The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass explains how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity and community, based on the lessons of the natural world. - (Baker & Taylor)

An Instant New York Times Bestseller

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass, a bold and inspiring vision for how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community, based on the lessons of the natural world.

As Indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love. Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution ensures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.”

As Elizabeth Gilbert writes, Robin Wall Kimmerer is “a great teacher, and her words are a hymn of love to the world.” The Serviceberry is an antidote to the broken relationships and misguided goals of our times, and a reminder that “hoarding won’t save us, all flourishing is mutual.”

Robin Wall Kimmerer is donating her advance payments from this book as a reciprocal gift, back to the land, for land protection, restoration, and justice. - (Findaway World Llc)

Booklist Reviews

This gift of a book starts with Kimmerer (Braiding Sweetgrass) spending a delightful afternoon at her neighbor's farm, picking a bucket full of serviceberries. At first glance, the serviceberry is just a fruit that can be eaten fresh or made into jellies or pies, but Kimmerer's appreciation for the versatile and beautiful plant is just the start of a deep exploration into what she calls the "gift economy." The author shares her hopes for a community-led ecosystem in which people rely on and trust each other in order to create a functioning, thriving society. Kimmerer narrates her essays and thought pieces with a melodic yet spirited voice, sharing her love for the irreplaceable interactions between neighbors and friends as well as the fulfilling practice of gift-giving. Her joy and excitement for the serviceberry and all it represents is almost palpable. After hearing about Kimmerer's work as a botanist, and how it has touched all areas of her life and philosophy, we will be motivated to uplift our own communities, giving back to nature and to each other. An incredibly bright, hopeful, and joyful audiobook. Copyright 2025 Booklist Reviews.

Library Journal Reviews

Ecology meets economy in Kimmerer's (environmental biology, SUNY Coll. of Environmental Science and Forestry; Braiding Sweetgrass) latest, creating a call to action through inspiring nature writing. Kimmerer notes that the Potawatomi word for serviceberry is "bozakmin;" within this word is "min," or "berry," which is the root word for "gift." Kimmerer explains that serviceberries, and indeed, all of nature's offerings, are gifts to be shared and reciprocated. Taking this idea one step further, she argues for the necessity of moving away from current market economies toward a gift economy that could create environmental and interpersonal advantages and a better world. Narrating her own work, Kimmerer employs a calming voice and cadence to discuss sharing abundance and cultivating gratitude. The pure joy of nature is reflected through her tone, then gifted to listeners as a sense of hope. Kimmerer's gift-exchanging theme and culture of gratitude are expressed with warmth and generosity—much like a warm hug—even while discussing weighty topics such as environmental science and economics. VERDICT Fans of Braiding Sweetgrass will find equal value in this short but impactful audiobook.—Kristen Shaw