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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
I'm rating this book a generous three stars based on a combination of the okay quality of the book and my abounding enthusiasm for its topic. I'm heading out to Northern California myself at the end of the week to see and hike in the Redwoods for the first time. I was excited before I read this, and I'm even more excited after reading it -- all in all not a bad sign for Preston's book.
The Wild Trees details the search for extraordinary redwoods in the largely unexplored deep pockets of old growth trees. In addition to seeking out the tallest, the largest, and the grandest, the people of this book also study something just as spectacular: the complex ecosystems that exist in the canopy. Robust with awesome (in the true sense of the word) scientific detail, this book also stumbles when it attempts to tackle the more mundane human relationships at its core, often getting wrapped up in melodrama in favor of the larger picture. Preston's writing is also stilted and choppy, leaving much to be desired in terms of the quality of his narrative. However, his passion for these trees plainly comes through the text, even as he writes himself into the story line.
An interesting nonfiction book that I found for myself at the ideal time; I'm totally stoked to head out into Jedediah Smith Redwood Forest this time next week.
The Wild Trees details the search for extraordinary redwoods in the largely unexplored deep pockets of old growth trees. In addition to seeking out the tallest, the largest, and the grandest, the people of this book also study something just as spectacular: the complex ecosystems that exist in the canopy. Robust with awesome (in the true sense of the word) scientific detail, this book also stumbles when it attempts to tackle the more mundane human relationships at its core, often getting wrapped up in melodrama in favor of the larger picture. Preston's writing is also stilted and choppy, leaving much to be desired in terms of the quality of his narrative. However, his passion for these trees plainly comes through the text, even as he writes himself into the story line.
An interesting nonfiction book that I found for myself at the ideal time; I'm totally stoked to head out into Jedediah Smith Redwood Forest this time next week.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
Reading environmental books published more than 15 years ago is always going to be a humbling experience. Climate change is just coming to the front of public consciousness. There’s a sense that all is not right, but also a pervasive optimism about the tenacity and resilience of incredible natural spaces. Discovery is exciting, and only slightly dampened by the knowledge that these places and creatures may not last forever.
The Wild Trees is a narrative exploration of the first generation of scientists, tree-climbers, and hobbyists journeying into untouched wild spaces to catalogue (or just stare in awe at) the largest trees in the world. Personable writing and compelling character portraits intersect with well-researched scientific data to create a book that teaches you gently about this new frontier of environmental research. Notably missing is a robust historical perspective or any indigenous voices. I’d love to read an updated or expanded exploration of where redwoods stand today.
The Wild Trees is a narrative exploration of the first generation of scientists, tree-climbers, and hobbyists journeying into untouched wild spaces to catalogue (or just stare in awe at) the largest trees in the world. Personable writing and compelling character portraits intersect with well-researched scientific data to create a book that teaches you gently about this new frontier of environmental research. Notably missing is a robust historical perspective or any indigenous voices. I’d love to read an updated or expanded exploration of where redwoods stand today.
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
This is a fascinating look into the work done, much more recently than you expect, to understand the forest canopy of the tallest trees in the world. A cast of very eccentric characters that hunt some of the less explored places left on earth to find the true arboreal giants that survived humanity's purge of old-growth forests decades before. I read this in preparation for my trip to see the redwoods later this spring and it definitely gave me a greater appreciation for the ecosystem I'm already excited to finally see.
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
I love redwood trees, which is why this book was gifted to me. Unfortunately, the climbers the book focused on were unlikeable to me lol
adventurous
informative
I enjoyed this book. I liked the stories about Sillet, Antoine and Taylor. I thought it made the people more relatable. As a scientist, I also liked the details about the trees and the ecosystems that exist in the tall canopies. However, I found the technical aspects of the specific climbing methods and gear to get a little boring and hard-to-understand at times. Overall, a solid 3-4 star book.