Concrete Botany is a gritty, kick-in-the-guts look at the ecological disturbance humans have caused and the resilience of the plants living amongst it.
Delivered in his raw and unapologetic yet botanically accurate tone, Joey Santore—the unforgettable host of Crime Pays but Botany Doesn’t—offers an often unsettling view of human-caused ecological destruction and its impact on the natural ecosystems our very lives depend on.
The choices of modern civilization have led to a f***ed-up planet, scraped bare and covered in concrete and invasive species. We’ve wiped out entire ecosystems, moved invasive plants to new continents where they don’t belong, and, in a few hundred years, we’ve managed to muck up the intricate balance of a planet that has been evolving for eons. The consequences of our actions are now at our doorstep, ready to strike a match.
But not all is lost. In this groundbreaking examination of plants and their role in the Anthropocene (the age of human disturbance), we see light through the cracks in the concrete and learn that humanity’s course correction starts with an understanding of plant ecology. With this knowledge comes the realization that the lives of humans and plants are interconnected in ways humans cannot live without. Plants are the base of every terrestrial ecosystem on the planet, and their presence can heal the damage humanity has caused. Our willingness to restore native plant communities and the biodiversity they support (starting in our immediate surroundings) is an essential first step in the right direction.
While returning every abandoned brownfield and old rail corridor into a native plant–filled, fully restored ecosystem may be out of reach for the average citizen, fostering the native ecology and biodiversity of our own backyards is not. Concrete Botany is ultimately about how the choices we make as individuals can help ensure humanity’s survival on a very disturbed and rapidly changing planet.
Arvustused
"Concrete Botany is a wonderful guide to understanding the nuances of plant life, delivered with a raw honesty and infectious curiosity that only Joey Santore could provide. He doesn't just teach; he inspires you to look closer, to question, and to really appreciate the botanical world around you. If you're looking for a fresh take on nature, Concrete Botany is an absolute must-read." * Adam Haritan, Nature Educator and Founder of Learn Your Land * "Like its author, Concrete Botany is as brainy as it is brusque. Readers can expect cussing, unapologetic distancing from performative environmentalism, and moments of vulnerability that make Santore approachable for imperfect beginners." -- Katie Hill * things wild & pretty *
INTRODUCTION
Chapter One l The Anthropocene and Human Domination of Earth
Chapter Two l The Biosphere as a Living Machine
Chapter Three l Unintentional Ecosystems and the Plants Found in Them
Chapter Four l Embracing the Living World
GLOSSARY
RECOMMENDED READING LIST
HOW DO I LEARN TO IDENTIFY PLANTS?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INDEX
Joey Santore is the misanthropic Chicago Italian creator and host of Crime Pays but Botany Doesnt. A self-described tender bastard beneath an epidermis covered in spines, caustic sap, & irritating hairs, Joey is the writer, director, producer, editor, and talent behind the brands many videos, podcasts, and written missives. Hes into botany, taxonomy, evolution, and toilet humor. Joeys everymans approach to plant ecology and evolution is adored by millions of plant and nature lovers worldwide.
