Kate Collyns

Philosophy for Gardeners by Kate Collyns is a delightfully thought inducing look at some basic philosophical ideas through the lens of gardening. Whether your interest is primarily philosophy, gardening, or both this book will offer many new perspectives even on the topics you've already studied and learned.

Gardens and philosophy go way back, and there have been various books that explore this intersection but few if any use the act of gardening as the entryway to philosophical thought. A garden, whether you're a gardener or someone just enjoying it, is a place of quiet and contemplation. Your thoughts may be as simple as observing a beautiful flower or the song of a bird, but often, if you spend some time there, you begin thinking bigger thoughts. This book grounds those thoughts, quite literally, in the act of gardening itself.

I think those who have studied philosophy AND enjoy gardening will enjoy this a lot. It isn't that any specific item will be new to you, it will be the juxtaposition of things you knew from a certain perspective and now can view them from a new perspective. It will also key your mind into making other connections next time you are either gardening or studying philosophy.

While one of my undergrad degrees was philosophy I have never been a gardener, so this was a wonderful trip through an entirely new way, for me, to approach familiar topics. I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in philosophy and/or gardening, especially those well versed in both.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.… (plus d'informations)