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The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
by Pollan, Michael
- Used
- very good
- Hardcover
- Signed
- first
- Condition
- Very Good/Near Fine
- ISBN 10
- 0375501290
- ISBN 13
- 9780375501296
- Seller
-
Albany, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
New York: Random House, 2001. First US Edition/First Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Near Fine. First Edition stated with correct number sequence. Inscribed by author. In terra cotta boards and green spine with gilt. Some marks/spots to boards, ding to top rear corner and wear at spine ends. Some light foxing to page ends. Jacket is unclipped.
Synopsis
In 1637, one Dutchman paid as much for a single tulip bulb as the going price of a town house in Amsterdam. Three and a half centuries later, Amsterdam is once again the mecca for people who care passionately about one particular plant -- thought this time the obsessions revolves around the intoxicating effects of marijuana rather than the visual beauty of the tulip. How could flowers, of all things, become such objects of desire that they can drive men to financial ruin?In The Botany of Desire, Michael Pollan argues that the answer lies at the heart of the intimately reciprocal relationship between people and plants. In telling the stories of four familiar plant species that are deeply woven into the fabric of our lives, Pollan illustrates how they evolved to satisfy humankinds's most basic yearnings -- and by doing so made themselves indispensable. For, just as we've benefited from these plants, the plants, in the grand co-evolutionary scheme that Pollan evokes so brilliantly, have done well by us. The sweetness of apples, for example, induced the early Americans to spread the species, giving the tree a whole new continent in which to blossom. So who is really domesticating whom?Weaving fascinating anecdotes and accessible science into gorgeous prose, Pollan takes us on an absorbing journey that will change the way we think about our place in nature.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Lost Paddle Books, IOBA
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- LPB007473MP
- Title
- The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
- Author
- Pollan, Michael
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- Near Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First US Edition/First Printing
- ISBN 10
- 0375501290
- ISBN 13
- 9780375501296
- Publisher
- Random House
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 2001
- LCCN
- 00066479
- Bookseller catalogs
- Natural History;
Terms of Sale
Lost Paddle Books, IOBA
Books are unique in their ability to encompass lives, from the lives of their authors, to the characters or subjects they portray. They even have the capacity to take on a life of their own as they pass among us acquiring stories, artifacts and scars along the way. As such, they deserve to be treated with respect. We use only premium packaging materials and every attempt is made to be as accurate as possible in our listings. All books are supplied in protective mylar sleeves if applicable and additional photos are available on request for books offered at $50 at owner's discretion. If the book is not received as described, a return in like condition may be made within 14 days for a full refund. For CA residents: Sales tax will be processed as an additional charge. Please note that shipping rates are for an average sized book, supplemental shipping may apply if the book is heavy and/or oversize, or if there are multiple books in a shipment. Gift wrapping available upon request. PLEASE NOTE: Orders are still shipping quickly, but because of delays with the postal service due to the pandemic, please expect additional time to receive your book(s). Thank you.
About the Seller
Lost Paddle Books, IOBA
Biblio member since 2018
Albany, California
About Lost Paddle Books, IOBA
Founded by an avid collector with 30+ years experience in all facets of the book trade from bookselling and library science to publishing. We believe that books can lead to greater empathy and understanding in the world helping us open ourselves to other lives and experiences.
Additional services offered include appraisals for Bay Area residents and collection development for private individuals and institutions.
Additional services offered include appraisals for Bay Area residents and collection development for private individuals and institutions.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Inscribed
- When a book is described as being inscribed, it indicates that a short note written by the author or a previous owner has been...
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Gilt
- The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
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