The Serviceberry

September 23, 2024
“All flourishing is mutual,” according to this rousing treatise on the benefits of communal values. Potawatomi environmentalist Kimmerer (Braiding Sweetgrass) explains that the Potawatomi root word for “berry” (min) is also the root word for “gift,” illustrating how in the tribe’s “culture of gratitude,” natural resources are seen as offerings that carry with them “responsibilities of sharing, respect, reciprocity.” Such principles are needed to counter the concentration of resources in the hands of the few, she contends, calling for “gift economies” in which “the practice for dealing with abundance is to give it away.” By way of example, she discusses how Native peoples of the Pacific Northwest mark life milestones with celebratory potlatches at which individuals “enhance their prestige and affirm connections with a web of relations” by giving away possessions. Kimmerer is clear-eyed about the challenges of transitioning to a gift economy, acknowledging that it’s susceptible to bad actors and will require a drastic change in mindset. However, she observes that modern examples of successful gift economies abound, from public libraries to open-source software and Wikipedia. Kimmerer doesn’t attempt to outline a practical plan for vanquishing self-centeredness borne of capitalism, but she nonetheless succeeds in bringing attention to the fact that alternatives are possible. It’s an eloquent call to action. Illus. Agent: Sarah Levitt, Aevitas Creative Management.

March 1, 2025

Ecology meets economy in Kimmerer's (environmental biology, SUNY Coll. of Environmental Science and Forestry; Braiding Sweetgrass) latest, creating a call to action through inspiring nature writing. Kimmerer notes that the Potawatomi word for serviceberry is "bozakmin;" within this word is "min," or "berry," which is the root word for "gift." Kimmerer explains that serviceberries, and indeed, all of nature's offerings, are gifts to be shared and reciprocated. Taking this idea one step further, she argues for the necessity of moving away from current market economies toward a gift economy that could create environmental and interpersonal advantages and a better world. Narrating her own work, Kimmerer employs a calming voice and cadence to discuss sharing abundance and cultivating gratitude. The pure joy of nature is reflected through her tone, then gifted to listeners as a sense of hope. Kimmerer's gift-exchanging theme and culture of gratitude are expressed with warmth and generosity--much like a warm hug--even while discussing weighty topics such as environmental science and economics. VERDICT Fans of Braiding Sweetgrass will find equal value in this short but impactful audiobook.--Kristen Shaw

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