The Triumph of Seeds

How grains, nuts, kernels, pulses and pips conquered the plant kingdom and shaped human history We live in a world of seeds. From our morning coffee to the cotton in our clothes, seeds support diets, economies, lifestyles, and civilizations around the globe. In The Triumph of Seeds, award-winning author and biologist Thor Hanson explores both the natural and cultural history of seeds - why they are so dominant in nature, and why we are so utterly dependent upon them. Spanning locations ranging from the rainforests of Costa Rica and Nicaragua to the spice routes of Kerala, The Triumph of the Seeds is a book of knowledge, adventure, and wonder. Essential reading for anyone who loves who loves plants, or who may have wondered how the chili got its spice, what puts the buzz in coffee, or how seeds have influenced everything from the voyages of Christopher Columbus to the Industrial Revolution to the shape of the human face.