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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!