5 favorite books about plants

Here are my 5 favorite books about plants!
The first 500 people to use this link will get a 2 month free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: skl.sh/betsybegonia
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The books in this video (Amazon Associates links):
1. The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan: amzn.to/3c6N31x
2. What a Plant Knows by Daniel Chamovitz: amzn.to/2PlPovP
3. The Revolutionary Genius of Plants: A New Understanding of Plant Intelligence and Behavior by Stefano Mancuso: amzn.to/2TdKy4O
4. The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean: amzn.to/2T9cbMt
5. Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification by Thomas J. Elpel: amzn.to/32l1yKK
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#bookclub #plantbooks #plantertainment

[@PamsPrettyPlants]

David Chamovitz has a free course based off that book on Coursera too if anyone is into that! I’m taking it, it’s awesome!

[@betsybegonia]

Nice! Thank you for sharing. That's awesome. Pinning this.

[@BeccaDeLaPlants]

Oooooooh this was so good! I came for book recommendations and left with more potato facts than I ever thought I'd need to know!

[@betsybegonia]

I may have digressed a little. 😂

[@emilyplantsmusic]

“Orchid enthusiasts: The bird people of the plant world” LOL I feel called out 😂

[@betsybegonia]

You know what you're like. 😂

[@gisselldow2102]

me too! 😂

[@ashleymia991]

I am SUCH a book nerd!! I absolutely loved this!! I was on the edge of my seat learning about those potatoes girl!!!! Thank you for the book suggestions! Will definitely look into them!!!

[@josephdowney9572]

"plants have alot more senses then we give them cedit for" *looks at my dead plant* "AHHHHHH! O-O"

[@betsybegonia]

They're watching. With no eyes.

[@yeahivekilledthat719]

"Bird people of the plant world", LMAO. Can't wait to use that comparison. I need to read Botany of Desire...really enjoyed The Omnivore's Dilemma. Thanks for the recommendations!

[@ivanjz5749]

ahhhhh yes a new video! thank you so much for making content, i don’t really have anyone to talk to about plants and people like you really just make my day with new videos. keep making stuff, you’re doing great!!!

[@kimsturgis8885]

Thank you for this! These sound like awesome reads!

[@emmakates]

i loved this!! i’m gonna make sure i look for these books next time i’m at the library or book store

[@DrunkenHomemaker]

I love how informative this video is! Super geeky and totally up my alley. Thanks! 🤓

[@gabrielle3314]

thanks so much for this video!!!!😄🥰

[@justcallmeteacup4711]

Really helpful suggestions 🥰 And you're very funny and a great storyteller. I am looking forward to reading all of these!

[@shpup]

you've really quickly become my favorite plant youtuber! I love how you give accurate tips/advice/information all while managing to keep each video entertaining. You're super relatable to beginners (like me!) in the way that you haven't been a "plant enthusiast" your entire life and are just learning as you go along. also the eddy burback yikes merch you're wearing in this lmfaoo A1 taste in youtube comedy 🤣🖤

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks so much for the feedback and heck yeah I got a Yikes shirt. 😂

[@Dzemiczek]

Thank you, this is super helpful!🤗

[@idiosyncraticgirl1]

What a Plant Knows is very interesting. I also have many botany tomes that were required as part of undergraduate studies but I really enjoyed reading that book!🌿

[@missfoliageforever7963]

Hey Betsy, i’ve read the Michael Pollan and Stefano Mancuso books also …. I was blown away with the things that i have learnd ( sorry for my bad english , i live in Belgium) about plants … we should be very humble and thankfull with the plants around us … they are amazing creatures

[@Banano91f]

Woah thank you Betsy for sharing 🌿🙏

[@betsybegonia]

My pleasure! Thank you for watching.

[@luclark1775]

I’d love to read all of them! Very useful information!

[@lfc286]

You're a joy to watch. I'm still smiling. Thx.

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks Laureen, I like to hear that I made someone smile. 😊

[@christopherwelsh6665]

Wow. You have a truly remarkable and fascinating personality that comes through so well in this video. Funny, witty, charismatic, smart, and informative...I'm now officially a fan. Oh yeah, and I've got books to read now. Thanks.

[@betsybegonia]

Sheesh thanks so much for the kind words. And for watching!

[@Plantastica]

So awesome to see actual BOOKS recommended!!! :) love this, Betsy!

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks Reb!

[@Liv-xw4tp]

This is exactly the video I needed right now!

[@betsybegonia]

Excellent! Ride out the rest of the winter with some books.

[@emmasolloway2366]

oh my gosh I clicked on this video thinking it was gonna be care videos but was immediately hooked when you mentioned the Botany of Desire, which I was assigned for Ethnobotany!!! Great read, and great picks :)

[@emmasolloway2366]

Oh and thanks for a little overview I can use for class lol. Now I feel like I'm studying while watching PlantTube

[@marygorchidsmore2058]

Thanks for this informative video! I like the last book the most. Thanks for sharing and happy growing. 😊

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks for watching MaryG! And yes I agree it's a great book. And excellent for pressing Begonia leaves. 😂

[@watertribewannabe]

I saw botany in a day in the thumbnail and knew you were about to have some solid recommendations :)

[@tinybarabo]

Honorable mention: the plant messiah by Carlos Magdalena

[@rebeccadennis8083]

i love these new intros so much!

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks Rebecca!

[@annesophiearciga]

Your video is excellent 👌 thank you.

[@FaerfolkDogs]

Damn Betsy I loved this video ❤️. I love book suggestions especially about my hobbies!! Thank you so much for this!!

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks for watching, Justine!

[@kriskrischi7571]

I love books about plants! Two of my most favorite things combined!😍💗

[@pattyogreen2818]

Omg! I have read Michael pollan's book like 6 times! It's so amazing and I desperately want to go to the apple place and see all the varieties!

[@LNawka]

Your videos are really amazing. 💚 🤗

[@betsybegonia]

That's super nice, thank you so much!

[@nicolelewis3589]

Thanks, need to check these out! They may be hard to beat listening to you paraphrasing them though lol.

[@PamsPrettyPlants]

I’ve read three out of five and agree!! So good! The Revolutionary Genius of Plants was my favorite read last year. I’m ordering the Botany in a Day one, that appeals to my impatience and need to know everything.

[@betsybegonia]

You're gonna like it.

[@sophiebaldwin191]

So interesting ... thankyou for highlighting some recommended reads Betsy. I think time to take a break from the crime fiction genre of books I am working my way through and delve into some 'plant' books to mix it up a bit!

[@betsybegonia]

I hope you give these a try and that you like them!

[@agnieszkaszaro3150]

Thank you for all these amazing recommendations! Will read all the books for sure! 🙂 also I think you are the only youtuber that made the skillshare ad interesting for me and I didn't skip it 😅😅 I think I will actually give it a try! / your videos are fantastic! Can't wait for more content 🙂

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks for the very kind feedback. I hope you enjoy them! Have a wonderful day. 💚

[@KGC5]

Hello! I am fairly new to the world of house plants and have just recently found your channel. I wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I enjoy your videos. It’s obvious that you are very smart and well read and you deliver the information in a most entertaining way. I have learned a lot from you and look forward to future content!

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks a lot for the kind words Kristopher. I hope you have a wonderful day. 😊

[@marianaptks9933]

I have this book that my mom had since i was a kid, it's in portuguese (sorry!) and it's basically "the great book of interior plants", it's a big boy and goes from A to Z, dedicating bigger parts to bigger plant families like begonias and orchids, as well as a part regarding more technical issues like lighting, pinching and sowing. It also has amazing illustrations of each plant. Gotta love those 80's and 90's books that were sold door to door.

[@sunshiny_botany]

Came for the plants, stay for your personality! And DANG girl, I love me some of them FACTOIDS. 😍 Have a great day ☀️

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks a lot Hayley! 💚

[@MarianaRJMM]

Amazing suggestions, as always 😊 I've only read the Stefano Mancuso one that I love love love! I'm currently reading "The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate-Discoveries From a Secret World" by Peter Wohlleben and so far it's also amazing!

[@goddess131]

wow, What a Plant Knows sounds like such an awesome book and Adaptation was a great movie

[@DontCareShoo]

Botany In a Day is EVERYTHING!

[@betsybegonia]

It issss!

[@josephdowney9572]

@@betsybegonia Melissa Monstera makes me wonder is your last name is really Begonia :D

[@taimatsuko]

So excited about this booklist !!! I’m also creeped out by Lithops.... 😖 I just can’t help making a face when I see them.

[@paulabollers6396]

Alright, alright. I bought the Botany in a Day book. Thank you so much for this video!

[@betsybegonia]

I hope you really like it!

[@meganlilly8202]

I keep finding out my favorite plant-tubers are also murderinos and I love it!

[@malibuasmr4205]

“bird people of the plant world” omg 🤣 I chuckled out loud over that one. LOVE this video!! Botany of Plants and Botany in a Day are two of my favorites, I’m so excited to try the others you recommend. Thank you!

[@betsybegonia]

I hope you enjoy them!

[@JimMeeker]

'Botany in a Day' and 'The Orchid Thief' are in my collection, so I'm at two out of five. LOL And I just put 'The Botany of Desire' and the rest on my list. My Kindle is full of botany books. I can also recommend 'Gathering Moss' and 'Braiding Sweetgrass' by Robin Wall Kimmerer, 'Brother Gardeners' and 'Founding Gardeners' by Andrea Wulf (I also have 'The Invention of Nature' by her but haven't read it yet). Tovah Martin and Darryl Cheng both have great books on general houseplant care. I love Tovah Martin's sense of humor! Darryl's book is the one that finally made LIGHT for plants make sense to me. If you're into Mycology at all then 'Mycelium Running' by Paul Stamets is super good!

[@betsybegonia]

Thank you for the suggestions, Jim!

[@dizzylizzy7582]

Betsy, you did a video about cane begonias, but could you do one about other begonias - like the Begonia Rex. Loving your plant videos.Ty.

[@karajfree]

My girl you are an episode of Drunk History just waiting to happen. The charisma! Or totally sober history, of course, no pressure

[@betsybegonia]

Oh that show! 😂 I forgot how good it is.

[@donnachaobrien90]

Potatoes are easy to cultivate *Flashback to this summer when beatles destroyed every potato I planted*

[@betsybegonia]

😂 My dad used to pay my sisters and me a nickel per potato bug that we picked and put in a coffee can of oil. 😬

[@donnachaobrien90]

@@betsybegonia 😂😂😂 my garden this past summer would've made you rich!

[@josephdowney9572]

Ya, me too. we trade to do potatos... no bugs, just NOTHING happened.

[@jyae7777]

can u do a video of your plant/grow light setup?

[@betsybegonia]

Hopefully soon.

[@rnk957n8]

Ok ok so history in general is boring but interesting. Hense why I watch you tubers, ya make it interestin n entertainin! You get the plant and im learning to get the hang of it. Love the smell of fresh cut grass its refreshing! Great job Betsy ill track down the botany book im interested. Thank you💚👍

[@dizzylizzy7582]

I love plant books - if I can't play with plants, I like to read plant books or watch KZbin videos about plants! Ty Betsy. Why are you living in France - if I can be so nosey! I love your videos. Ty.

[@ralphchristianson]

I thought spending hours on KZbin trying to learn about plants was the new normal for plant addicts this year, nice people like Betsy just keep feeding our needs for more information just like needing one more plant because there is space somewhere in the house, glad you are out there, great job.

[@wandashaw3551]

Hi Betsy, I'm going to add your faves to my faves list. 😍. Right now my faves are Gardening Month by Month, by Martha Stewart, Orchids, by Greg Allikas & Ned Nash and How to Make Your Plant Love You by Summer Rayne Oaks. Thanks so much. 🌸💮🏵🌹🌺🌻🌼🌷

[@herbangarden5076]

I have read 4/5!!!! Excited to read “Revolutionary Genius of Plants”!

[@crisplants5564]

Botany of Desire is my fav book

[@shyegurli]

Jesus Betsy, you would make an amazing teacher!

[@betsybegonia]

I was an ESL teacher for a little while. 😂

[@BackCountryRunaway]

Botany in a day is a wonderful book. And Tom is a good friend of mine and wonderful mentor. He's got a primitive skills school that is awesome. I learned many things there

[@consciousconcept6318]

Please tell us more plant history stories. Really enjoyed that potato story haha

[@betsybegonia]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Afterwards I thought "wow I think I really got off track there." 😂

[@victorleon2483]

Yassssss Betsy

[@PamsPrettyPlants]

Have you read Braiding Sweetgrass? It’s a real pretty one.💚🌱

[@betsybegonia]

Not yet!

[@Luckygingerslots]

Power to the people ✊

[@nonameneeded9267]

Italian living in the NL here 🙋‍♀️ Another very nice book from Prof. Stefano Mancuso (which I found in Italian, but I think you can find in English too) is called "The Nation of Plants" (Laterza). It describes how plants would constitutionally organize themselves, if they were in charge of the global order of our Planet. In this book botinics and curious plant-facts are used to explain societal issues and their possible solutions, such us how plants could save our Planet (and thus our species) from the Global Warming threat. (But no more spoilers...) ;) Amazing book! I never thought societal issues could be narrated within a 'botanical frame'. But afterall, botanics, Planet and society are more deeply intertwined that what we think... Love it, love it, love it!

[@betsybegonia]

Thank you so much for sharing!

[@somphothbsiratsamy3748]

God, plant memory. Lol they can speak to each other too. Lol retro girls are adorable.

[@loveyourself5179]

Glanced at the comments, automatically subbed. Thanks girl

[@beginning2beautify]

Hi Betsy! I have a croton mammy and would like to prune it to encourage bushier growth as it was on its last leg on the clearance shelf when I purchased it several months ago. It has since put out new growth and only dropped 1 leaf. Can you offer any advice on how to prune it to encourag3 fuller growth

[@DrunkenHomemaker]

I love Adaptation! Also have you checked out the podcast True Crime Obsessed?

[@betsybegonia]

No but now I will. 😁 I have started listening to podcasts less since I moved to Lille and I don't commute every day. I'll try to make time!

[@jannerbean]

omg glad i'm not the only one weirded out by lithops!

[@bradmiller9584]

When you said orchid people are "like the bird people of the plant world", I about died. I'm an orchid guy and what you said is SO TRUE. We're a bunch of nuts (in the best possible way of course!)

[@ralphchristianson]

At our house we take it up another step as we have parrots, cats and a lot of plants, so we are just a bit more crazy, but loving it just the same.

[@DrunkenHomemaker]

I thought i was alone on the lithops dislike. They creep me out so much...::shivers::

[@betsybegonia]

Thank you! Jeez they're weird.

[@re_up]

Where i would get that book...?

[@reneeallen646]

Three things that make life worth all the bullshit it throws my way are...coffee, books, and plants. Thanks so much for the recommendations. Much love and many blessings.

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks Renee!

[@maryj7912]

I’m about to watch ‘Adaptation’ now!!!!

[@betsybegonia]

Enjoy!

[@cathye.hosta_lily_t6965]

So I think I missed the whole link to click for the 2 free month skillshare. But I'll definitely be reading botany in a day as well as what a plant knows. I also need to find a book on the basics of KZbin because it took me a lifetime and a day to find the comments. So for all I know the link is right in front of me. Keep making me laugh. Thanks!

[@betsybegonia]

It's the description. If you still want it, here you go: skl.sh/betsybegonia2 Thanks so much for watching, I really hope you enjoy the book.

[@michellouisey]

I’m so glad I’m not the only one creeped out by lithops 😂

[@drbus5944]

nice video

[@betsybegonia]

Thank you.

[@smallbeginning2]

Does the feelings book explain why it is the plant being clever and sending messages, rather than those bugs have learnt to be attracted to the smell?

[@betsybegonia]

Yes it describes the theory etc. but I didn't delve into it since I'm just suggesting the books. Sorry if my language is confusing, I'm not the scientist. 🤓

[@jessicamillions4863]

The grass thing makes sense! Poor grass is making us sneeze so we pay attention to its distress!!

[@adrian4314]

I saw botany in a day I clicked, I love that book its so informative

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks for watching.I put my coffee cup through the dishwasher yesterday.

[@adrian4314]

@@betsybegonia thank you! Now I can sleep at night 😂

[@betsybegonia]

@@adrian4314 I used your comment on that SkillShare ad and made a great recommendation for you but obviously you're already a master at negotiation. My guilt was heavy. 😂

[@sandyg8794]

Hi Betsy! This was another fun video! I enjoyed the story about the potatoes, an the one about crime! Most of the shows I watch on TV are about crime, some fictional and some true crimes. You're a girl after my own heart! I've heard of, but never watched, true crime podcasts. I may need to check them out. Which do you recommend? Thank you for sharing this with us! As always, good to see a video from you!

[@betsybegonia]

As for podcasts, some good suggestions that I have would be... Someone Knows Something, Criminal, S-town, Wine & Crime, and the first season of Serial was very good. S-town was truly incredible, I'd listen to it again.

[@sandyg8794]

hank you Betsy! I'll look into them. Have a great weekend!

[@weirdgardenerd]

Oh time to get nerdy 🤓

[@betsybegonia]

Awwyeah!

[@ponjugular]

Shirt! Shirts & books. Shirts, books, and plants. Now all you need is wine ... :) Great video Betsy!

[@betsybegonia]

😂 Thanks Kayla!

[@heathersplants5708]

💚💚💚

[@ivanjz5749]

#notificationsquad!!!

[@aimeehodgin6359]

Great story about Louis the Sixteenth!!! Poor last monarch! Thank you for your amazing content! WooHoo! Have a great day!!

[@betsybegonia]

Thanks for watching, Aimee! You have a great day too.

[@misspoppinsss5282]

Mowing the lawn will never be the same.... 😅

[@betsybegonia]

AAAAAHHHHHHH

[@michaeljohnhalse]

As Marie-Antoinette famously said, "Let them eat potatoes!"

[@betsybegonia]

😂

[@jamesfrederick.]

I don’t care about approachable I’m a nerd I want details

[@lafregaste]

He also told the guards to accept bribes and allow people to "steal" the potatoes, BUT it was not as fast as you make it sound, it took a long time AND famine for people to figure out the AMAZINGNESS of potatoes. Thankfully they opened their eyes to real greatness and started eating potatoes, then there was the potato famine but that's another story.

[@twistysunshine]

As soon as you started talking about the subject of the first book, I was like. Apples!!! Apples are esp weird bc we like, can't interbreed them like we like to with other food, to preserve certain qualities. They are anti interbreeding. They have whole complex systems for it. We just gotta graft if we like the fruit. So weird. Absolutely love the potato story. Weirdly enough, I heard a v similar one about Germany... Huh...

[@betsybegonia]

Yes apples are fascinating. I really enjoyed that part of the book. I mean I enjoyed the whole book.

[@zetagundamzz]

Orchid people are like plant people LOL I just like boring old phalaenopsis orchids because the other types are WAY too hard!! But they're so rewarding when you get the care right and just really interesting plants.

[@betsybegonia]

I agree, I highly respect people who have time, patience, and dedication for orchids. And birds.

[@HalloweenMischief]

Do you watch Stephanie Harlowe here on KZbin? Above and beyond my favorite true crime KZbinr. She's amazing. I'll have to check these books out!

[@betsybegonia]

Not yet but I'll check that out. Wow I haven't even gotten into true crime on KZbin yet.

[@HalloweenMischief]

@@betsybegonia She goes major in-depth on all the cases she covers. She doesn't post several times a week like some do because she takes time to thoroughly research the cases. I think you'll enjoy her. :) She does "coffee and crime time" to informally go over cases that are in the news and then she has cult group videos, serial killer videos, etc.

[@daniellec6175]

Two words....... "orchid fever"(by Eric Hanson) ..... Thank me later. Lol!! OK.... A couple more words.....orchid fetish, poaching, history, secrets.... So good!

[@betsybegonia]

Thank you for the suggestion!

[@SHARONSHORTOrchidsandGarden]

🤔I just can't imagine anything giving you the Willie's and if it did, you'll probably talk your way out or around it.🤣♥️

[@betsybegonia]

"Be smart like a fox, swift like a bunny." -my mantra.

[@somphothbsiratsamy3748]

Some plants react to sound and vibrations too. Some plants can dance too. But im sure this is not the right time to ask for a dance, cause I know you want to fit in, so you waist ur time putting ur face on so I can love ur first impression, cause I know how important your appearance is to you, so you waist your time so your appearance is accepted in society.

[@angesoie]

morbid: a true crime podcast?

[@dannyboii9117]

I like lithops, they look like tiny butts xD❤. Very interesting video d:🌿🌵🌱🌸💚.

[@somphothbsiratsamy3748]

Ur reading the wrong material. It is fundamental to consider Darwin's research and philosophers who practice Darwinism.