Second Nature: A Gardener's Education
By Michael Pollan
Pollan’s very first book, Second Nature, is a collection of closely related essays documenting his attempts to build a flourishing vegetable and flower garden in his backyard, which frequently branch into larger topics like the history of gardening, the complicated cultural and social dynamics of lawn care in the United States, environmental crises and their impact on gardening and farming, and the ways in which growing your own vegetables can deepen your bonds to a physical place. Admittedly, a book about gardening may not be for everyone. But if you are a fan of writers like Henry David Thoreau, Wendel Berry, Annie Dillard, or Katharine and E.B. White, then you will love Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education.
Pollan’s very first book, Second Nature, is a collection of closely related essays documenting his attempts to build a flourishing vegetable and flower garden in his backyard, which frequently branch into larger topics like the history of gardening, the complicated cultural and social dynamics of lawn care in the United States, environmental crises and their impact on gardening and farming, and the ways in which growing your own vegetables can deepen your bonds to a physical place. Admittedly, a book about gardening may not be for everyone. But if you are a fan of writers like Henry David Thoreau, Wendel Berry, Annie Dillard, or Katharine and E.B. White, then you will love Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education.
Review by Kevin Rothenberg