The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World
An Instant New York Times Bestseller
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass, a bold and inspiring vision for how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community, based on the lessons of the natural world.
As Indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love. Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution ensures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.”
As Elizabeth Gilbert writes, Robin Wall Kimmerer is “a great teacher, and her words are a hymn of love to the world.” The Serviceberry is an antidote to the broken relationships and misguided goals of our times, and a reminder that “hoarding won’t save us, all flourishing is mutual.”
Robin Wall Kimmerer is donating her advance payments from this book as a reciprocal gift, back to the land, for land protection, restoration, and justice.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Braiding Sweetgrass, a bold and inspiring vision for how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community, based on the lessons of the natural world.
As Indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass Robin Wall Kimmerer harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, she considers the ethic of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most? Our economy is rooted in scarcity, competition, and the hoarding of resources, and we have surrendered our values to a system that actively harms what we love. Meanwhile, the serviceberry’s relationship with the natural world is an embodiment of reciprocity, interconnectedness, and gratitude. The tree distributes its wealth—its abundance of sweet, juicy berries—to meet the needs of its natural community. And this distribution ensures its own survival. As Kimmerer explains, “Serviceberries show us another model, one based upon reciprocity, where wealth comes from the quality of your relationships, not from the illusion of self-sufficiency.”
As Elizabeth Gilbert writes, Robin Wall Kimmerer is “a great teacher, and her words are a hymn of love to the world.” The Serviceberry is an antidote to the broken relationships and misguided goals of our times, and a reminder that “hoarding won’t save us, all flourishing is mutual.”
Robin Wall Kimmerer is donating her advance payments from this book as a reciprocal gift, back to the land, for land protection, restoration, and justice.
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✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *The Serviceberry* by Robin Wall Kimmerer thoughtfully explores the idea of a gift economy, urging readers to view nature’s resources as p...
If you can, get a hardcover of this book. It’s small, but it’s gorgeous. From cover to cover, you have to admire the layout and the illustrations. The subtitle, Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, is drawn out in the text. The writer acknowledges that we have to have some consumerism to pay the bills, but that if we combine that with a gift economy, we will live in an infinitely better world. The Serviceberry is the example of the gift economy used throughout. Robin Wall Kimmerer is our collective conscience.
A book club pick that did not disappoint. Beautifully written and genuinely thought-provoking. It really brought the idea of “paying it forward” to mind — and that’s a movement I can totally get behind. The concept of a “gift economy” sounds wonderful in theory, but it only works if everyone’s on the same page. All it takes is one greedy person to ruin it for everyone. 3⭐️ Book #19 in 2026
I’ve always been fascinated by how certain plants, like serviceberries, create such a rich ecosystem and support wildlife in unexpected ways. Reading through this discussion reminded me of how much effort goes into not just planting trees, but ensuring they thrive and contribute to the environment over the long term. From my own experience, I’ve been using tree planting services to add a variety of native trees around my property, and it’s been incredible to watch how quickly they integrate into the landscape. One resource I found particularly helpful offered detailed guidance on selecting species, preparing the soil, and maintaining young trees, which made the whole process so much easier. By combining these services with careful planning, I’ve noticed a real improvement in biodiversity around my yard
We would all be kinder, more empathic creatures if we'd all read this book.
I love how Kimmerer finds the perfect balance of science and nature, logic and empathy. This comes through in every book she's written, and I'll read any more to follow.
I love how Kimmerer finds the perfect balance of science and nature, logic and empathy. This comes through in every book she's written, and I'll read any more to follow.
The Serviceberry isn't my usual genre, but l found it sweet, gentle, and deeply thoughtful.
Robin Wall Kimmerer's writing invites the reader to slow down and consider a different way of living—one rooted in reciprocity, gratitude, and care for the world around us.
The idea of a gift economy is especially compelling, offering a meaningful alternative to how we often think about value and exchange. This book feels less like something to rush through and more like something to sit with. Quiet, reflective, and nourishing in its own way.
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