A beautiful blend of Indigenous wisdom and scientific knowledge, woven through a gracefully poetic personal memoir. As a botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer guides us through the intimate relationships between people and the natural world. She invites us to cultivate reciprocity and reverence toward the earth, and shares how "to heal our relationship to the world."

What you can get from reading it

• A deep appreciation for the land and its teachings, woven through stories of plants, animals, and traditional practices — including the story of Skywoman and sacred sweetgrass
• Insight into Indigenous ways of knowing, emphasizing reciprocity, gratitude, and healing for both people and the environment.
• Guidance on how to build meaningful, respectful relationships with the natural world around you.
• Reflections on the importance of ceremony, language, and community in sustaining culture and ecosystems.
• An invitation to slow down, listen, and become “naturalized” in your place, treating the earth as home.

About the author

Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, writer, and trained botanist who teaches at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she brings Indigenous science and perspectives to her ecological research and writing. Her work bridges the gap between Western scientific knowledge and Indigenous ways of knowing, inspiring us to reconnect deeply with the living world around us.