Botany of Desire

Return to the list of Current Courses.

Instructor: Sabrina Weiss
5-10 students
Suggested Age Ranges: 13+, Adults included!
Meeting: Days and Times Thursdays, Noon, 4 sessions, 8weeks, starting Jan. 14th, Plus March 11th for students signed up for presentations

Ages 13 through Adult

Course Description

This is a reading course on Michael Pollan’s book, The Botany of Desire.  Written in 2001, 5 years before the bestseller The Omnivore’s Dilemma, this book explores the relationships between humans and plants from a social, historical, and scientific perspective.  Through the four plants discussed - the Apple, the Tulip, Marijuana, and the Potato - Pollan explores topics like sugar in our diets, economics, prohibition, and oppression. 

This is a college-preparatory book that covers some mature topics.  We will have one live meeting every 2 weeks for each of the four sections.  With an optional add-on for a project/essay, there will be one more live session for project presentations, reflection, and discussion. 

Texts: 

The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41021145-the-botany-of-desire

Outline: 

Note: Readings should be done BEFORE the class listed so we can discuss it. 

1/14: Sweetness: The Apple

1/28: Beauty:The Tulip

2/11: Intoxication: Marijuana

2/25: Control: The Potato

3/11: Presentations (only for optional add-on)

Note: No classes on 1/21, 2/4, 2/18, or 3/4. 3/11 is only for students taking the project option.

Register for Botany of Desire here!