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Mentioned in 2 episodes
The Forbidden Garden
The Botanists of Besieged Leningrad and Their Impossible Choice
Book • 2024
The Forbidden Garden tells the story of the botanists who remained at the Plant Institute during the Siege of Leningrad.
With over 250,000 seed samples collected by Nikolai Vavilov, the staff were faced with a terrible choice: distribute the seeds to the starving population or preserve them for future scientists to breed crops and prevent future famines.
The book, drawn from previously unseen primary sources, highlights the bravery and self-sacrifice of these scientists during one of the darkest periods of World War II. It also explores the broader implications of their actions in the context of modern-day issues like climate change and food security.
With over 250,000 seed samples collected by Nikolai Vavilov, the staff were faced with a terrible choice: distribute the seeds to the starving population or preserve them for future scientists to breed crops and prevent future famines.
The book, drawn from previously unseen primary sources, highlights the bravery and self-sacrifice of these scientists during one of the darkest periods of World War II. It also explores the broader implications of their actions in the context of modern-day issues like climate change and food security.
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Mentioned in 2 episodes
Recommended by Kaylin Tolbert, culture researcher at The Economist, as a story about a seed bank in Leningrad during WWII.
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Bringing up Bibi: Netanyahu testifies
Recommended by Kaylin Tolbert, culture researcher at The Economist, as a gripping nonfiction book about the Leningrad siege.
Bringing up Bibi: Netanyahu testifies
