Selected by WATERSTONES as one of the BEST NATURE BOOKS of 2024

Can you tell a tomato from a raisin? A patch of grass from a Christmas tree? If so, then congratulations – you're a botanist.

The self-proclaimed bad birdwatcher Simon Barnes thought he knew nothing about plants. He had nothing against them: trees are interesting because they offer shelter to birds. But as he admires the resilience of certain yellow plants blooming on a pebble beach – where it seemed no plant could survive – a simple yet profound truth overwhelms him. It all starts with plants.

In this charming and inspiring book, Barnes takes us on a fascinating journey, from the marvelous process of photosynthesis to the complex and strange methods of plant reproduction. We examine plants as varied as cabbages and bellflowers, known weeds and mysterious orchids, parasitic plants and plants bearing deadly toxins – helping us better appreciate the beauty and diversity of the natural world.

A subject of instruction in botany and exploration of how plants shape our external and internal worlds, How to Become a Bad Botanist opens our eyes to the wonders surrounding us. Plants are everywhere, in every part of your life, and you know more than you think.

Pages: 288, Year of Publication: 0425, Dimensions: 13.5x13.5cm