Ingrained

Reviews / Votes

'Where does a crop leave off and the rest of the world begin? Head, Atchison and Gates answer this difficult question by confronting not only what it is to be a plant but also what it is to be human. More than a book about Triticum, Ingrained compellingly asks us to reconsider how we think about ourselves, global commodities, plant breeding, co-evolution and breakfast.' Paul Robbins, author of Lawn People: How Grasses, Weeds and Chemicals Make Us Who We Are 'Engagingly written and theorised, this book tracks the networks through which grass turned to "wheat" to become ingrained in a bumper crop of commodities and technologies from the molecular to the multinational. The ghostly flora of wheat - in all its own plantiness - comes alive in the intimately entangled geographies of humans and nonhumans. Ingrained is a delight to digest.' Kay Anderson, University of Western Sydney, Australia '... no matter what sort of geographer you are, you will get something, including an enjoyable read, from this book.' Geographical Research '[The authors] provide a book which is engagingly written and theorised, of a high academic standard, and a common subject approached in a non-conformist way. Moreover, the book emphasises the cultural dimension of the environmental debate, a factor that is often given insufficient attention. This publication appeals to an audience searching for new ways of interdisciplinary thinking, as it integrates rural, urban and industrial frontiers, and offers both local and global perspectives.' International Journal of Environment and Pollution 'Overall, the book lies somewhere between a highly educational text and an intriguing work of non-fiction. It provides a fascinating insight into the manner in which wheat is integrated into our everyday lives. It is recommended to any member of the public with an interest in the role of wheat in society, and how it got there, as well as to the many industry professionals that would benefit from a broader knowle