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unladylike 's review for:
The Heartbeat of Trees: Embracing Our Ancient Bond with Forests and Nature
by Peter Wohlleben
2.5 stars
I wasn't super impressed with the other book I listened to by Peter Wohlleben compared to great, contemporary, popular ecology literature (so many adjectives!) such as [b:The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth|56268809|The Treeline The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth|Ben Rawlence|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1636982385l/56268809._SY75_.jpg|86107450], [b:A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World’s Smartest Birds of Prey|54390345|A Most Remarkable Creature The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World’s Smartest Birds of Prey|Jonathan Meiburg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1596429654l/54390345._SX50_.jpg|84875367], or classics such as Rachel Carson's [b:The Sea Around Us|274217|The Sea Around Us|Rachel Carson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1173326242l/274217._SY75_.jpg|2423508] or Aldo Leopold's [b:A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There|210404|A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There|Aldo Leopold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1283195046l/210404._SY75_.jpg|321811]. This one was much more scattered and tainted by the ego that has blossomed in a forest-loving man who constantly reminds us that he's written a bestselling book and is in high demand worldwide.
Here are some of my take-aways, in no particular order (just like the chapters of this book! HA!):
A University of Chicago study of 30,000 residents of Toronto proved that the presence of a tree in front of a home increases well-being. “10 more trees in a residential neighborhood improved the health of the residents as much as an increase of $10,000 a year.” The presence of trees also has shown in multiple studies to increase lifespan by at least 1.5 years. … Now, a possible counter-argument: he’s making a causality fallacy. The researchers observed lifespans and health corresponding to the presence of trees, but isn’t the presence of great trees an indicator of wealthier socio-economic classes in cities, and thus better access to medical care and leisure time?
This book is all over the place.
The level of Eurocentrism Peter exhibits throughout his books is astounding. He acts like he’s a key voice to the world but he’s pretty much just describing Germany most of the time. When he goes to Canada as a guest of a small First Nations band, his description of their need for him, their thanks, and his reflective attitude afterward is peak White Savior Complex.
Peter’s opinion is that city folk are more in touch with nature than foresters, since the vast majority of foresters follow commercial-industrial trends for planting and cutting choices.
Apparently ozone is more dangerous to rural areas than urban, because it drifts and negatively affects living beings (at least people) rather than binding to other ozone being created by exhaust.
Apparently smoke from burning wood is FAR worse for the environment than coal, propane, etc. He loves a good wood-burning stove, but says most people are doing it all wrong by starting fires from the bottom up rather than the top down. He doesn't explain this further, but instead proceeds to name places in the world where there are restrictions against wood-burning fireplaces. Oh-kay.
He advises that we find ways to use less wood. It’s not “carbon neutral” as the industry argues.
I wasn't super impressed with the other book I listened to by Peter Wohlleben compared to great, contemporary, popular ecology literature (so many adjectives!) such as [b:The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth|56268809|The Treeline The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth|Ben Rawlence|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1636982385l/56268809._SY75_.jpg|86107450], [b:A Most Remarkable Creature: The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World’s Smartest Birds of Prey|54390345|A Most Remarkable Creature The Hidden Life and Epic Journey of the World’s Smartest Birds of Prey|Jonathan Meiburg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1596429654l/54390345._SX50_.jpg|84875367], or classics such as Rachel Carson's [b:The Sea Around Us|274217|The Sea Around Us|Rachel Carson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1173326242l/274217._SY75_.jpg|2423508] or Aldo Leopold's [b:A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There|210404|A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There|Aldo Leopold|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1283195046l/210404._SY75_.jpg|321811]. This one was much more scattered and tainted by the ego that has blossomed in a forest-loving man who constantly reminds us that he's written a bestselling book and is in high demand worldwide.
Here are some of my take-aways, in no particular order (just like the chapters of this book! HA!):
A University of Chicago study of 30,000 residents of Toronto proved that the presence of a tree in front of a home increases well-being. “10 more trees in a residential neighborhood improved the health of the residents as much as an increase of $10,000 a year.” The presence of trees also has shown in multiple studies to increase lifespan by at least 1.5 years. … Now, a possible counter-argument: he’s making a causality fallacy. The researchers observed lifespans and health corresponding to the presence of trees, but isn’t the presence of great trees an indicator of wealthier socio-economic classes in cities, and thus better access to medical care and leisure time?
This book is all over the place.
The level of Eurocentrism Peter exhibits throughout his books is astounding. He acts like he’s a key voice to the world but he’s pretty much just describing Germany most of the time. When he goes to Canada as a guest of a small First Nations band, his description of their need for him, their thanks, and his reflective attitude afterward is peak White Savior Complex.
Peter’s opinion is that city folk are more in touch with nature than foresters, since the vast majority of foresters follow commercial-industrial trends for planting and cutting choices.
Apparently ozone is more dangerous to rural areas than urban, because it drifts and negatively affects living beings (at least people) rather than binding to other ozone being created by exhaust.
Apparently smoke from burning wood is FAR worse for the environment than coal, propane, etc. He loves a good wood-burning stove, but says most people are doing it all wrong by starting fires from the bottom up rather than the top down. He doesn't explain this further, but instead proceeds to name places in the world where there are restrictions against wood-burning fireplaces. Oh-kay.
He advises that we find ways to use less wood. It’s not “carbon neutral” as the industry argues.