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Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants Paperback – August 11, 2015
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A Washington Post Bestseller
Named a "Best Essay Collection of the Decade" by Literary Hub
As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert).
Drawing on her life as an indigenous scientist, and as a woman, Kimmerer shows how other living beings―asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass―offer us gifts and lessons, even if we've forgotten how to hear their voices. In reflections that range from the creation of Turtle Island to the forces that threaten its flourishing today, she circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return.
- Print length408 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherMilkweed Editions
- Publication dateAugust 11, 2015
- Dimensions5.4 x 1.1 x 8.4 inches
- ISBN-101571313567
- ISBN-13978-1571313560
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From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews
Review
Praise for Braiding Sweetgrass
“Robin Wall Kimmerer is writer of rare grace. She writes about the natural world from a place of such abundant passion that one can never quite see the world the same way after having seen it through Kimmerer’s eyes. In Braiding Sweetgrass, she takes us on a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise. She is a great teacher, and her words are a hymn of love to the world.”—Elizabeth Gilbert“Robin Wall Kimmerer has written an extraordinary book, showing how the factual, objective approach of science can be enriched by the ancient knowledge of the indigenous people. It is the way she captures beauty that I love the most—the images of giant cedars and wild strawberries, a forest in the rain and a meadow of fragrant sweetgrass will stay with you long after you read the last page.”—Jane Goodall
"I give daily thanks for Robin Wall Kimmerer for being a font of endless knowledge, both mental and spiritual." —Richard Powers, New York Times
“Robin Wall Kimmerer opens a sense of wonder and humility for the intelligence in all kinds of life we are used to naming and imagining as inanimate.”—Krista Tippett, host of On Being
"In a world where only six percent of mammalian biomass on the planet now comprises of wild animals, I longed for books that pressed me up against the inhuman, that connected me to an inhuman world. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer moved me to actual tears." —Alexandra Kleeman, The Millions
"In Braiding Sweetgrass, botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer tackles everything from sustainable agriculture to pond scum as a reflection of her Potawatomi heritage, which carries a stewardship 'which could not be taken by history: the knowing that we belonged to the land.' . . . It's a book absorbed with the unfolding of the world to observant eyes—that sense of discovery that draws us in." —NPR
"Professor and botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer knows that the answer to all forms of ecological unbalance have long been hidden in plain sight, told in the language of plants and animals, minerals and elements. She draws on her own heritage . . . pairing science with Indigenous principles and storytelling to advocate for a renewed connection between human beings and nature." —Outside
"Kimmerer eloquently makes the case that by observing and celebrating our reciprocal relationship with the natural world, one can gain greater ecological consciousness." —Sierra Magazine
“With deep compassion and graceful prose, Robin Wall Kimmerer encourages readers to consider the ways that our lives and language weave through the natural world. A mesmerizing storyteller, she shares legends from her Potawatomi ancestors to illustrate the culture of gratitude in which we all should live.”—Publishers Weekly
“The gift of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book is that she provides readers the ability to see a very common world in uncommon ways, or, rather, in ways that have been commonly held but have recently been largely discarded. She puts forth the notion that we ought to be interacting in such a way that the land should be thankful for the people.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Braiding Sweetgrass is instructive poetry. Robin Wall Kimmerer has put the spiritual relationship that Chief Seattle called the ‘web of life’ into writing. Industrial societies lack the understanding of the interrelationships that bind all living things—this book fills that void. I encourage one and all to read these instructions.”—Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper, Onondaga Nation and Indigenous Environmental Leader
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Milkweed Editions
- Publication date : August 11, 2015
- Edition : First Edition
- Language : English
- Print length : 408 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1571313567
- ISBN-13 : 978-1571313560
- Item Weight : 1.14 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.4 x 1.1 x 8.4 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Ecology (Books)
- #2 in Nature Writing & Essays
- #2 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling collection of essays Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants as well as Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses. Kimmerer is a 2022 MacArthur Fellow. She lives in Syracuse, New York, where she is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology, and the founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this book filled with Native wisdom presented in a fascinating way, with eloquently written prose that explores the deep relationship between humans and nature through biological science and indigenous plant knowledge. The book features touching examples of natural reciprocity and traditional stories that move readers to tears in every chapter. Customers appreciate the calming effect of the book, with one noting how it makes them feel like they're lying in a bed of leaves.
AI Generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book insightful, appreciating how it combines Native wisdom with scientific knowledge in a fascinating way.
"...The book takes an honest look at our predicament and provides a path forward rooted in indigenous wisdom bolstered by scientific soundness of reason...." Read more
"...Kimmers ability to eloquently weave science, indigenous wisdom and personal heart-centered storytelling makes for a moving and enlightening..." Read more
"...It was a great way to explain that the plants that are provided for us on Earth aid us in living our daily lives to the fullest and it seems that we..." Read more
"...In return, it provided many tools to sustain the people: sustenance and material to use as survival...." Read more
Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its eloquent and poetic prose.
"...The lovely prose is captivating and consciousness transforming as it opens the heart to new possibilities of perception in reverence of this..." Read more
"Beautiful, eloquent, captivating stories imbued with wisdom...." Read more
"...She calls herself a poet, and her prose is indeed poetic. While reading, I felt like I was sitting and listening to an elder tell stories...." Read more
"...There is no question that she is a good and interesting author...." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's focus on nature and the environment, blending biological science with indigenous plant knowledge, and exploring the deep relationship between humans and the natural world.
"...This book will make you rethink your actions towards the environment and get you thinking deeper about what we can do to keep plant knowledge alive." Read more
"...I was completely impressed that this woman decided to marry her love for botanical science with the Indigenous knowledge she grew up learning and..." Read more
"...about blueberries, other berries, trees, plants mushrooms, lichens, wildlife and her love for all of that as well as the interesting, related botany...." Read more
"...Plants become teachers, reciprocity a sacred ethic...." Read more
Customers appreciate the storytelling in the book, particularly the traditional stories and tales about indigenous ways, with one customer noting how the author gently instructs through relatable narratives.
"...Ity's stories are subtle teachings that bring moments of heartbreak and also of buoyancy...." Read more
"Beautiful, eloquent, captivating stories imbued with wisdom...." Read more
"...Kimmerer’s book is like a series of vignettes; short stories, if you will, that illustrate how the Indigenous live with the land...." Read more
"...Through its powerful storytelling and thought-provoking insights, this book has the potential to ignite a generation of passionate environmental..." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's focus on interrelationship and reciprocity between humans and nature, noting how it expands their compassion for all living things.
"...What a metaphor for reciprocity! "...reciprocity is imperative for long-lasting, successful restoration. ......" Read more
"...I love the focus on reciprocity and gratitude." Read more
"...Plants become teachers, reciprocity a sacred ethic...." Read more
"...The basic premise of the book is reciprocity and an ‘I – Thou’ relationship with all of creation, to borrow a phrase from Martin Buber...." Read more
Customers appreciate the author's voice in the book, finding it calming and enhancing the story, with one customer specifically noting how well it reads for Audible.
"...hearts and minds for a new society, one grounded in generosity and deep listening...." Read more
"...Wall Kimmerer does an excellent job portraying the importance of having a mutual relationship between nature and humans...." Read more
"...I enjoyed and found value in both books but if value is based in number of pages, then the serviceberry gets top billing for its condensed version..." Read more
"...of gardening, the science, the poetic, the sense of place, the tranquility and the sense of community with others...." Read more
Customers find the book emotionally moving, with many describing it as heart-wrenching and moved to tears throughout.
"...By presenting heart felt, connected solutions and highlighting the impact individuals can have, the book instills a sense of empowerment and..." Read more
"...Her prose is achingly beautiful, moving me to tears of wonder as she describes the interrelationship of various plants, such as the brilliant..." Read more
"...Her examples of natural reciprocity are deeply touching and heartfelt...." Read more
"...At the end of the chapter, "Burning Cascade Head," I wrote: "Such a sad section. It brings home how callous and wasteful our society has become...." Read more
Customers find the book calming and peaceful, creating a deep sense of serenity and contentment, with one customer noting how it makes them feel like they're lying in a bed of leaves.
"...It talks about the peaceful deep satisfaction of humans living in symbiosis with the land and its plants and animals and how the maker seems to have..." Read more
"...were moments that surprisingly reminded me of my dad in ways that felt comforting...." Read more
"...What a lovely way of being!" Read more
"...my own exploration of gardening, the science, the poetic, the sense of place, the tranquility and the sense of community with others...." Read more
Reviews with images

Excellent book
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2025Format: KindleVerified PurchaseBraiding Sweetgrass is a seminal novel that plants seeds in hearts and minds for a new society, one grounded in generosity and deep listening. The lovely prose is captivating and consciousness transforming as it opens the heart to new possibilities of perception in reverence of this beautiful Earth in all its effulgence. I recommend this book for anyone burdened by despair who has awakened to the destructiveness of a culture of capitalist greed and rampant consumerism. The book takes an honest look at our predicament and provides a path forward rooted in indigenous wisdom bolstered by scientific soundness of reason. Ity's stories are subtle teachings that bring moments of heartbreak and also of buoyancy. I hope you will read this book and find it as inspiring and hopeful as I did!
- Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2025Format: KindleVerified PurchaseBeautiful, eloquent, captivating stories imbued with wisdom. Kimmers ability to eloquently weave science, indigenous wisdom and personal heart-centered storytelling makes for a moving and enlightening read.
I do warn the reader, however, this book will make it harder to weed the garden, buy things you don’t truly need, be a consumer or excess, and walk in the woods without crying for what we have done to our brothers and sisters of the Earth.
This book should be required reading of every high schooler in the US.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2021Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseBraiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer gives a wildly new perspective on plant life and their relationship to humans. Wall Kimmerer takes us through experiences and knowledge she has gained in her life through her connection to both science and Indigenous Wisdom. Wall Kimmerer discusses the near annihilation of Indigenous people’s traditions, ideas, and languages. Not to mention their removal from their lands and their cultural assimilation into the new European-American culture. This was forced upon Indigenous people and there are still lasting effects to this day that they strive to counteract. Language is only carried on through elders that wish to pass on the language and culture to the youth. Robin Wall Kimmerer is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and had felt disconnected from her Native American roots because of the strong American identity that had been forced upon Native Americans when Europeans arrived. By dedicating much of her time to the study of plants and the connections she can find to Indigenous Wisdom she has been able to combine both perspectives as objectively as she can.
She stresses the importance of the relationship between humans and the natural world. She claims that Mother Earth is showing love to us with the gift of her plants and animals and that we must show our love back and treat her with respect. For example, you must ask plants permission before you utilize them, must give an offering (in many cases some tobacco sprinkled on the ground), and must show gratitude to the Earth and the plants that replenish us. On the other hand, Wall Kimmerer discusses the negative and surprisingly positive externalities that are observed due to humans and inflicted on the Earth. As you might have guessed pollution is a big negative effect along with overhunting and the disturbance of ecosystems. However, Wall Kimmerer discovers that harvesting sweetgrass in the way that she was taught through Indigenous people is actually beneficial for the sweetgrass. Without being harvested the sweetgrass starts to die because of overcrowding and other factors. However, the harvested sweetgrass plots were flourishing. This of course relates to the title of the book which draws on the idea that Sweetgrass was one of the four sacred plants to the Potawatomi people.
Wall Kimmerer does an excellent job portraying the importance of having a mutual relationship between nature and humans. Prior to reading this book I had no idea that there was this vital relationship between us. Wall Kimmerer utilizes the relationship between her and her daughters to help readers understand that Earth shows love to us just as a mother does to her children. I thought that this was a brilliant comparison between two seemingly unrelated topics. It was a great way to explain that the plants that are provided for us on Earth aid us in living our daily lives to the fullest and it seems that we ignore her gift and repay her with pollution and overusing her gifts. Just as children sometimes forget the importance of their mothers and how grateful they should be for the numerous things they do for them everyday.
Another concept that Wall Kimmerer presents beautifully that adds to the book as a whole is the relationship between corn, beans, and squash as described from stories she’d heard from other Native people. They were regarded as the Three Sisters. Kimmerer compares this to the structure of human families when she says “The firstborn girl knows that she is clearly in charge; tall and direct, upright and efficient, she creates the template for everyone else to follow. That’s the corn sister...This bean girl [middle sister] learns to be flexible, adaptable, to find a way around the dominant structure to get the light that she needs. The sweet baby sister is free to choose a different path, as expectations have already been fulfilled. Well grounded, she has nothing to prove and finds her own way, a way that contributes to the good of the whole” (p.132). The plants grow in the same way as the sisters progress in life. In their own ways to come together as a collective whole. This connection truly struck me because it reminded me of my own family and my two younger siblings. Surprisingly, her description matched my family pretty well. This is a terrific way to get the reader to truly humanize the plants in a sense. As a species we tend to place things that are not as advanced as us (by our own standards if I might add) in a category below us. Yet this comparison truly allows us to look at these plants as equals with social structures just as ours. They simply communicate through methods other than speech.
Overall, this was a lovely book that picks up on the relationship between the human world and the natural world and really made me rethink a lot about picking random flowers on the street without asking them if I can first. She utilizes her life experience perfectly in order to recount her journey to a more respectful way of treating the environment around her. This book will make you rethink your actions towards the environment and get you thinking deeper about what we can do to keep plant knowledge alive.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseI’m in a Facebook group that is what they call a “safe space.” It’s intended to be free from anything offensive, and I’ve genuinely learned quite a bit about how to be a more safe person. I was unaware of the term “ableist” prior to this group and I had no idea that there was anything called a “closed religion” or a “closed culture.” In one heated discussion thread, a member of the Orthodox Jewish community left the comment: “My religion is not for your entertainment.” Those words have stuck with me for a while. The remainder of the thread was an argument amongst two member of different Native American tribes, and the aforementioned Jewish person. One woman commented that, closed religion/culture or not, education goes a lot way to clear the path towards understanding, acceptance, and thus end discrimination and hatred towards any groups. That whole conversation has been taking up space in my brain for a long time.
It’s not up to me to decide whether either of those points are correct. I think they both have value. However, I am an intensely curious human, so I struggle with the idea that closed religions or cultures should remain shrouded in mystery, but again, none of that is up to me. I do, however, sincerely appreciate the information I can find on closed religions and cultures, because I feel like I can be a better human by understanding others. Diversity is powerful, and a path to embracing diversity is forged through understanding and acceptance. When my co-admin of my online book club suggested this book for one of our selections, I jumped at the chance to read it.
I was completely impressed that this woman decided to marry her love for botanical science with the Indigenous knowledge she grew up learning and continued to learn along the way. I will never underscore the importance of education, but as a former educator, I will also never underscore the importance of knowledge learned through lifetimes of doing. The Indigenous of North America have a vastly different relationship with the land than others, with the key being the word “relationship.” The view is that it has to be symbiotic, not one-sided, and it makes far more sense to me than the idea the land is simply there for humans to take from.
Kimmerer’s book is like a series of vignettes; short stories, if you will, that illustrate how the Indigenous live with the land. I personally noticed that simply observing and appreciating the natural world can provide an abundance of insight that she was eventually able to apply to her institutional studies. Throughout this book, it is easy to see that she has a deep appreciation for all things “nature,” and I loved every part of it. I would recommend this book to anybody. There is a lot of knowledge contained within the stories in this book, and anybody with a heartbeat could benefit from reading it.
Top reviews from other countries
- caterina giubbileiReviewed in Italy on May 19, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Amazing book
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MaryanReviewed in Spain on February 23, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Maravilloso.
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseUna mezcla de botánica, filosofía vital de los indios americanos y vivencias de una madre. Para leer poco a poco.
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Andrea Diblik VillaseñorReviewed in Mexico on July 21, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars De lo mejor
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseNos conecta con la sabiduría ancestral y nos hace reflexionar sobre todo lo que intentaron quitarnos al acabar con los nativos.
Es un libro que les sacara lagrimas de felicidad y otras veces de tristeza por aquello que ya no es.
Lo deberían estar leyendo todos en la preparatoria para así hacernos consientes de que cada cambio que hacemos por insignificante que parezca no lo es todo ayuda a la madre tierra.
- AlexReviewed in the Netherlands on October 26, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Will change your perspective
This is a really beautiful book that made me feel so much more in touch with the world around me. Highly recommend.
- Colleen CollinsReviewed in Canada on June 8, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Braiding Sweetgrass
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseExcellent book, easy read, informative, inspiring