Phytopolis - by Stefano Mancuso (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A renowned plant expert explains how we can make urgent, positive changes to our cities that protect against and reduce global warming. The conquest of new lands has been the greatest occupation of our species: for hundreds of thousands of years, humans have searched for new territories to inhabit, finding in the city the best place to live in the last hundred years. Looking at the parabola of our geographical expansion, it sounds like humans have gone from being a generalist species, capable of colonizing any environment, to very quickly becoming a specialized species, capable of thriving only within a particular habitat. The city seems to have become the only place where we can expect to thrive and reproduce, because it is the only place where our specialization gives us the best chance of survival, and quality of life. However, "species specialization" is only effective in a stable environment: in changing environmental conditions, it becomes dangerous. And if the resources the city needs to thrive are not unlimited, global warming can permanently change the environment of our cities-an event that would be fatal. But it is the city itself, as it is today, that is the main driver of environmental destruction. Mankind is confronted with a paradox: we must rethink our cities and make them a lasting ecological niche. In this clear, accessible, and fascinating work, Stefano Mancuso proposes a green solution: how would our cities be transformed if their framework was modeled on plants?"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A renowned plant expert explains how we can make urgent, positive changes to our cities that protect against and reduce global warming.

The conquest of new lands has been the greatest occupation of our species: for hundreds of thousands of years, humans have searched for new territories to inhabit, finding in the city the best place to live in the last hundred years. Looking at the parabola of our geographical expansion, it appears that humans have gone from being a generalist species, capable of colonizing any environment, to very quickly becoming a specialized species, capable of thriving only within a particular habitat. The city seems to have become the only place where we can expect to thrive and reproduce, because it is the only place where our specialization gives us the best chance of survival, and quality of life.

However, "species specialization" is effective only in a stable environment: in changing environmental conditions, it becomes dangerous. And if the resources the city needs to thrive are not unlimited, global warming can permanently change the environment of our cities--an event that would be fatal. But it is the city itself, as it is today, that is the main driver of environmental destruction. Humankind is confronted with a paradox: we must rethink our cities and make them a lasting ecological niche.

In this clear, accessible, and fascinating work, Stefano Mancuso proposes a green solution: how would our cities be transformed if their framework were modeled on plants?

Review Quotes

"Mancuso, an expert in plant neurobiology, addresses the conflict that grows from the efficiency of urban living and the subsequent negative consequences of distancing from nature...[His] impassioned plea and accessible message will resonate with readers." --Booklist

"Suggesting that cities provide the ideal setting for human flourishing, botanist Mancuso explores how to shield them from the ravages of climate change." --Publishers Weekly

"Stefano Mancuso is an ardent human spokesperson for Kingdom Plantae. In Phytopolis, he shares a vision for cities that are not only verdant with plant life but also inspired by the physiology of plants: modular, nonhierarchical, symbiotic. Phytopolis is a revolutionary botanical manifesto." --Marcia Bjornerud, author of Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks

"Every mayor, city planner, climate resilience officer, builder, transportation expert, and anyone who cares about our global climate catastrophe should read this book. Mancuso gives me hope because he shows how the solution is all around us, if only we are humble enough to learn from other beings. A brilliant synthesis of scientific studies that is a jargonless delight to read, this is a manifesto for the urban planning revolution we so urgently need. As our species faces a dire existential crisis, this visionary researcher reminds us of our arboreal origins and brings us full circle, back to our first teachers--trees." --Trish O'Kane, author of Birding to Change the World

Praise for Stefano Mancuso:

"Mancuso is the poet-philosopher of the movement, determined to win for plants the recognition they deserve." --Michael Pollan, The New Yorker

"Mancuso is a genial narrator...He effortlessly interweaves science with history, philosophy, and humor and introduces fascinating characters, very much including the plants themselves, which take on human, even heroic, traits." --Wall Street Journal

About the Author

Stefano Mancuso is one of the world's leading authorities in the field of plant neurobiology, which explores signaling and communication at all levels of biological organization. He is a professor at the University of Florence and has published more than 250 scientific papers in international journals. His previous books include Planting Our World (Other Press, 2023), The Nation of Plants (Other Press, 2021), The Incredible Journey of Plants (Other Press, 2020), The Revolutionary Genius of Plants: A New Understanding of Plant Intelligence and Behavior, and Brilliant Green: The Surprising History and Science of Plant Intelligence.

Gregory Conti has translated numerous works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from Italian including works by Emilio Lussu, Rosetta Loy, Elisa Biagini, and Paolo Rumiz. He is a regular contributor to the literary quarterly, Raritan.