The Curious Lives of Vegetables - by Ali Francis (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Discover the secret lives of vegetables that have shaped our world, brought to life through 110 hauntingly beautiful botanical illustrations.

From the humble beet to the botanical curiosity of the tomato, The Curious Lives of Vegetables reveals the important, unusual, and downright fascinating stories behind the plants that nourish us. Each sublime illustration--reminiscent of antique botanical art--is paired with an illuminating essay that unearths the hidden histories, surprising science, and cultural significance of vegetables we thought we knew.

More than a visual feast, this is an invitation to see carrots, onions, broccoli, and dozens of other plants with fresh wonder. Perfect for gardeners, plant lovers, and anyone drawn to the intersection of art and nature, this book transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Review Quotes

"The Curious Lives of Vegetables is a vibrant, deeply reported celebration of the rare, resilient, and remarkable plants that have shaped our world. From China's Pearl River Delta and the Bolivian Andes to Washington's Salish Sea, Ali Francis leads a round-the-world journey that blends cultural history, science, and storytelling to explore heirloom varieties, Indigenous crops, and overlooked species fighting to survive in an agricultural age of sameness. Through essays and vibrant illustrations, Francis reveals how biodiversity safeguards not only our ecosystems, but also our flavors, traditions, and collective memory. It's a love letter to the vegetables that nourish us--and a call to protect the extraordinary diversity still rooted in the soil."--Alexis deBoschnek, author of To the Last Bite and Nights and Weekends

"A rich, intimate exploration of rare and overlooked vegetables that have nourished kitchens for generations. By following their stories from soil to table, this book shows how biodiversity is essential not only to the health of the planet, but to pleasure, memory, and flavor itself."--Nik Sharma, author of Fundamentals of Flavor and The Flavor Equation

"A thoughtful and beautifully illustrated exploration of the overlooked vegetables that shape our kitchens and histories. Ali Francis brings curiosity, culture, and care to the stories rooted in our food."--Candice Kumai, classically trained chef and bestselling author of Kintsugi Wellness

"Ali Francis writes about everyday vegetables with exuberance and depth, revealing their complexity in deliciously textured, fast-paced essays that are a total pleasure to read."--Tejal Rao, chief restaurant critic at The New York Times

"Deeply evocative and impeccably researched, this book is a love letter. We seldom talk about vegetables with real romance, but Ali Francis writes with uncommon precision and tenderness. This is a beautiful celebration of heirlooms, specificity, and all the wealth that the soil offers us."--Ruby Tandoh, author of All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now

"Whether or not you're curious (or even like vegetables), Francis has written a masterpiece for you to enjoy. The message is chilling ("we're all essentially cooking whatever a handful of agribusiness giants are willing to sell to farmers") and yet the read is a total delight. It's smart and sweet (to Francis, the Maltese Mushroom is a "shy guy"), deeply researched, and important."--Ella Quittner, author of Obsessed with the Best

About the Author

Ali Francis is a Utah-based journalist known for her insightful explorations of food culture and sustainability. Her work regularly appears in Bon Appétit, The Cut/NY Mag, The Atlantic, Wired, the BBC, The Guardian, and Vogue.

Adriana Picker is a Sydney-based botanical artist and author of the illustrated nonfiction works Petal, Blossom, and The Cocktail Garden. She has collaborated with Vogue, Disney, Netflix, The Washington Post, Planned Parenthood NYC, Veuve Clicquot, Absolut Vodka, and more.