Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants

Written by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Narrated by Robin Wall Kimmerer

As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history that the Potawatomi, as well as a majority of other cultures indigenous to this land, consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowing together to reveal what it means to see humans as "the younger brothers of creation." As she explores these themes, she circles toward a central argument: The awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the world. Once we begin to listen for the languages of other beings, we can begin to understand the innumerable life-giving gifts the world provides us and learn to offer our thanks, our care, and our own gifts in return.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Jul 5, 2016
• ISBN: 9781515975908

Robin Wall Kimmerer

Robin Wall Kimmerer is a mother, scientist, writer, decorated professor, and enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller 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 and was named to the Time list of the100 Most Influential People of 2025. 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. --- Robin Wall Kimmerer es madre, científica, escritora, profesora condecorada, miembro de la Nación Potawatomi. Es autora del bestseller del New York Times Una trenza de hierba sagrada, así como de Reserva de musgo: una historia natural y cultural. Kimmerer es becaria MacArthur Fellow de 2022. Vive en Syracuse, Nueva York, donde es Profesora Distinguida de Biología Ambiental en SUNY y fundadora y directora del Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.

Reviews for Braiding Sweetgrass

[Ivy Hinson · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Authors soothing voice made this read even more special. Great balance of science and a the spiritual.

[Sandra Zuks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is generous and gives a lot of knowledge, wisdom, respect, and love. Listen.

[R Leolani · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a great read. I read the audio book along side the physical book. I will recommend this every single time.

[Colby Lipscomb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Completely changed the way I look at the world and has given me so much hope for the future I never knew I could have again

[mp · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Best book i ever listened to, I am crying with joy

[Virginia Lopez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

inspiring! so much information, I will be reading it again.

[tinahuntz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful nonfiction covering the relationship plants and humans have sustained for generations before agricultural and industrial overload. A book to return to.

[jolynne-4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Heartbreaking to think of the things that are gone from this earth and terrifying to know we are on the brink of losing so much more. In the end the author gives a ray of hope. From the author - "Weep! Weep! calls a toad from the waters edge. And I do. If grief can be a doorway to love, then let us all weep for the world we are breaking apart so we can love it back to wholeness again"

[Tauheed Sohail · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love when authors read their own books, the expressions, their pauses ...all add so much to experencing the book, to me, as closely as the author intended it to be.
This is a book I know I will re-read multiple times to be able to absorb and cherish all that's been shared. But I did get lost at times as there is a lot to process. Maybe should have been split in two books. One about Sweetgrass and one about the author's learnings!

[junipersun · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favorite plant author, Robin writes warmly and personally about her relationship with plants and the world around her. She stimulates us to question our cultural bias of distancing ourselves from the natural world and suggests that acting with reciprocity, sharing our gifts in exchange for the gifts nature gives us, will enhance the survival of all species (including humans).A few of her chapters get a bit more preachy, on issues that are currently overwhelming our environment, but on the whole this book speaks on a family level: Robin writes of cleaning up a pond in her attempt to be a good mother and provide a swimming area for her daughters; she writes of gardening, of listening to grade schoolers say a Thanksgiving in their native language, of boiling maple sap, of teaching college students to consider how they would feel if the earth loved them back. She shares some traditional Native American practices but cautions us to all find our own ceremonies that upwell from our own situations.The title honors a plant which embodies the different approaches to knowledge which she takes as a scientist and a Potawatomi.

[Anne Everts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Everything! The wisest book I've read on living with grace and respect on Mother Earth. I hope she will write another. Thank you Robin Wall Kimmerer.

[Elysia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Robin Wall-Kimmerer is the professor I needed during my biology studies. I empathize completely with her analyses and the deep connection to the natural world I have experienced since learning more of their structure and physiology. She weaves intergenerational wisdom, scientific knowledge, and a mutual way of living with the environment that is sorely needed for the future of our mutual humanity. I cannot recommend this book enough.

[Isabelle · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Braiding Sweetgrass is for me the most important book I have read in decades, possibly in my life. Kimmerer's messages are giving me strength, and a sense of purpose. As an ecologist who sees the world through the lens of science but knows that science alone cannot save the Earth from ourselves, I have unknowingly been seeking the path of healing through traditional ways. The words and spirit are so beautifully conveyed in the author's narration that I have been allowing myself only small portions of its balm at a time, fearing to arrive at the end. But here I am, still suffused with the joy of validation of a way of seeing the world in all its complexity and beauty and resilience, and a smidgen of hope that all is not lost to the Windigo. I have been urging my friends, colleagues, and students to read (or listen to) this book so that more and more of us can help lead our peoples towards the green path for the future.

[Sonja Norton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing writing which is delivered naturally as poetry. I love her writing and her calm voice.

[Danish Dhamani · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a pretty book. Expect to shed lots of tears of heartache for the damage we have done to and on this beautiful world, but also tears of awe at how wonderful the world treats us. Provides a lot of guidance and thought to how we should be better living our lives. And fills me with gratitude.

[david schourie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you so so much truly life changing experience. Lots of love and support for the work that lies ahead.

[Catherine Mellert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have absolutely enjoyed listening to the author's voice. I learned a lot and this book helped me refelct on how I miss somethings about what surrounds us.

[Patricia Delfin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I learned and received an infinite amount of beauty, hope, and wisdom from listening to this book. It was so full of pathways to move forward. I am in love with the alignment I felt from my core withe the Honest Harvest and the option for the 8th for people. Thank you!

[ann west · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simply brilliant, lyrical prose. Sensitive and wise , a blueprint for awareness

[Eric Brice Swartz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Beautiful work on our reciprocal relationship with the plants and the planet. I wish anyone involved in gardening , farming and producing food would give this a listen.

[Alicia Paukovic · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book, I've always had an interest in Native American spiritual beliefs, love how they were presented in this book.

[Sally · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An honor and a joy to be enlightened with indigenous wisdom to save our planet, our neighborly beings, and ourselves.

[cqmjfggvqb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the most soul-filling and beautiful books, shared with care and beauty and honesty. All humans would benefit from reading the wisdom shared here from Indigenous peoples, and nature. So much gratitude and respect for the author for sharing her people’s wisdom with such care and beauty ????

[Jessica N · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is an amazing book, exceptionally written. Changed my life. Read it.

Thank you Robin.

[Ryan Souza · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Incredibly beautiful and powerful. Being a native Hawaiian Robin’s stories and descriptions resonate deeply with me.

[sashastorylover · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent nonfiction audio book narrated by the author herself. It provide a great scope of information as well as author’s personal stories.

[Mary Scanlon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book. Full of wisdom, humour and inspiration. Thank you.

[Wendi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book, it has so many things to offer and learn from. Thank you.

[SR · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was a recommended read for my herbal class ... I loved every minute of listening!! Highly highly recommend for your herbal library ?

[J. Kanrad Lasher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This Might be the most inspirational and insightful book yet.