Botanist and Professor of Environmental Biology Robin Wall Kimmerer returns with another accomplished literary contribution to our greater understanding of the natural world (and human nature itself), “The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World” (Scribner, 2024).

With her characteristic wisdom, curiosity, and compassion (and a tinge of frustration at rampant consumerism and capitalism), Wall Kimmerer presents the serviceberry tree as a hallmark of a gift economy.

As a member of The Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she offers plentiful examples of mutualism and denotes the benefits of sharing excess (gifts) for free.

A #1 “New York Times” bestselling author of “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants,” Wall Kimmerer still speaks to those themes, but on a more focused level, on the benefits and highlights of gifting economies on the environment, our happiness, and sustainable relationships throughout continuing climate change.

Readers of John McPhee, Suzanne Simard, Tyson Yunkaporta, and Merlin Sheldrake should enjoy this book.

Thank you to Robin Wall Kimmerer, Scribner, and NetGalley for the eARC.

This definitely felt like a “for such a time as this” book while I was reading it. Kimmerer couldn’t have known how the election would turn out a week before her book release, but it feels like she did.

If this was fiction, we would call it a novella, but I’m not sure what you call nonfiction this length. Regardless, if you’ve read Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer’s style will be familiar to you. I appreciated the deep sense of peace throughout the work and how it was thought provoking without being preachy.

In these times, thinking about the gift economy and stewardship I can effect around me is centering and helpful.

A common definition of economics is the study of scarcity. Resources are necessarily limited and those that are scarce but necessary or desired are worth more than those that are common and abundant. Robin Wall Kimmerer uses this expanded essay to describe an alternative economic system, one of gifting and reciprocity, to demonstrate an alternative economic system and a potential society which we could live in and thrive within if only we work together as a collective unit.

This was honestly one of the most beautiful and influential books I have read in years. I am almost embarrassed to say that I haven't yet read Braiding Sweetgrass despite having bought it years ago. Kimmerer is the guiding voice combining botany, biology, and indigenous knowledge into an accessible and engaging package.

Being just over 100 pages, I was engaged with this essay from the very beginning. I couldn't stop reading it and finished it within 24 hours. I had just attended a neighborhood book club where our topic focused on public goodwill to strangers and this book highlighted the importance and benefits of giving back to society and those around us. I can't help but now recommend this book to every neighborhood, especially my own.

Within the pages of this book, Kimmerer argues that societies can, and have, thrived from a reciprocity mindset. Throughout the novel, she uses the serviceberry as an ecological example, where berries are a model for energy transfer between organisms. There is an abundance that can be shared and humans can share with the natural world and give back to our neighbors. Essentially, everyone has their own abundance and by gifting to others, others should return in kind. Imagine what a wonderful world we would live in under such a system. Kimmerer outlines various ways in which the average person could interact within such a system now, like being part of Buy Nothing Groups or contributing to Free Little Libraries. Or even stuffing neighbors' mailboxes with excess zucchini.

After reading this book I was both inspired and proud of my neighbors. I was filled with love for others and nature. Kimmerer's prose was beautiful, convincing, and elegant beyond anything I have experienced before. I cannot recommend this book enough and encourage everyone to read it for the sake of society. We truly need it now.

*I would like to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

5.0 Stars - I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Net Galley and Scribner for this ARC. But also thank you to Dr. Robin Wall Kimmer, the author, for giving us readers an essay that is not only inviting and intriguing; but one that takes the reader on a journey of imaginingg the possibilities of an economic structure that goes beyond our current one.

For being a shorter read, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmer was able to pack a punch with the amount of knowledge shared. I absolutely loved the premise of the essay and how a natural and familiar part of Dr. Robin Wall Kimmer’s life (the serviceberry) was used to get the message across to readers of reciprocity and the importance of gift economies. The messages of this essay goes against what we are taught in modern society of abundance and overconsumption. The essay lays out alternate ideas in a way that are easily understood. Whereas some books on economy can feel daunting and unintelligible.

At the end of the essay I was left with the feeling of needing to slow down, appreciate the things the world has to offer and participate and give to my smaller community. These things may seem self-explanatory; however, it is very easy to get caught up in the next fad, to be selfish and take and take and not think of the repercussions or longstanding impacts there are on society because of that, such as scarcity. Starting at a smaller level such as Dr. Robin Wall Kimmer talked about, like little things such as free libraries, gift exchange of natural goods between neighbors and expanding from that starting point seems to be the best route to implement the gift economy in hopes of it expanding to be the overarching economic model.

A timely and important little book about the importance of the gift economy and reciprocity always, and especially now. Highly recommend. It’s under 200 pages and I read it in 2 sittings. One I wish everyone could and would read. It will get you thinking about how you can contribute to a better community and world.

The Serviceberry builds on the ideas of reciprocity and gratitude in nature that Robin Wall Kimmerer introduces in Braiding Sweetgrass.

The author asks how we can stray away from capitalism and its focus on the individual and mass consumption to create a community based system that focuses on taking only what you need while also caring for nature and the people around us.

The Serviceberry is a great introduction to Robin Wall Kimmerer's work, but it is also a great companion to Braiding Sweetgrass . These little essays explore ways we can learn from nature and indigenous knowledge to move towards a gift economy which would change the capitalistic ideas that have controlled Western ways of thinking about community and nature for far too long. Like Braiding Sweetgrass , this book introduces you to ideas and ways of thinking about the natural world that may be new to you. Its focus on nature, gratitude, and community are heartwarming and give the reader a sense of hope. The author presents ideas of what we can do to better interact with nature and the people around us in ways that would be beneficial to everyone. The book also has beautiful illustrations throughout.

This book would be a great gift during this upcoming holiday season. I recommend this to nature lovers, but also anyone interested in bettering the world and living with a sense of gratitude.

e-ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A nice reminder of what we can learn from the land and Native practices. It was a bit jarring to read right after Trump's reelection because it appears we are moving further away from doing that. Fans of Braiding Sweetgrass will want to read this but it would also make a great gift for anyone who cares about the natural world.

We live in a time when every choice matters. The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer

“When an economic system actively destroys what we love, isn’t it time for a different system?” Robin Wall Kimmerer asks us in The Serviceberry. She contrasts the Indigenous idea of a gift economy, where one views abundance as a gift to be shared, to the market economy that allows wealth to be privately held by a few.

Her illustration is the native serviceberry tree, whose berries were a staple that Native Americans used in pemmican. “Imagine a fruit that tastes like a Blueberry crossed with the satisfying heft of an Apple, a touch of rosewater, and a minuscule crunch of almond-flavored seeds.” Birds and animals rely on the berries.

She tells of a woman whose Serviceberry trees were so productive, she gave the berries away, an example of a gift economy where wone with an abundance shares with others. She references public libraries as another example of a gift economy, for the books belong to everyone.

Take only what you need, what is given. Never take over half or waste what you have been given. This teaching is contrary to a market economy focusing on buying more, waste actually a positive: buy cheap, toss, buy more, keep the factories going.

I participate on a social media site for our city where we give stuff away. People get what they need, and items are recycled and not trashed. A few years back, our apple trees were so productive we couldn’t keep up. We made applesauce and apple butter and froze them and baked. We have given away boxes of apples. Our two mile square city has a half dozen Little Free Libraries. My weekly quilt group brings fabric and patterns and supplies to give away on the ‘free table” and we often share quilts we entirely made with fabric found there.

People do want to share.

It will take a revolution, or worse, to change the market economy. But we can each personally choose to live with gratitude, sharing what we have.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.

Want to live a better life? Get enough sleep, stay hydrated, eat healthy foods, take walks, and read anything and everything by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Then try the next step, put what you read into action. This action might take the form of participating in some form of a gift economy, which is the hefty and thought-provoking message of her newest book, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World. It’s a small book and an audacious one, filled with large theories of ideas of how to foster a different kind of economic model based on symbiotic principles found in the natural world, which RWK sees and internalized and replicated by different societies (including her own as a scientist and a member of the Potawatomi nation) Forming the core of her theory and critical analysisis the illustrative biological life of the serviceberry plant/tree and how the overlapping needs of the many stakeholders are met through cooperation instead of competition, with the nation of scarcity a manufactured concept to limit resources and drive up prices and demand. This may sound like an overreach, but RWK’s writing is a unique combination of scientific backed evidence overlaid with riveting lyrical writing. As always she writes love letters to the natural world and cautionary tales for those that would misuse it. Could this be more timely? We all owe RWK a great debt of gratitude for this wonderful palm sized miracle of a book.

I love everything robin wall kimmermer writes and this is no exemption. Just like all her other books, this one left me reflecting on my own relationship with nature and the world. Everyone should rad this and her other books, they are full of so much wisdom and knowledge that everyone could benefit from. Will absolutely be purchasing this to add to my own collection

This read came at the exact right time.

Robin Wall-Kimmerer does a fantastic job of weaving economic observation with botanical and indigenous knowledge. I learned so much and had some of my heart healed.

I cannot wait to purchase a finished copy.

Robin Wall Kimmerer has done it again. Another incredible book using Wall Kimmerer's narrative style merging of biology and indigenous wisdom through stories and anecdotes. The serviceberry is a natural system based upon the principle of a gift economy through nature, and speculation on how we as a society could learn from this. I am always highly recommending Robin Wall Kimmerer's other works, including Braiding Sweetgrass and Gathering Moss-this will be another title to add to the list. It brings me hope and joy to think that these books will spark a more thoughtful, reverent and conscious future in those who come across them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a soothing, healing balm. I thought it was going to be a scientific book about the serviceberry. What I got was a pleasant surprise about sharing, mutual respect, and circular, ecological economies. This book inspired me to consume less, give generously, and adopt a mindset of abundance and gratitude. For readers who enjoyed Braiding Sweetgrass but maybe got lost in the weeds, this book is a delightful short manifesto to get us back on the track of reciprocity with our earth.

Book Review -The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Robin Wall Kimmerer, the author of Braiding Sweetgrass, has written an extended essay exploring the ethics of reciprocity and the concept of a gift economy. As we’ve grown to expect, Kimmerer seamlessly draws connections between indigenous wisdom, nature and the human world. In The Serviceberry, the author leans on the example of the serviceberry tree which forms a reciprocal relationship with the birds it feeds. She draws on this system of sharing and interdependence, generosity and abundance as a possible model for our own communities. Kimmerer states that we are not strangers to systems that share common resources, such as public libraries, parks and public trails, that exist in parallel to market economies. The author offers some basic practices to begin to cultivate gift economies in our own communities. She invites the reader to organize in a manner that identifies us as “ecosystem citizens” first, and consumers second.

I particularly enjoyed the equally intelligent and relatable approach Kimmerer brings to the discussion of economics. Her emphasis on abundance and mindful consumption, as a means of nurturing mutual well-being also stood out to me. Bonus - the book is beautifully illustrated by John Burgoyne

Many thanks to the author @RobinWallKimmerer, @ScribnerBooks, and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, no surprise that this was stunning. How Kimmerer can pack such a gentle punch in just a few pages never ceases to amaze me.

‘I lament my own immersion in an economy that grinds what is beautiful and unique into dollars, converts gifts to commodities in a currency that enables us to purchase things we don’t really need while destroying what we do.’

Human connection to each other, our environment and the beings we share with it is truly all that matters. I’m leaving this piece feeling reenergized in the fight for climate justice, and grateful for the reminder that sharing really is caring. We need each other! Give more, take less, small changes in a cruel system do make a difference.

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

“The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World” by Robin Wall Kimmerer is a beautiful extended essay about a plant and berry called the serviceberry. With Kimmerer’s elegant writing style, accompanied by beautiful illustrations by John Burgoyne, she weaves in thoughts about the gift economy, the limits of our current economy that is based on scarcity and ecology. Her vision of community such as sharing produce is inspiring. For example, she talks about cultures where wealth is measured by how much you can share versus save. I wanted to read this because I am interested in native plants, and I loved “Braiding Sweetgrass.” I’m so glad I did because this short book gave me a lot to think about. I hope that I get to taste a serviceberry soon as well! Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the eARC.

I thought this was a really lovely essay about what we can learn from the serviceberry and ecology more broadly about gratitude, reciprocity, community, and gift economies. I found it's message very inspiring.

What a beautiful, hopeful and remarkably written text to inspire positive interaction with our whole community, not just the people but our natural wonders as well. Thank you!

In this extended essay Robin Wall Kimmerer uses the natural world example of the serviceberry to work through how changes in mindset could offset some of the harm of our modern economy. Fundamentally adopting an attitude of abundance and trust can bear so many gifts, both to an individual and to other elements of an environment.

Kimmerer is a master of telling these stories, weaving seemingly unrelated tales into a message that can transform my understanding. I enjoyed this immensely and will return to it again and again as I consider ways to adopt these ideas into my day to day consumption.

Thank you to the author, publisher, & NetGalley for providing an early review of this book to be released on 19, November 2024

I love the world view that Robin Wall Kimmerer has. This extended essay is focused on the Serviceberry and how it connects with reciprocity. It made me think about the gift economy and how it can be a part of mine and the ways that is already is.