Jordan Goodman

Jordan Goodman is a British historian and author whose research spans the history of science, exploration and global trade. His book Planting the World tells the remarkable story of how the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew became the centre of a worldwide network of plant collecting and botanical knowledge during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Goodman examines how the collection, classification and distribution of plants was intertwined with the expansion of the British Empire, global trade networks and the development of modern science. His research reveals how botanical gardens served as instruments of imperial power while also advancing genuine scientific understanding. Goodman has written several books on the history of science and global commerce, bringing meticulous archival research to subjects that illuminate the connections between knowledge, power and the natural world. His writing makes complex historical narratives accessible and engaging for general readers. The audiobook edition of Planting the World offers listeners a rich account of how plants shaped empires and how empires shaped our understanding of the botanical world.