Often beautiful, sometimes deadly, but constantly ingenious, plants are the sources of life and delight, myth and mayhem. From the seemingly familiar tomato and dandelion to the eerie mandrake and Spanish ‘moss’ of Louisiana, via the early histories of beer and the contraceptive pill, each of these stories is full of surprises. Soybeans are one of the most nutritious plant foods, rich in edible oil and, even by the standards of legumes, an excellent source of protein, although they are not to be eaten raw, as they contain substances that interfere with our digestion. He is a Fellow of the Linnean Society and the Zoological Society of London, and a former documentary filmmaker with the BBC.

The 1 or 2 page stories about each plant are very accessible, interesting and intriguing, telling the stories about the history of the plant, where it is found and why it has evolved to be a certain way.

From the seemingly familiar tomato and dandelion to the eerie mandrake and Spanish 'moss' of Louisiana, each of these stories is full of surprises.

In his follow-up to the bestselling Around the World in 80 Trees , Jonathan Drori takes another trip across the globe, bringing to life the science of plants by revealing how their worlds are intricately entwined with our own history, culture and folklore. Everybody who has the slightest interest in plants - and people - and wonders why we need to conserve botanical biodiversity should read this book - Nigel Chaffey, Botany. A truly captivating read or as one might say 'A REAL PAGE TURNER' unusual for a non fiction book but if you have any interest at all about gardening and plants in general READ THIS BOOK ! Ultimately, it was informative and fun at times, but I felt it lacked the focus of Around the World in 80 Trees, which I loved. Or perhaps you'll opt for the culinary tips, sometimes the medicinal uses or very often the history.Also, this book is so good that I bought myself a copy to have halfway through reading my copy from the library. Did you know that vanilla has been done dirty by becoming synonymous with "boring" when it's really one of the most truly exquisite flavors around? AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 PLANTS by Jonathan Drori is a brilliant and - thanks to Lucille Clerc - a beautiful book. IX и X веков, «снотворную губку» с мандрагорой, болиголовом, опиумом и другими травами держали под носом больного. Apart from telling us all about the plant's quirks, Drori also sometimes adds a slightly cynical or critical note about humans and the way we treat or have been treating the plants in question, not in the least because that behaviour threatens our own lives, or all life on our precious planet.

For people who struggle to sit with a book, this is a great choice, as it is easy to sample in small tastes when you feel like it. I could go into detail about several of them but this is a book in which every page needs to be investigated, read, digested and considered.Op het einde geeft Jonathan Drori de lezers nog handige tips om op een nieuwe manier naar planten te kijken, om je bewondering aan te wakkeren. It's fair to say that Jonathan Drori, who has spent his life involved with plants and is now a member of the Council of Ambassadors of WWF and The Woodland Trust, has a real place in his hear for the simple and overlooked. Once again, the production quality of this book is astounding and impressive (immediately noticeable are the thick pages) and wonderful illustrations that show the full plant, details and a bit of its surroundings either on one page or on a double-spread. As with much of the natural world, the more one learns about the individual plant species and the stories that tell of our interactions with them-whether positive or negative-the more intriguing they become.