The Cactus Hunters

Desire and Extinction in the Illicit Succulent Trade

By: Jared D. Margulies

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

Cacti and succulents are phenomenally popular worldwide among plant enthusiasts, despite being among the world's most threatened species. The fervor driving the illegal trade in succulents might also be driving some species to extinction. Delving into the strange world of succulent collecting, The Cactus Hunters takes us to the heart of this conundrum: the mystery of how and why ardent lovers of these plants engage in their illicit trade.

What inspires the desire for a plant? What kind of satisfaction does it promise? The answer, Jared D. Margulies suspects, might be traced through the roots and workings of the illegal succulent trade. His globe-spanning inquiry leads Margulies from a spectacular series of succulent heists on a small island off the coast of Mexico to California law enforcement agents infiltrating a smuggling ring in South Korea, from scientists racing to discover new and rare species before poachers find them to a notorious Czech "cacto-explorer" who helped turn a landlocked European country into the epicenter of the illegal succulent trade.

A heady blend of international intrigue, social theory, botanical lore, and ecological study, The Cactus Hunters offers complex insight into species extinction, conservation, and more-than-human care.

©2023 Jared D. Margulies (P)2024 Tantor

Uneven, not meant for novice audiences

Some chapters seem heavily adapted from academic text, such as a PhD thesis chapter. The heavy psychoanalysis in the earlier parts gives way to more balanced interviews and recollections of events - but the cohesiveness suffers as a result. The author is tackling an ambitious subject and attempts to connect many threads with limited success. I would not recommend this book to newcomers trying to learn more about the topic but there are some useful insights.

intriguing and insightful

I absolutely loved this book. this story - because it IS a story - includes both a bredth and depth that I delight in. The philosophical elements entwine beautifully with the real and add meaning and texture to a story we all are familiar with on the surface.

I can't recommend it highly enough.