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A review by gregory_glover
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
A beautiful, extended essay on the differences between an extractive money economy and a regenerative, reciprocal gift economy. The metaphor of the Serviceberry serves RWK well. However, I found myself arguing here and there based on the experience of a visit to a remote village in Haiti in particular, especially related to human suffering from disease and the need to treat water. I found myself nodding in agreement more toward the end, when RWK seemed to suggest that the verge between the two economies could be the most vibrant and diverse ecosystem (more vibrant than either alone). There were hints here and there as to the benefits of the larger economy, but too little distinction, I think, between the thieves (clearly destructive of human flourishing) and the more beneficial aspects of the market economy.