One of the most fascinating and essential organisms found on the planet is trees which have a lot of benefits for humans. Trees provide shade, shelter, oxygen, and lots more. However, books about trees give insight, a glimpse, and details about trees, providing a pool of information that can help you better understand and appreciate these incredible organisms.
Books about trees have become more popular among environmentalists and the general population. Spanning from guidelines that help identify different tree species to inspiring books that explore the intricate relationships between trees and humans.
Books about trees also shed light on the environmental challenges trees face today, such as deforestation, climate change, and pollution. They serve as a call to action, inspiring readers to protect and conserve our natural resources for future generations. In this piece, we’ll delve more into different books about trees, so let’s get started.
Best Books About Trees
Let’s delve into the 10 best books about trees :
1. The Hidden Life Of Trees – Peter Wohlleben
No list of books about trees is complete without Peter Wohlleben. The author, a German forester with decades of experience in managing and observing forests, uses his deep knowledge and passion for the subject to reveal the complex and intricate lives of trees.
He explains how the health of individual trees is linked to the health of the forest ecosystem, underscoring the significance of conserving and safeguarding natural habitats. He also shares how trees communicate, support, share nutrients, learn, and help each other out. Furthermore, Wohlleben also explains the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration he has observed in his trees.
User Reviews on Amazon
[blockquote align=”none” author=”Deborah Bogle”]‘Peter Wohlleben’s new book, “The Hidden Life of Trees,” has given me an entirely new perspective. It’s a fascinating insight into the language of trees: how they communicate with each other and even “feel”.[/blockquote]
2. The Tree: A Natural History Of What Trees Are, How They Live, And Why They Matter — Colin Tudge
Tudge, a biologist and science writer, presents a thorough and insightful examination of the biology, ecology, and cultural significance of trees. Tudge begins by exploring what trees are and discussing their anatomy, physiology, and reproductive strategies.
He also discusses the varied uses of trees and their importance to human cultures throughout history, from their use as building materials and sources of food to their roles in religion and mythology.
This book shows the facts about how trees communicate with each other using electric pulses. And also how trees chemically warn their neighboring trees when animals nibble on them. The author of this book answered questions like: How do we define a tree? Why isn’t a banana plant a tree? Why are there different names for the same tree?
3. The Wild Trees: A Story Of Passion And Daring— Richard Preston
This book tells the amazing story of the giant redwood trees of California and the daring explorers who venture into their canopies to unlock their secrets.
The author painted a picture of these magnificent trees and the dense, magical world that exists high above the forest floor. He describes the adventures of the “tree people,” who climb into the canopy using ropes and harnesses, exposing themselves to extreme danger to study the ecosystem and collect data.
He also presents a lot of scientific information about the trees and the ecosystem they support, but he does so in a way that is accessible and engaging to the layperson.
Review from an Amazon Buyer
[blockquote align=”none” author=” Jenifer Ehreth”]”The book takes you on an adventure you may never have imagined was possible. It describes an environment that has existed for thousands of years that is so obvious you don’t see it. It’s the mirror image of Preston’s books on viruses. Trees, like viruses surrounding us, existed before and likely after us but we don’t see them. What a gift”.[/blockquote]
4. Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees— Nancy Ross Hugo and Robert Llewellyn
This book celebrates the beauty and wonder of trees. The authors offer an interesting look at the detailed world of trees and the many ways they interact with their environment.
They used stunning photographs to showcase the trees in different seasons and lighting conditions. It also narrates the costs of detailed and regular tree viewing, outlines strategies for improving your observations, and explains the role of leaves, branches, roots, and flowers in the life cycle of a tree.
They also provide scientific information and facts about each tree, such as its history, growth patterns, and relationship to other species. The book also talks about 10 particular species that are representative of various features and which can mostly be found in the mid-Atlantic states.
Review from Amazon
[blockquote align=”none” author=”Liaken”]”This book is amazing. Have you ever thought about really looking at trees? Learning to tell their seasons in the infinite little details? This book makes me want to dedicate my life to seeing trees. The photographs are spectacular and the prose is marvelous. If you are a tree person, read this book”.[/blockquote]
5. The Man Who Planted Trees — Jean Giono
Originally published in 1953, the story is a testament to the power of nature and the positive impact that one person can have on the world.
The narrator tells the story of a man named Elzéard Bouffier, who spends his life planting trees in the valley, single-handedly transforming the barren landscape into a lush forest over several decades.
The book speaks on the power of persistence, the importance of caring for the environment, and the potential for individual action to make a difference in the world. Through the character of Elzéard Bouffier, Giono reminds us of the beauty and resilience of nature, and the transformative power of love, dedication, and hard work.
6. The Book Of Trees: Visualizing Branches Of Knowledge — Manuel Lima
This book about trees is a visually stunning and intellectually stimulating exploration of the history and evolution of information visualization through the lens of the tree diagram. Lima examines more than eight hundred-year histories of trees, from their roots in the illuminated manuscripts of medieval monasteries to their current resurgence as an elegant means of visualization.
He also demonstrates the power and versatility of the tree diagram as a tool for understanding and communicating complex ideas. He demonstrates how the tree diagram has been used to map everything from genealogy and language evolution to organizational structures and network analysis.
Lima’s use of color, typography, and layout make the book a work of art in and of itself.
7. The Global Forest: Forty Ways Trees Can Save Us — Diana Beresford-Kroeger
In this book, Beresford-Kroeger effortlessly blends ecology, ethnobotany, horticulture, spirituality, science, and alternative medicine to capture the mysterious spell that trees cast over us, from their untapped ecological and pharmaceutical potential to the roles they have played in our cultural heritage.
Trees not only breathe and communicate; they also reproduce, provide shelter, medicine, and food, and connect disparate elements of the natural world.
Review from Amazon
[blockquote align=”none” author=”Brian Griffith”]”This assembly of pithy but poetic essays conveys a lot of wonders and careful observation about forest plants. The lore of botany gains a historical, mythical, and mystical dimension. The treatment is scattered, with a fairly free-flow mixture of chemistry lessons, wise woman healing secrets, and sometimes a dash of Celtic fairy magic. It sometimes gets hard for a novice like myself to tell where the scientific botany ends and the enthusiastic myth spinning begins”.[/blockquote]
8. A Natural History Of North American Trees — Donald Culross Peattie
In this book, you’ll learn how a species was discovered and the part it played in American history. It gives a picture of life in America from its earliest days to the middle of the last century. And, also the drawings of each tree and their botanical descriptions.
This book is well structured in a way that makes it easy to navigate and find information about specific trees.
9. The Architecture Of Trees — Cesare Leonardi
As an architect, Leonardi addresses trees from a unique perspective, drawing parallels between the design principles of both natural and man-made structures. This book is a product of research that lasted for more than 20 years.
This book contains incredible illustrations and photographs, showcasing the wide variety of tree species and their unique forms. A valuable tree identification book with valid drawings of trees and detailed looks at branches, leaves, and fruit. The Architecture of Trees is a credible resource for both the arboriculture novice and the scientist.
10. The tree book: the stories, science and history of trees — DK
“The Tree Book” is an extensive catalog of tree species from around the world. Each entry provides detailed information about the tree’s physical characteristics, habitat, and ecological importance.
The book is also richly illustrated, with beautiful photographs and detailed illustrations that help bring the different tree species to life.
The secret world of trees is revealed in this beautiful and absorbing guide to the giants of the plant world.
Last Words
Books about trees encompass biology, ecology, history, cultural importance, and more, ranging from scientific research to philosophical thoughts.
These works also discuss trees’ usefulness in ecosystems and climate change mitigation. Trees help counteract global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide and providing habitat for many animals and plants.
