Book Review #74 : The Serviceberry - Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer, John Burgoyne(illustrator)

 

Relishing in the era of this precious ‘Serviceberry’ is a totally different experience Dr. Robin has given through this book. This is my first read in the field of environmental science which focuses on simple messages using factual work.

This book focuses on the art of gift economy. Author has shown the natural trend of enjoying abundance in the most elementary ways. Different plants with its innumerable cultural importance, honoring of seasonal farming, the selfless offering by plants and the same by many contributors like birds, bees, wind, sun, soil, microorganisms and many more - everything contributes to the planet in their own way. This gratitude flows towards the plant elders and radiates to the rain, to the sunshine, to the improbability of bushes spangled with morsels of sweetness in a world that can be bitter. Author emphasizes on the grateful offering a plant has to give, when nobody has any claim to these berries and still, anyone can have in their bucket. 

The main ideology of her work is recognizing “enoughness” in this fast changing economy, where no one understands how much is too much, and this selfish act in the economical world is always urging us to consume more!  We need to understand that abundance is created by recycling, by reciprocity, and is fueled by constantly circulating materials, not wasting them.

I loved what Robin has emphasized, and I quote - “I imagine if we acknowledged that everything we consume is the gift of Mother Earth, we would take better care of what we are given.”  She also made a strong statement that in the gift economy, the currency is our relationships, that can be expressed as gratitude, as interdependence, and the ongoing cycle of reciprocity. Also, the library model she described, which can be used to provide free access to not only books, but also music, tools, seeds, and more. We don’t each have to own everything.

How can I forget the illustrations! The simple portrayal of berries, bushes, birds and more by  John Burgoyne had given a subtle meaning to Robin’s words. How beautifully Robin had told this all theory using the example of Serviceberry. Even a reader like me, with no knowledge of ecology and economy, can relate to her statements easily.

It’s a short read and very poetic.