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  1. Books
  2. Climate, nature, and animals
  3. Nature

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How to be a Bad Botanist

Chosen by WATERSTONES as one of their BEST NATURE WRITING BOOKS of 2024

Can you tell a tomato from a grape? Lawn from an oak tree? Then congratulations - you are a botanist.

Self-confessed bad birdwatcher Simon Barnes thought he knew nothing about plants. He didn't object to them: trees are interesting, because birds perch in them; plants are useful as they create habitats and birds live in habitats. But while admiring the tenacity of some sea kale and yellow-horned poppy to thrive on an inhospitable shingle beach, he was struck by a truth - it all begins with plants.

In this funny and inspiring book, Simon Barnes tells the story of a lifelong relationship with plants, and the realisation of the fact. Taking us from thinking ourselves ignorant about plants, to gently starting to observe seasons, patterns and places, Barnes guides us on a journey to better observing the beauty and diversity of the natural world.

Both a primer on how to appreciate the plants around us and an exploration on how they make our external and interior worlds, How to be a Bad Botanist opens our eyes to the wonders around us. Plants are everywhere, in every part of your life, and you know more than you think.


Author:

  • Simon Barnes

Narrator:

  • Simon Barnes

Format:

  • Audiobook
  • E-book

Duration:

  • 7 h 30 min
  • 170 pages

Language:

English

Categories:

  • Climate, nature, and animals
  • Nature

More by Simon Barnes

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  1. The Year of Sitting Dangerously : My Garden Safari

    Simon Barnes

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  2. The History of the World in 100 Plants

    Simon Barnes

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  3. History of the World in 100 Animals

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  4. On the Marsh : A Year Surrounded by Wildness and Wet

    Simon Barnes

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  5. Rewild Yourself : 23 Spellbinding Ways to Make Nature More Visible

    Simon Barnes

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  6. Epic : In Search of the Soul of Sport and Why It Matters

    Simon Barnes

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  • 7 books

    Simon Barnes

    Simon Barnes is the author of many wild volumes, including the bestselling Bad Birdwatcher trilogy, Rewild Yourself, On The Marsh and The History of the World in 100 Animals. He is a council member of World Land Trust, trustee of Conservation South Luangwa and patron of Save the Rhino. In 2014, he was awarded the Rothschild Medal for services to conservation. He lives in Norfolk with his family and horses, where he manages several acres for wildlife. He was the Chief Sports Writer for The Times until 2014, having worked for the paper for 30 years.

    Read more

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