We live in a world of seeds. From our morning toast to the cotton in our clothes, they are quite literally the stuff & staff of life: supporting diets, economies, & civilizations around the globe. Just as the search for nutmeg & pepper drove the Age of Discovery, coffee beans fueled the Enlightenment & cottonseed sparked the Industrial Revolution. Seeds are fundamental objects of beauty, evolutionary wonders, & simple fascinations. Yet, despite their importance, seeds are often seen as commonplace, their extraordinary natural & human histories overlooked. Thanks to this stunning new book, they can be overlooked no more. This is a book of knowledge, adventure, & wonder, spun by an award-winning writer with both the charm of a fireside story-teller & the hard-won expertise of a field biologist. A fascinating scientific adventure, it is essential reading for anyone who loves to see a plant grow.