The Plant Hunter: A Scientist's Quest for Nature's Next Medicines

I really wanted to like this book. For anyone who remembers Sean Connery's 1992 movie "Medicine Man", I thought here was a chance to read the real-life account of a modern-day ethnobiologist and learn the challenges in finding "nature's next medicine".Unfortunately, what you get instead is a professor selling her brand - again, and again, and again - with the remainder of this book largely devoted to Dr. Quave's struggles with making ends meet at home. Never mind that she chose to have not one but three kids while pursuing a PhD and then establishing herself as a post-doc after marrying a guy from Europe with no job prospects in the US.And the countless references to her noble, self-sacrifice are really a bit much after a while. Although some mention is made of those that came before her, the long history of ethnobiology is given short shrift. It seems more important to tell us about the National Geographic film crews that follow her around and her #MeToo experience.The final straw for me comes in Chapter 12 which she entitles "Cassandra's Curse". She reminds us that "In Greek mythology, Cassandra, one of the princesses of Troy, was gifted with great beauty and the ability to foresee the future. Cassandra's curse was that no one believed her predictions, and Troy was destroyed during the Trojan War." Not coincidentally, Dr. Quave's first name is Cassandra and this chapter is devoted to her warnings about what the future holds and "why I go to work every day."Ironically, in light of all her complaints about poor pay and how tight money is at home, she teaches at Emory University, a private institution in Georgia which currently costs $73K to attend each year. She doesn't seem too concerned that her students will walk away with an undergraduate degree that costs them nearly $300K, assuming they finish in four years. Apparently, receiving almighty tenure is more on her mind, which she makes abundantly clear that she has long-since earned.Too bad, in addition to not discussing more of the history of her field, she doesn't give more credit to those in the non-academic, public and private sectors who are also working hard on these issues but don't crave the spotlight. Hopefully her next book will show more humility/modesty and less "I love me".

In this exciting and engaging tale, Dr. Cassandra Quave shares personal stories from her quest to understand and record the ways that people use plants for medicine. She's traveled to places as far flung as the Amazon rainforest and the Sharri Mountains in the Balkans, all the while navigating the challenges of having just one leg. This book adds a welcome female perspective to the writing by ethnobotanists like Mark Plotkin (Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice) and Richard Evans Schultes (Plants of the Gods). She talks candidly about the challenges she has faced and speaks in nuanced ways about how modern medicine has both helped and failed her. Her story is one of struggle and hope. Dr. Quave is an inspiration to a new generation of scientists who both embrace the quest for new knowledge and challenge the norms of how it must be pursued.

I am a botanist and read this book initially for the science, but I was delighted by the evocative images, and tales of adventure and discovery, both personal and professional. The writing is warm and I found it easy to get lost in the stories. A fantastic book for any young woman interested in going into science as a career…or even for those of us already there!

Dr. Quave has had an incredible journey so far and this book expertly weaved an exciting tale of her journey towards becoming a leading ethnobotanist with her motivation to study antimicrobial drug resistance. The background being anchored by her love of plants with rich descriptions frames wonderful pictures while reading the book, while emphasizing the importance of basic science research, hurdles women in science frequently face, and the importance of studying and preserving the natural environment. Truly a great read for people interested in learning more about science but also for those with a science background!

As an organic home gardener I am always intrigued by scientific information that encourages the growth and use of plants that improve health. PLANT HUNTER is an amazing combination of cutting edge information regarding the search for plants that can defeat the super bugs, as well as a personal insight into the author’s life. LOVED IT!!!