Book Review: "The Botany of Desire"

By Bill London, from the August 2002 Newsletter

Michael Pollan's book "The Botany of Desire" focuses on the relationship between plants and the humans that use them, and in that using, spread the plant species around the globe. Pollan wonders whether it is the plant that is orchestrating the relationship in a masterpiece of Darwinian chicanery. The book is, as the subtitle suggests, a plant's-eye view of the world.

He selects four plants (apples, tulips, marijuana, and potatoes) and investigates the history of that plant's successful growth and dispersal worldwide. With each species, he blends scientific principles and great storytelling to explain the adaptations and qualities of the plants that lead to their success.

Sure, the section on marijuana was great. His description of a visit to an indoor growing operation in Amsterdam was wonderful.

And the sections on both the apples and the tulips were fascinating. But I found the potato story to be the best.

He described his visits to three Idaho potato growers. Two were commercial growers that had gone fully "modern" by growing Monsanto's genetically-engineered NewLeaf potato. One of those farmers refused to eat the potatoes he had grown because they were so full of pesticides. And both farmers were aware of the endless economic treadmill they had jumped on by growing commercial spuds the Monsanto way. The third spud farmer he visited grew organically-and what a difference. If you ever want to reinforce your decision to eat organic, read this section of the book.

Pollan's explanation of the risks of genetic manipulation is the best and most coherent I have ever read. The technology (combining genetic material from very different species) is burdened with "what-ifs," worst case scenarios of mutating pests and escaped genetic monsters. In interviews that Pollan reports, Monsanto officials discounted those concerns with an astounding appeal to just trust them to find an answer.

Despite his often pedantic style, Michael Pollan has produced an enjoyable book, full of great anecdotes and examples, that really questions who is benefiting from the co-evolution dance we are doing around the world today.

Bill London edits this newsletter, and hopes Hey George can come through again with a winter-long supply of his groovy organic spuds.

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