"An unconventional ode to the wonders of mesquite. A charming yet quirky book."-- Kirkus Reviews "By turns informative, playful, funny, and wise, Mesquite is a fascinating, tour de force illumination of the natural, cultural, and spiritual value of a truly remarkable desert tree. Gary Nabhan's gift to readers is the imaginative and redemptive suggestion that we still have plenty to learn from the more-than-human world that flourishes even under the harshest conditions. A gem from one of our finest western American writers, Mesquite is a spectacular accomplishment and a wonderfully entertaining read." Michael P. Branch, author of Rants from the Hill and How to Cuss in Western "With a reverently irreverent blend of natural history, magical realism, social commentary, and humor, Nabhan invites us to fall in love with one of America's most misunderstood and maligned plants. Masterfully performing the great sleight of hand trick of classic nature writing, Nabhan employs close observation of the outside world to go deeper within.
" Liz Carlisle, author of Lentil Underground "In this rapturous, provocative, and intimate book, Gary Paul Nabhan takes readers on his quest for symbiosis with mesquite! It's a paean to the venerable desert legume, a humorous meditation on human knowledge, and a somewhat Kafkaesque journey into the deep state of vegetal oneness with a tree. It is full of wry observations, heartfelt hopefulness, and vivid storieswith a big dash of trippy fun!" Courtney White, author of Grass, Soil, Hope and Two-Percent Solutions "It seems that Gary Paul Nabhan has been experiencing a case of mesquiten identity! In this book we learn how he came to belong to the genus Prosopis . Along the way we also learn about mesquite biology, evolution, ecology, culture, cuisine, and conservation. Like the mesquite, Gary is deep-rooted in our arid landscapes and communities. He crosses borders. He bears blossoms of wit and pods of knowledge. As he finds himself transformed, so does the reader. We become a bit more mesquite-like ourselvesand, somehow, that much more human.
" Curt Meine, conservation biologist; senior fellow, The Aldo Leopold Foundation "Delicious! This book nourishes the soul, home, and palate with stories and characters as alluring and complex as the trees they love and celebrate." --Brad Lancaster, cofounder of Desert Harvesters; author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond "Nabhan teaches ecological lessons to nonscientists through an impressive range of disciplines: ancient history, ethnobiology, paleo-nutrition, ecology, history, anthropology, and more. In each of 16 chapters, he examines one facet of this fascinating shrub: how it grows and spreads, how its wood is used for fence posts and for exquisite woodcrafting, and, centrally, how its pods have been used for centuries as food (recipes included). In a conceit that begins and ends each chapter, [Nabhan] confesses his secret: he has come to think of the mesquite as a lover, and he is gradually transforming into one himself."-- Choice Reviews.