Naturalist’s Book Club: Most Delicious Poison 

Note: This is a change from a previously selected book for this month.

It is oft said that “you are what you eat.” But what are you if what you eat is toxic? Author Noah Whiteman’s Most Delicious Poison explores the unavoidable toxins we encounter day-to-day and how we have adapted to live with them. Whiteman is Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. Join us for a discussion of his “intoxicating” new book.

From the book’s website:

“A deadly secret lurks within our spice racks, medicine cabinets, backyard gardens, and private stashes… Based on cutting-edge science in the fields of evolution, chemistry, and neuroscience, Most Delicious Poison reveals the origins of toxins produced by plants, mushrooms, microbes, and even some animals, the mechanisms that animals evolved to overcome them, and how a co-evolutionary arms race made its way into the human experience. This perpetual chemical war not only drove the diversification of life on Earth, but is also intimately tied to our own successes and failures. You will never look at a houseplant, mushroom, fruit, vegetable, or even the last 500 years of human history, the same way again.”

Date: Saturday, February 25 

Time: 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Location: Online meeting; details will be emailed with registration confirmation.

Ages: 14 and up

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