Best Tree Book

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I didn't actually care for 'The Wild Trees' all that much. It was more about that guy's heroes than it was about trees. He did give me enough of a taste that I started learning more about redwoods though.

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I'd second that criticism of the book, Blinky. Little bit too much human drama for me...But the stuff about the redwoods was mind blowing, like how they found hemlocks and huckleberries growing in the tops of those giants. Whoa.
 
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I didn't actually care for 'The Wild Trees' all that much. It was more about that guy's heroes than it was about trees. He did give me enough of a taste that I started learning more about redwoods though.

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I'd second that criticism of the book, Blinky. Little bit too much human drama for me...But the stuff about the redwoods was mind blowing, like how they found hemlocks and huckleberries growing in the tops of those giants. Whoa.

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There was a lot about redwoods like you said. A lot that Preston learned and shared in that book was like cutting-edge compared to a lot of other stuff written about redwoods in general.

One other bit of reading I enjoyed quite a bit (not a book technically) is Gerald Beranek's

A TREE STORY

I read that one completely and parts of it twice.
 
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...A lot that Preston learned and shared in that book was like cutting-edge compared to a lot of other stuff written about redwoods in general.

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I think my favorite part of the book was the stormy night the researchers spent in the leaning redwood, complete with the sound of popping roots on the ground as the top swung back and forth. Looking back at that situation, I would've voted to get out of the tree rather than ride it out. I believe they could've got everyone out safely. Just different opinions on how to deal with a situation. Some great tree adventure moments in the book.

Come to think of it some of the scenes in the book would make interesting use cases for "safety/response/what would you do differently?" discussions.
-AJ
 
I've read, "The Mind of the Raven" by Bernd Heinrich. Amazing researcher, amazing bird. My friend just offered me, "The Snoring Bird", I will take him up on it. If your interested in a softer read try, "Baron of the Trees" by Italo Calvini. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
 
Roger Deakin! Excellent reads, can be a little dry at times but you find a reading oasis in his words which are quite profound

'Wildwood: A Journey Through Trees' is the book of which I'm thinking.

Golden Spruce is an awesome book. Wonder why he did it?

Gord, the Van Pelt book you mentioned has been in my collection ever since I visited Gabriola Island when I was 14. That book has certainly captured my imagination, I would love to be able to find the Canuckian ones! Some are pretty darn close...
 
'Sometimes a Great Notion' by Ken Kesey

How is it possible I'm the first to mention this? Far as I'm concerned this IS the great american novel. Required reading for PNWers, definitely for PNW tree workers.

'The Baron in the Trees' by Italo Calvino totally blows my mind. I loved reading every page of it.

'Deadfall' by James LeMonds is a great non-fiction family history which tells the story of logging in the PNW from the beginning to the present day. He does it right, telling the good and the bad with clear focus and no sentimentality.
 
I've been meaning to read 'Sometimes a Great Notion" for a long time now, got to get that one too.

Dylan I've got that Roger Deakin book and I have to say it was just a little too dry for me. Actually I can't remember if I finished it or not. It was like trying to read 300 pages of free verse poetry (well written) or something, just not a lot going on.

The Van Pelt book is really a fantastic book. I've been hoping he'd put out and updated version, I'm sure there's a bunch of changes to the list of trees. I've visited a good few of the trees in the book, but not nearly as many as I'd like to.
 
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If your interested in a softer read try, "Baron of the Trees" by Italo Calvini. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

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One of my top 5 favorite books of all time!

A life in the trees, can't be beat.
-AJ
 
If anyone is interested in Van Pelt's book Forest Giants of the Pacific Coast, snag a copy if you see it next time in a local bookstore.

Its out of print presently and copies on Amazon are .....

Well, you just have to see those prices it for yourself - LOL

Its rather remarkable that the west coast of the United States has such an abundance of the tallest and biggest trees and species.

cool.gif
 
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In the Netherlands we have got this book about Trees and Men.
It's all about the relation (from day one untill now) between trees and men and it's a very good book, but I think you guys don't read a lot off dutch :-)


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I can't read this, but my dad could and I bet he would enjoy it too! I will mention it to him.

I discovered a bunch of books on this thread that I don't have that I must get. The trick will be getting them past the 'home police'. (I apparently have enough books - sigh.)
 
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The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World
by Michael Pollan

fun read

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Second Nature by Michael Pollan is another one of his worth a read by tree people...It's actually more of a book about gardens, but he has a great chapter on trees and what they "symbolize" in the American landscape.
 
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Dylan I've got that Roger Deakin book and I have to say it was just a little too dry for me. Actually I can't remember if I finished it or not. It was like trying to read 300 pages of free verse poetry (well written) or something, just not a lot going on

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Ah...It does get dry and difficult to read, truly. It took me about 6 mos to read it...with other books read in between, but I find myself thinking about the way in which he describes the woods often. The guy is kind of, well different, but a very intelliegent, peaceful one. I would say its worth reading through.
 
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Second Nature by Michael Pollan is another one of his worth a read by tree people...It's actually more of a book about gardens, but he has a great chapter on trees and what they "symbolize" in the American landscape.

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I read that. It is a good book about nature. I would describe it as the philosophy of man vs lawn. It is certainly a question an my mind. What is it with man's obsessive desire to have a lawn?
 
Just got to handle a copy of TREE CLIMBERS AND TIMBER FALLERS.

For which I started a thread along with the last redwood visit pics.

I think that book can be worth a thread of its own, from the hour I spent browsing through it.

Likewise with a couple of other books, but definitely that one.
 
I own a lot ot tree books, and have cleaned out several used bookstores in my search for new ones. That being said Donald Culross Pettie is the best mix of ID, history, and lore I have found. I love the drawings so much I have them as a tattoo. I have the eastern and western and combined version. The combo pales in comparison. I think it is worth the investment to get the older versions.

I am stoked to see this thread! and have a great new list of books. Thanks everyone.
 
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