Kimmerer’s earlier works explore the importance of traditional Indigenous knowledge with regard to agricultural and environmentalism. What parallels can be drawn between her previous books and The Serviceberry? In what ways are these works distinct?

Consider the connection that Kimmerer draws between the effects of modern capitalism and the history of colonial violence in the Americas. What rhetorical devices does she use to illustrate this connection? How does her argument inform her thematic engagement with Optimism as a Tool for Building a Better World?

Throughout The Serviceberry, Kimmerer cites experts and authors. In what ways do these citations bolster her argument?

Consider Kimmerer’s use of the name “Darren” to describe those corrupted by capitalism. How does she communicate the name’s symbolism throughout the text?

What rhetorical techniques does Kimmerer employ to build a case for gift economies? How do these techniques contribute to the book’s thematic exploration of The Tension Between Cutthroat Capitalism and Communal Reciprocity?

Kimmerer advocates for the importance of communities as an antidote to social alienation. How does she explore the ways in which such communities can be cultivated? How does she connect the cultivation of community to the dismantling of capitalist systems?

The Serviceberry first appeared as an essay in Emergence Magazine. Compare and contrast the essay with Kimmerer’s book. Cite specific examples from the text to support your arguments.

Kimmerer establishes the parameters of her expertise in botany and Indigenous history, culture, and practices, acknowledging that she is not an economist. What effect does this transparency have on her arguments?