Seeds of change
A fascinating account of how five plants-quinine, sugarcane, tea, cotton and the potato-have impacted on humanity since the 16th century. The significance of these plants has been felt socially, industrially, and economically in myriad ways. A few examples give the flavor of this book. By alleviating the debilitating effects of malaria, quinine opened up the tropics making possible the development of the resources of Africa and Asia, plus making available vast numbers of people for cheap labor. Millions of black people were taken to the Caribbean to grow sugarcane, for which there was an addictive demand. A great demand also developed for tea in Europe because it was a stimulating, nonalcoholic drink. To pay for the tea, the British exchanged opium, which caused the decline of China. Cotton prolonged the use of slavery, a lucrative trade in itself, and ultimately led to Civil War in the US even though slavery had already fallen into disfavor in other parts of the world. By citing many primary sources, Hobhouse graphically illustrates the changes in the course of human history that are attributable to plants rather than to the human factors usually cited. New insights and perspectives on the impact of plants and nature gleaned from this book are compelling. Highly recommended.-C.S. Dunn, University of North Carolina at Wilmington--Choice Reviews.