Kara Rogers, senior editor of biomedical sciences at Encyclopaedia Britannica, sheds light on the multiple ways in which humans, medicine, and plants are interconnected. About half of all species under threat of extinction in the world today are plants. The loss of plant biodiversity is disturbing for many reasons, but especially because it is a reflection of the growing disconnect between humans and nature. Plants have been used for millennia in traditional systems of healing and have held a significant place in drug development for Western medicine as well. Despite the recent dominance of synthetic drug production, natural product discovery remains the backbone of drug development. Through stories of drug revelation in nature and forays into botany, human behavior, and conservation, Rogers explores the relationships between humans and plants, relating the stories of plant hunters of centuries past and examining the impact of human activities on the environment and the world’s biodiversity. Out of Nature provides a fresh perspective on modern drug innovation and its relationship with nature. Rogers also highlights the role that plant-based products can play in encouraging conservation and protecting the heritage and knowledge of indigenous peoples.