Andrea Wulf

interesting survey of some of the important characters of English gardening in the 18th century and, therefore , of world gardening and history. Like so many, she laid into Linnaeus, whose vainglorious boasts seems to prevent him from getting the credit he is actually due. Would have liked even more of banks and Solander and of the american gardeners. Interesting focus on trees and shrubs, know they predominated but would have liked a bit more on flowers

Fantastic. Places Humboldt firmly at the center of naturalism and ecology, where he belongs

wish they had half stars. I enjoyed this a lot, surprisingly so, since I only have a mild interest in astronomy. It has some tales of adventure- though if you are only going to read one book about a scientific expedition in the 1700's going awry- I reccomend The Mapmaker's Wife.

A great read about the man who 'discovered' the world. Wulf is a superb writer.