Lessons from Plants by Beronda Montgomery - Advent Botany Day 13 | Bazely Biology lab: collaborative, interdisciplinary, fun

Lessons from Plants (2021) by Professor Beronda L. Montgomery, is a slim volume with an utterly gorgeous cover. “Bijou” is the word that comes to mind in describing the feel and look of this book. The online Oxford English Dictionary defines bijou as “A jewel, a trinket; a ‘gem’ among works of art. Also… small and elegant, luxurious...” I actually set up a photo shoot to capture an image of the book cover that shows the raised print.

Part memoir, with reflections by Dr. Montgomery on pedagogy, mentoring and her advocacy and leadership experiences in academia, and part reflection on natural history, this book also includes a hefty chunk of plain language that explains various important botanical topics. The accessible explanations cut to the core of complex theories and research ranging from ecology (succession) to physiology (photosynthesis). Simple line figures provide effective illustrations for these concepts, including a sweet plant life cycle which is one of the three main topics taught in every undergraduate plant biology course.

The main thread that runs through the book, connecting the different aspects of botany and the life of a professional botanist, is the notion that there are many life lessons to be gained from watching plants. There is also plenty of practical advice. Readers who are “caretakers” of houseplants that are not thriving should read pages 121-123 closely!

Each of the six chapters, along with the introduction and conclusion is prefaced by a quote from a book about plants. The quotation overlays a black and white botanical illustration. I have read some of these books, including A Feeling for the Organism, by Evelyn Fox Keller, about 1983 Nobel Laureate, Barbara McClintock, and Andrea Wulf’s The Invention of Nature, but I will seek out others that were new to me.

It’s always heartwarming when a scholar shares memories and events that have inspired them, along with dispensing some sage advice. Professor Montgomery gives us a glimpse of her childhood, including the family members from whom she learned about plants. Scientists aren’t generally known for this kind of personal writing, except, perhaps, when they win a Nobel Prize, and must write a lecture that requires active reflection. Lessons from Plants reminds me of some of these transcripts, such as the one by Albert Szent-Gyorgi where we learn about how paprika inspired him!

“My town, Szeged, is the centre of the Hungarian paprika industry. Since this fruit travels badly, I had not had the chance of trying it earlier. The sight of this healthy fruit inspired me one evening with a last hope, and that same night investigation revealed that this fruit represented an unbelievably rich source of hexuronic acid…”

Since Lessons from Plants is by an academic, there are pages of endnotes and references that cater to people like me. Skipping over them will not spoil the book or detract from the non-nerdy reader’s awareness that a lot of care, consideration and thought has gone into this book.

References:

Montgomery, B. L. (2021). Lessons from plants. Harvard University Press.
Albert Szent-Györgyi (1937) Nobel Lecture. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2023. Accessed on Sun. 3 Dec 2023.

Advent Botany Days 11 and 12:

Unsurprisingly, I was not the only Advent Botany blogger to review and recommend Prof. Montgomery's book. Read Dr. Mary Williams' review of Lessons from Plants for Advent Botany Day 12 here: https://marywilliams.org/2023/12/12/advent-botany-day-12-lessons-from-plants/

Dr. Williams' Tweeted Review:

Day 11: Prof. Bryan Ford-Lloyd recommended The Murder of Nikolai Vavilov by Peter Pringle (2008)