Plants are intelligent sentient beings. Most cultures have known this for aeons, but it is something that science-based cultures are just coming around to.

Gagliano is an Australia-based PhD researcher into plant communication. This book is focused on the story of two scientific discoveries:
1) Plants (specifically the mimosa) have the ability to learn and remember
2) Plants (specifically peas) have the ability to navigate using acoustics, and are sensitive to electro-magnetic radiation

Around this scaffolding Gagliano builds a story exploring her relationship with various medicinal and psychotropic plant teachers (piñon blanco, ayahuasca, tobacco). Via various "dietas," Gagliano spent intensive time with these plants, and received guidance on her research.

I actually found Gagliano to be overselling her work. I already have phenomenal trust in the magnificence of plants; I suspect they have far greater capacities than the ones to which Gagliano's research points.

Much of the book is spent weaving in platitudes around Gagliano's research to plants. Although I agree with her underlying message (that deeper relationship with plant intelligence will be vital to the future of humanity and the planet), I found her delivery detracted from her message.

Lastly, I'll mention that this sort of work—elaborating upon scientific discovery to explain the magic of nature—is a rhetorical framework that actually detracts from the very magic it is trying to uplift. Not to minimize the importance of scientific research in this area. Just to say that humanity isn't going to be convinced into plant intelligence; we will come to it through the intrinsic magic of plants, and through direct relationship with them. ( )

This can be a transformative book if read with an open mind. Monica Gagliano is a research scientist who brings together science and shamanism to uncover the voice of plants. Indigenous populations have always had communication with plants. Through her work, Gagliano has been experimentally uncovering plants’ abilities to communicate within a laboratory setting. But this book is more about Gagliano’s personal experience communicating with plants. Actually, she relates how her research is a collaboration with plants. It takes courage for a practicing scientist to undertake a bold and unorthodox line of research, and Gagliano has paid a professional price for her boldness. This is an important book, though, for its challenge to the orthodox Western scientific and commercial views of plants as objects to be exploited rather than fellow beings sharing this planet. This book is recommended reading for anyone who is concerned about the state of the earth and who is seeking a healing paradigm that recognizes that all living things, including plants, are crucial to the survival of life on earth. ( )