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Some Context: This review is on two different books, Braiding Sweetgrass and All About Love: New Visions, authored by writers and educators of diverse academic backgrounds. I have read the two works across different periods: I came across Hooks’ work over a year ago, whereas Kimmerer’s book is a more recent addition to my reading list. Although the context, themes, and subject matter across the two books vary, I could not help but continuously think about the connection between the two. So, I decided to draw the connections between their work under one review only.
I also want to highlight that this review may lean more heavily towards Hooks’ work, possibly underserving Kimmerer’s rich work, but regardless, I love both works equally; I love their implacable depth, their richness, and their unwillingness to give away anything short of profound insights. Reading them does not feel like a passive experience but one that opens up reflections, one that exasperates, and one that moves.
It is also worth noting that while Braiding Sweetgrass is concerned with Indigenous plant knowledge, All About Love, as the title reveals, is about the concept of love, which may leave one to wonder about the connection between them. But as I will explain later, the connection between the two lies in how the concept of love and care is perceived; although one speaks of love between humans, the other speaks of love and care in relation to the earth.
Reflections: In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer writes, “All flourishing is mutual,” reflecting the essence of interdependence — for nature to continue bestowing us with its abundant gifts, humans need to foster a reciprocal relationship of respect and care with nature around us. However, her concept of mutual flourishing could also be extended beyond nature to encompass human interactions, as for individuals to flourish truly, there is a need to forge deep and reciprocal relationships.
Moving from the ecological knowledge of Kimmerer to the insights of Bell Hooks in All About Love: New Vision, we find a thematic bridge in the exploration of relationships, love, and mutual growth — both in platonic and romantic contexts. In the opening of her book, Hooks writes:
I awakened from my trance state and was stunned to find the world I was living in, the world of the present, was no longer a world open to love. And I noticed that all around me, I heard testimony that lovelessness had been come the order of the day. I feel our nation’s turning away from love as intensely as I felt love’s abandonment in my girlhood. Turning away, we risk moving into a wilderness of spirit so intense we may never find our way home again. I write of love to bear witness both to the danger in this movement and to call for a return to love. Redeemed and restored, love returns us to the promise of everlasting life. When we love, we can let our hearts speak.
Here, Hooks’ observation of the “lovelessness” epidemic speaks to a collective turning away from the nurturing, life-sustaining force that love represents. She highlights the dire consequences that may stem from its lack, thereby calling for reclaiming its profound force, for it is through love that we find the promise of a life that endures, fulfills, and carries a deeper meaning. But what underlies the widespread “lovelessness” that has permeated into our societal fabric, and how can we address it? Hook doesn't directly address this question, but by reflecting on her analysis and anecdotes, we are left pondering whether love is inherently intertwined with shame or if it is a byproduct of societal norms imposing a complicated and often uncomfortable relationship with love.
Just as shame envelops us when we err, so does love, which may invoke in us similar feelings of shame, in particular, when we deviate from society’s moral compass and expectations woven into our understanding of love. We may sense this shame in relation to love in various ways, such as noticing one’s hesitation in verbalizing one’s appreciation for another openly and comfortably. Or through subtle scrutinies that, although silent, may convey an unspoken message, urging one to harbour a sense of shame for openly embracing the concept of love. Shame reflects our complex relationship with love and acts as a significant barrier to a society embracing it fully.
Another contributing factor which Hooks brings to our attention that may hinder efforts to address the presence of “lovelessness” is the absence of a clear definition of love. This lack of a precise definition can complicate our pursuit for more fulfilling connections, hindering our ability to make way for a life wherein our capacity to both give and receive love is nurtured. In this light, it is imperative that we first establish a clear definition of love, for a well-defined concept will serve as a foundation upon which more fulfilling relationships can be built. Hooks writes:
A good definition marks our starting point and lets us know where we want to end up. As we move toward our desired destination, we chart the journey, creating a map. We need a map to guide us on our journey to love, starting with the place where we know what we mean when we speak of love.
Hooks’ analogy of a map highlights the need for a clearer understanding of love to help us better navigate the complex terrain of human emotions and relationships. Hooks thus provides us with an encompassing definition of love by drawing from M. Scott Peck’s The Road Less Travelled, which understands love:
As the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s or another’s spiritual growth.
Unlike the conventional view of love as a passive, static noun, one that is merely received or given, Peck’s definition recognizes love as a verb, a dynamic force that fosters the personal and spiritual development of both individuals. Hook’s definition aligns with Kimmerer’s view of our relationship with nature and the people around us as an active process that requires effort and intentionality — relationships that can enable growth, relationships that are invested in our holistic development, and ones that embrace not only the light within us but also our shadows, embodying Kimmerer’s principle of “mutual flourishing” and Hooks’ definition of love — enabling personal and spiritual growth.
It is worth noting that within the context of Hooks’ work in this particular book, when speaking of love, her exploration extends far beyond the confines of romantic relationships alone, seeking to offer a comprehensive analysis of the more encompassing concept of love to include platonic and romantic relationships. Although Kimmerer’s work, unlike Hooks's, does not directly address the concept of love and relationships, we can find parallels between the themes of mutual care and reciprocity.
Moving to the structure of the book, Hooks begins each chapter by providing insightful quotes about the notion of love from various writers and individuals whose words have evidently resonated with her, with each quote setting a precedent for the themes and topics to be explored in the corresponding chapter. This careful selection of quotations not only enriches the reader’s understanding but also fosters a connection to the subject matter. Moreover, reminiscent of her previous bodies of works, such as The Will to Change, Hooks beautifully weaves her personal experiences into the narrative, offering us an opportunity to take a look into the concept of love in the North American culture through her perspective.
If there is an essential message to take from Hooks’ work, the following quote is a good place to take it from:
Cultures of domination rely on the cultivation of fear as a way to ensure obedience. In our society, we make much of love and say little about fear. Yet we are all terribly afraid most of the time.
As a culture we are obsessed with the notion of safety. Yet we do not question why we live in states of extreme anxiety and dread. Fear is the primary force upholding systems of domination. It promotes the desire for separation, the desire not to be known.
When we are taught that safety always lies in sameness, then difference, of any kind, will appear as a threat. When we choose to love we choose to move against fear — against alienation and separation.
The choice to love is the choice to connect — to find ourselves in the other.
So, while it is human to be afraid to love and to be loved, it’s another kind of humanity to transcend one’s fear.
