I was able to read the physical book and compare the audiobook, so I'm including my other review as well.

I wasn't sure how an audiobook on this type of subject would work, but I was able to follow it fine. It's structured differently from the book, putting the vignettes in a more narrative structure and having the plant advice together at the end.

I think the author did a good job reading her book, I found her pleasant and could tell how much she enjoys her field.

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I am at my core a history nerd, and diving into the deep history of something I care for really gets me going.

From the hanging gardens of Babylon to Cleopatra, Victorian Terrariums, and 70s macrame, I'm into it.

I've grown up with plants in the home, but I like many people during the pandemic started taking a more keen interest in my photosynthetic house makes.

I've successfully propagated my Philodendrons a few times and have gotten my rubber tree and island Fir to thrive indoors. I look forward to continuing adding to my collection, and I really loved the advise this book gave me.

I especially enjoyed the "Tips for Ethical Plant Buying" section. Its so important to be educated, and understand where and how things are sourced.

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Taming the Potted Beast: The Strange and Sensational History of the Not-So-Humble Houseplant is a history and primer on house plants by Molly Williams. I listened to the audiobook, which clocks in at six hours and is narrated by the author.

The first section of the book focuses on a chronological history of the cultivation and domestication of houseplants, which includes tons of entertaining vignettes. There are also sections describing DIY plant projects you can create in your home, and tons of tips and tricks for caring for your collection.

There is a TON of information in this little book! The author does a deep dive on how to care for each type of plant described here. If you want to know what kind of soil to use for a particular plant, how much and how often you should water it, what *kind* of water you should use, how much light it needs to thrive, and how to make its pot look really cute--among other information--please check out this book!

The author's prose is very approachable and fun to listen to. She does a great job narrating the audio version!

I think I'm going to need to get my hands on a physical copy of this book! Firstly, because it's illustrated and I'm excited to check those out. Secondly, there's a bunch of info in here that would be super useful for me to have on hand.

This little power pocket full of audio was a great little listen to learn about the history of houseplants, which plants are right for you, and how to care for plants. I was really excited to learn about the PDF included with this audiobook as there was no way to remember the actual plant names. So I'm happy to have a reference, however I still think the format of this book would be best as a hardcover.
The narrator was entertaining considering some of the information could get a bit dry (no pun intended), and she moved it along and kept my attention.


Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio, Andrews McMeel Publishing for an advance audiobook version of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued to see how an audio version of a "care for houseplants" style book would work and I honestly didn't expect it to be as good as it was. The history chapters and the information on plant poaching were really interesting. The chapters on houseplant care itself did not work so well on audio, but I feel that there's enough information, there in an accessible style, that I may just buy a copy of the physical book.

I've never been very good at caring for plants but recently have had a Mother-in-Law's Tongue thrive to the point of needing splitting and I have high hopes for my newly purchased orchids, now that I'm a bit better prepared for how to care for them. I may just venture a little further and get a small something for my home office.

Aside from the middle "care" section, this was great to listen to whilst doing mundane chores. It really brightened up my afternoon. The enthusiasm of the author, in the narration, is abundantly clear. Thank you Molly Williams!

Confession - I'm a plant nerd - so this book rang a chord with me - the author, Molly Williams, narrates the audio version and her plant and garden enthusiasm shines through - The history of horticulture and specific plants I found surprisingly interesting. She includes DIY plant projects, and easy tips and tricks for caring for your own houseplants. If you enjoy plants and are the least bit curious about their history, this book is for you. You come away with practical projects, expert advice, plant resources, and a deeper understanding of the historical significance of many houseplants.

This work explores a brief history of the houseplant and different plant trends and fads that have occurred throughout time. From the hanging gardens of Babylon to today’s Instagram influencers, potted plants have been an obsession that doesn’t seem to go away.

This read was quite informative, containing some interesting historical references to plants (from art to writing). I enjoyed that the author listed the plants that were most popular during certain times as well as the native habitats of those plants. I believe that the discussion on the Victorian Era’s plants, especially relating to the Wardian Case and orchid hunters, was my favorite portion of the work. I wanted more historical information and details included because I do love history; however, the author did include enough to make an interesting and informative read and recommended some books for further reading.

The author also included details about how to care for these plants if you purchase them today. Details ranging from soil types to watering to the best pots were included. This section made for a quick, accessible overview, but I didn’t necessarily find it more informative than a quick online search would have been.

I listened to the audiobook version and did enjoy the narrator’s voice. However, this book would be more enjoyable and useful as a physical copy rather than as an audiobook. With all the scientific names of plants and rapid-fire details about their care and upkeep, a lot of it went in one ear and out the other. Seeing it in writing and using it as a reference that way would be the most useful. Also, there are illustrations in the physical copy, which I imagine greatly enrich this read.

Overall, I do recommend this work, especially if you enjoy plants and want to know some history behind the potted beast in your home. My thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for allowing me to read and review this work. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An interesting history of how houseplants came to be popular home decor staples. It explains how plant trends match society’s trends and how we got to where we are today in the world of houseplants. The book also provides useful tips and tricks for the most common plants, inspiring those with - or without - a green thumb. This book will compel you to want to take your plant hobby to the next level. Definitely read even if you just have a general interest in house plants.

As a new plant lover, thanks to the pandemic, I really enjoyed the book. It’s full of fascinating information and written in a delightfully accessible way. My only issue is a technically one. The sound quality is very poor and detracts greatly from the content of the book itself. I’m hopeful this issue is resolved in the published edition as I look forward to revisiting this audiobook again in the future.

I’m a huge plant nerd and chronic researcher, so this one was everything I love combined in one book! Fascinating history, quick wit, and the everlasting memories of how painfully expensive pink princesses were at peak pandemic. I’d recommend to any plant mom or dad.

A copy of this audiobook was provided to me by Net Galley in exchange for a review.
This was a wonderful and comprehensive guide to houseplants and their evolution throughout history. It was interesting to hear about the changing popularity and the ways that historical events contributed to changes in plant popularity. The book also offers information about how to care for your own plant collection and can be used as a beginners care guide for many varieties of popular houseplants. The audiobook was well produced and enjoyable to listen to.

Taming the Potted Beast

5/5

• Fun & Fast-paced
• Informative & Entertaining
• Plant Mama Approved
• Narration by Author
• Historical Accounts with Modern Flair
• The Lineage of your Favorite Plant.
• Informative and humorous.


BIG thanks to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Audio, Andrews McMeel Publishing for an Audiobook ARC of Molly Williams Taming the Potted Beast. This is a quick listen clocking in at () This book had me enthralled. I love my houseplants and this book goes into their unique history while remaining fun and entertaining. Narrated by Molly Williams (our fun author) Molly pours her excitement about the subject into every word and will have you laughing in each chapter The History Channel needs to call Molly and give her a show because I want more!!! I promise you won’t look at your modern houseplant the same way again.

Very well written. This book is a history of house plants. While that could be a very dry topic, the author makes this interesting and fun to listen to. I really liked that there was also a section on ethics. It was interesting learning about how some plants are endangered.

4 stars

“From the hanging gardens of Babylon to that fiddle-leaf fig in your living room, houseplants have been humanity’s companions for a millennia. Taming the Potted Beast explores the history of our air-purifying friends with an entertaining narrative of the peculiar, often dramatic story of the cultivation and domestication of the not-so-humble houseplant.”

This book reminding me quite a bit of both Bill Bryson and Mary Roach. Lots of history and lore and current events make up this House Plant origin story.

It was a little disjointed, and without Bryson’s droll humour, but I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the trials, travels, and tribulations of the not-so-lowly houseplant.

6/10

Big thanks to NetGalley, Andrews McMeel Publishing and Audio for this ARC.

I wasn't aware that the history of houseplants would intrigue me this much, even though I am someone who loves plants. It was exciting and cozy listening to this. I got many facts and titbits that I can use in social conversations. But I don't think it is practical, even if it is advertised as such in a way.
A bit too short but I think it is a great gift idea.
Thank you, Net Galley, for the opportunity to read this book in audio format.

Loved this book, a great story of houseplants covering their role throughout history and care advice! I think I would have preferred to read a physical copy rather than listen to the audiobook so I could see the illustrations, but it didn't affect my top opinion of the story.

Lots of great information! I loved the historical information of plants and their uses. This is one to buy in print as I would have preferred to see the pictures and be able to easily reference the tips and tricks.

I thought I’d like this because I like both plants and interesting history, I was right and it was even more enjoyable than I thought it would be. I really enjoyed the style of this book and the history lesson I got via plants, there was a little bit of everything covered here from the Victorian period to Egypt to ancient Rome to today but the author always brings it back to plants.

Molly Williams does a great job narrating her book, I liked her light friendly fun tone.

I’m very tempted to buy and physical copy just to have (and I'm also very tempted to buy more plants)

The audiobook was well done and narrated by Molly Williams the author. But I'm betting that the physical copy of Taming the Potted Beast would have been a better option (at least for me). I'm a gardener, but houseplant's aren't really "my thing". Plants really have a much higher likelihood of surviving if they are in the garden (outside).

As a gardener, I really liked the first part of the book that was an overview of the "history of houseplants". The last ~25% of the book was about the care of houseplants and what conditions and care specific houseplants need. (Having pictures here would have been a benefit to me.)

I liked the author's attitude and thought it was very fresh. You can tell in her voice how much she loves houseplants. I'm really debating between 4* and 5* and decided to round up.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review the advance read (listen) copy of Taming the Potted Beast in exchange for an honest review. Also many thanks to Molly Williams (the author and narrator) and Andrews McMeel Audio and Publishing. (Also my few houseplants thank you. Finally they might be getting a little better care.) Publication date is Sept 13, 2022.

Wow! What a book. It was so informative and educational. I learned so much of the history of potted plants and how to take care of them. This is the perfect book for anyone who loves plants or just getting started. Highly recommend

I am the perfect audience for Taming the Potted Beast. This book is exactly as it describes itself, a brief history of the house plant with some extra care guides for different flora at the end. I had no previous knowledge of this particular history, so I loved how accessible the author made the content. She didn't dive too deep into topics, but rather provided resources for additional reading for areas that piqued your interest (and I will definitely check out some because my interest as been piqued!). Additionally, the author voiced the audiobook and I found it easy to listen to and follow along. The only downside to this particular selection is there are a lot of scientific names used for plants and I was writing down things phonetically to try and look up later. I was not very successful in getting it right or finding the specific plant she was talking about. I would love a physical copy of this book to reference in the future!

Thank you NetGalley for the free audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.