"I'll never look at plants--or the natural world--in the same way again, after reading Zoë Schlanger's stunning book. Instead of trying to ram the square peg of botanical life into the round holes of human biology and metaphors, Schlanger instead considers plants on their own terms, as they actually are. The result is mesmerizing, world-expanding, and achingly beautiful." - Ed Yong, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of An Immense World and I Contain Multitudes "The Light Eaters is a masterpiece of science writing. Burning with open-minded curiosity, this exploration of the emerging revolution in plant science will challenge what you think you know and ignite a new way of seeing the plant world. Part detective story, part field trip and part philosophy, this brilliant book stretches the mind, toward a profound new understanding of the sophistication of under-appreciated plants. I feel it as an antidote to arrogance, as it engenders humility, respect and awe for the light eaters who make the world." - Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants "A brilliant must-read about the marvels of the green world.
This book shook and changed me, revealing plant intelligence as more strange and wondrous than I could imagine. Zoë Schlanger's explorations brim with curiosity and every page brings new revelation and insight." - David George Haskell, author of Sounds Wild and Broken, The Songs of Trees, and The Forest Unseen "A stunning book . will transform how you see not only plants but the nature of all life." - Scientific American "[A] fascinating journey through contemporary botanical research." - Orion ". [Zoë] looks beyond the leaves and branches to how our verdant neighbors perceive our world, offering a plant's eye view of life. [The Light Eaters] shines.
" - Smithsonian magazine, "The Ten Best Science Books of 2024" ".Schlanger reminds us of a common truth that we tend to take for granted: plants are remarkable. Behind each stage of development in their lives is a complex system, one that she describes in awe-inspiring detail. Combining research with her own personal stories, the author illuminates why plants are so vital to our ecosystem and asks pressing questions about the relationship between humans and natural life. The result is a surprising and tender book of science writing that urges us all to reconsider how we think about the greenery that lives both in our homes and outside of them." - TIME, The 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2024 "The human mind will boggle at least once per page." - Boston Globe, 75 Best Books of 2024 ". fascinating .
Schlanger, who initially turned to the topic as a distraction from her relentlessly dispiriting work as a climate journalist (before quitting to obsess about plants full-time), introduces the reader to an engaging cast of boundary-pushing botanists and follows her curiosity to laboratories, jungles, and even a cave. Filled with eye-popping examples of vegetal feats and buoyed by Schlanger's earnest infatuation, The Light Eaters may not arrive at an indisputable conclusion--the debate continues, after all--but you will likely never look at your houseplants the same way." - Audubon Magazine, These 7 Books About Plants Deserve a Spot on Your Birding Bookshelf "[A] revelatory debut . The Light Eaters is an enchanting read that will compel you to consider the well-being of your humble houseplant." - TIME, The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024 "Captivating." - Vanity Fair.