incomprehensible lines; the nirvana of his writing is 5-star.
Apples: Pollan found that there really was a Johnny Appleseed. I had not known that apples were drunk as cider, hard cider or applejack until better cloned varieties appeared in the late 19th century, which being much sweeter, could be eaten. The wild Asian origins of the inedible apple were compared unfavorably with the reduction in biodiversity that yielded our 10 or so favorite varieties.
Tulips: Pollan's parentally enforced tulip plantings were confessed. The origin of the domesticated tulip in the Ottoman Empire and the wild speculation in 17th century Holland were brought out. Pollan believes that flowering plants that produced sugars and proteins (p109) made mammals possible.
Marihuana: Pollan's own experimentation was justified by results - heightened awareness with no bad side-effects. The US government's war on marihuana was described with the implication that it had no technical basis. Why were the obvious motives of tobacco, alcohol and drug companies not aired? The cultivation of marihuana clones hydroponically on a huge scale was described. The obstruction to the medical uses of marihuana was deplored, and, in my opinion, this is highly justified.
Potato: The failure of the Irish potato crops in the 1840s due to lack of biodiversity was described. GM potato with Bt gene (Monsanto's NewLeaf) was compared as an undesirable monoculture, opposite to organic farming of a number of varieties. The advantages of biological (still chemical, remember) control of pests over chemical control was properly described. The inherently higher costs of organicly grown potato were acknowledged. But Pollan ate NewLeaf potato on a farm in Idaho, more of them as French fries from McDonald's, and then refused to eat his own or serve them at a picnic! All this fuss over possible dangers of eating Bt, yet not a word about the absolutely known dangers of trans fat in those fries! (Search PubMed <[website edited]> for Riserus U and Oomen CM and de Roos NM and Lemaitre RN)
Like too many non-chemists, Pollan made some blunders: "...since sugar is the form in which nature stores food energy." (p19) Other than in sugar cane and beets, the primary storage in plants is as starch and cellulose. In animals it is glycogen and fat. (John de Man, Food Chemistry, 3rd ed., Aspen, Gaithersburg, MD, 1999.)
Here and there global warming by humans is noted as a given, when of course nothing of the sort has been proven, or even accepted by a majority of scientists and engineers (S. Fred Singer, Hot Talk, Cold Science, The Independent Institute, Oakland, CA; Bjørn Lomborg, The Skeptical Environmentalist, Cambridge University Press, 2001; and now C. Essex and R. McKitrick, Taken by Storm, Key Porter, Toronto, 2002, available from Amazon Canada).
One of the most egregious eco-lies of all time is repeated as gospel (p211): that DDT caused thinning of bird eggshells, and loss of bird populations. This nonsense is exposed in S. Fred Singer, Science does not justify Ban on DDT, Environment & Climate News, 2003;6(3):2; Adam J. Lieberman, Facts vs. Frears: A Review of the 20 Greatest Unfounded Health Scares of Recent Times, American Council on Science and Health, 1997. <[website edited]>
In the end Pollan's main thesis is not supported. Plants do what they do, and the presence of animals and insects will favor some of their activities. Pollan's view is extremely humanistic with a technophobic slant, some of which may turn out to be justified, but it is anything but "a plant's-eye view of the world".
Because of this and the common humanistic blunders indicating superficial research, only 2 stars can be given.
Rating: 
Summary: The Plant's Point of View
Review: This book does a wonderful job bridging the gap between us and nature. Through his exploration of the apple, tulip, marijuana and potato plants, Michael Pollen combats the premise that "we know to be false but can't shake: that we somehow stand outside, or apart from, nature." With near god-like control over many of the forces of nature (think genetic engineering), we often tend to view ourselves as Mother Nature's primary agents, shaping and making the world in our desired image. "What is less obvious, at least to us, is that these plants have, at the same time, been going about the business of remaking us." In all, the book is as intoxicating as THC and as sensually rapturous a budding tulip.
Rating: 
Summary: Refreshing ideas
Review: First of all, I really like the title of this book. The author takes us through the view point of 4 different plants: apples, tulips, marijuana and potato. Each section was very interesting and had a lot of history of those plants. This book gave me a new perspective on how plants "use" humans to get what they need and how to prosper. I think my favorite plant discussion was the potato. Mr. Pollan writes a lot about genetic engineering and the giant company Monsanto. It almost reads like science fiction. Overall, he has a good writing style; very witty and humorous but at some times gets bogged down in technical jargon.
Rating:
Summary: Fun way to learn about potatoes, apples, tulips and pot!
Review: Apart from the inspired thesis that plants use humans for their own purposes (not consciously, of course), The Botany of Desire is an amazingly fun way to learn about the nature and origins of modern-day potatoes, apples, tulips, and marijuana. The Botany of Desire was the most enjoyable reading I have found on botany.
Rating:
Summary: apple of your eye
Review: "I don't *like* plant books," I said, feeling extraordinarily grumpy, to the person who told me to read this. "Read it anyway," said she. So I did. And this is, in fact, a superior plant book: both fascinating in its facts and implications, and downright poetic in its style. Michael Pollan makes the evolution of tulips and potatoes read like exotic adventures, and makes the scientific details clear even to an ignoramus like yours truly. Read this. You'll like it. Even if you don't like plant books.
Rating:
Summary: Mind-opening
Review: The book isn't as integrated as its title would suggest. It's really just a collection of four essays about four plants. But what essays! Is it possible that the grasses have used humans to win their war against the trees? Could it maybe be a problem that every single Red Delicious apple comes (genetically) from one tree? Are mashed potatoes the perfect food? Get the book and find out...
Rating: 
Summary: sometimes too little content for the subject
Review: While I really liked this book I felt in the case of each section that after a while Mr Pollan had run out of ideas on the subjest and digressed to fill the pages. It gave me the impression that he was required by his publisher to have a book of a certain number of words and he did his best to fill it interestingly. As Mr Lincoln once apologized to a friend, "I am sorry that this letter was so long, but I didn't have time to make it shorter."
Rating:
Summary: a plant lover's review
Review: I am a high school botany and history teacher, as well as an avid herb and vegetable gardener. I recently purchased this book and I feel it was worth every penny. Pollan has written a very educational and highly readable book. He chooses to focus on four very well-known plants, and spices his botanical knowledge with history. I would suggest this book for any plant lover and give it five stars.
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