Richard Mabey

Loved this book. Sort of a biography of weeds, in a way, or at least of the way some weeds have intersected with humans. I wish there had been photos, as so many of the weeds were truly beautiful. I kept my iPad handy, for reference. The uses of plants by man, and the abuses, and the likely future were all explored. Really enjoyed it. Highly recommended

Great book. Really a survey, or, perhaps, as advertised , a cabaret. Definitely a jumping off place to find out even more about both the plants and the books and artists mentioned along the way

Very entertaining mixture of scientific informaion and personal reminiscences. Manages not to spend too much time on some of the subjects of many pop-sci botany books (i.e., carnivorous plants). And what time Mabey does spend on those topics is presented through a cultural lens that makes the subject fresh.
[Audiobook note: Ralph Lister is an excellent reader.]

The Eden Project, an ecological showcase established in Cornwall, is the sponsor and organizing point for this book. From that departure point, Mabey provides a varied treatment of natural history related to the biomes modeled in Eden. I found the natural history parts interesting; the descriptions of Eden, not so much. Mabey is an excellent writer, but this (IMO) just was not his best.