The earth is not a dead, silent landscape but an eloquent, living entity. Sometimes, all it takes is a shovel, a bag of seeds, and a sturdy pair of boots to realize this. Philosopher Byung-Chul Han spent three springs, summers, autumns, and winters in his secret garden in Berlin, dedicating himself to daily gardening tasks in all weather conditions. For Han, gardening is a form of silent meditative practice, a moment of tranquility. It offers a different sense of time. Each plant has its own specific rhythm, and the garden is a space where many different temporalities overlap and intersect. The more he worked in the garden, the greater his respect for the earth and its enchanting beauty. Gardening taught him what it means to care for others. Every organism has its own perception of passing time. It elevates into a microcosm. Step by step, Han detached himself from himself and the world, moving closer to the triumphant, divine nature that we risk losing. Through this rich reflection on plants, soil, gardening, and time, Han reveals a way of relating to and caring for the earth that starkly contrasts with the violent, relentless exploitation of our planet that we observe around us today.

Pages: 160, Year of Publication: 1217, Dimensions: 14x14cm