Tree: A Life Story

Book Description

"Only God can make a tree," wrote Joyce Kilmer in one of the most celebrated of poems. In Tree: A Life Story, authors David Suzuki and Wayne Grady extend that celebration in a "biography" of this extraordinary — and extraordinarily important — organism. A story that spans a millennium and includes a cast of millions but focuses on a single tree, a Douglas fir, Tree describes in poetic detail the organism's modest origins that begin with a dramatic burst of millions of microscopic grains of pollen. The authors recount the amazing characteristics of the species, how they reproduce and how they receive from and offer nourishment to generations of other plants and animals. The tree's pivotal role in making life possible for the creatures around it — including human beings — is lovingly explored. The richly detailed text and Robert Bateman's original art pay tribute to this ubiquitous organism that is too often taken for granted.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful!.......2007-09-08

I read this book initially because I wanted a primer in how a forest works. This slim, beautifully-written book gave me what I was after, but also much more.

This is one of the best 'popular science' books I've read in ages. It manages to be poetic and profound without being pretentious or New Agey... Instead the authors allow reality (as it's currently perceived by scientists) to reveal its own mind-blowing beauty and power.

This book also explains the process of evolution, the significance of biodiversity and the extent of ecosystem interconnectedness more clearly and eloquently than anything I've read before.

Even though I read a library copy, I've now bought it, since it's one of those books I've just gotta have on the shelf...

How organisms and species cooperate to survive.......2007-04-19

Like the other reviewers of this book, I found it a delightful, informative, but troubling experience. What struck me most powerfully were the ways in which trees and other plants, including fungi, cooperate with one another in the primeval forest to promote their common welfare. The Douglas fir, for example, does not disperse its seeds widely, as some trees do. Instead, most of them drop to the forest floor near its roots. As they grow, their roots and those of its parent tree grow together, and the parent tree, which is much better at producing nutrients than its offspring, actually feeds its young until they become established. As the seedlings become tall, mature trees, they return the favor by contributing to the overall health of the forest, which is literally joined at the roots. I wish the social Darwinists who think everything in nature and society is individualistic cut-throat competition and survival of the fittest would reflect on this book's description of the forest ecosystem and apply it to human society.

where was suzuki when i was failing high school science?.......2005-03-27

i was a terrible science student in high school. i could never wrap my head around how microorganisms affected my world outside the classroom. but then, i didn't have teachers like david suzuki and wayne grady. this fascinating book looks at a single tree, and examines it life up to its death. they have an engaging writing style that is informative and clear. two big thumbs up.

Great Informative Read!.......2005-02-25

It seems fitting that on the same day I received an e-mail
regarding Kimberly-Clark's indiscriminate use of old growth
forests to produce Kleenex tissues I finished reading "Tree:
A Life Story," a new book by acclaimed geneticist and
environmentalist Dr. David Suzuki, and nature writer Wayne
Grady. The book focuses on the life of a Douglas-fir, to
illustrate plant evolution, biology, and the interdependence
of organisms. Throughout the chronological account of the
tree's life, the authors interweave short biographies of
noted botanists and their historical roles in helping us to
further understand and appreciate life and death in the
forest. The book is also interspersed with drawings by
well-known nature artist, Robert Bateman.

The authors allude to the story of Genesis to depict the
first days of life: "In the beginning," early forms of
bacteria, and algae gradually made their move from the ocean
to land's rocky surface. These life forms evolved into
mosses and then into plants such as ferns. Competition for
sunlight caused these ferns to thicken their stems and grow
taller; these plants evolved into trees.

Our main character is born around 1400, into favorable
conditions created by a recent all-consuming fire. Through
the tree's 500 year lifespan, we gain further insight into
scientific concepts presented in earlier chapters. We learn
that various fungi, which grow on the tree's roots, are
capable of extracting a thousand times more water from the
soil than the root itself. The fungi supply the tree with
nutrients and water and, in turn, receive sugars produced
through photosynthesis (the process whereby light energy is
used to transform carbon into nutrients) in the tree's
canopy. This is just one example of many where the
interdependence of organisms is illustrated.

The authors expand on the theory that a tree is forever
"part dying and part being born," which was originally
stated by Theophrastus, otherwise known as the "father of
botany." A student of Plato and Aristotle's, and one of the
first field scientists to present extensive data on plants,
Theophrastuses theory is illustrated in the following ways:
our tree's core is made of dead wood; over the years, new
layers of wood will grow around the "heartwood" core. When
our Douglas-fir finally dies, it stands as a "snag" for
about 60 years and becomes home for a range of species, such
as flying squirrels and spotted owls. In the end, when the
trunk falls to the forest floor, it serves as a nursery for
seedlings; even in death, it possesses life-sustaining
qualities.

A true testament to the book's overall success is that the
lyrical way in which the science was conveyed whetted my
appetite to revisit "Tree," in order to fully absorb all of
its vital information. At times, however, the abundance of
technical terms slowed my reading pace considerably. A short
glossary would help the scientifically unfamiliar reader to
carry concepts and terms from chapter to chapter.

It's no accident that the authors chose a Douglas-fir -the
most important old growth species in the forest industry
today- as their main character. Though several lines
protesting the industry's indiscriminate harvesting of these
trees are present, they are never preachy. The book relies,
instead, on supported evidence of how life depends on life,
and that blind destruction of such forests will eventually
lead to our own demise. On a personal note, I'm grateful to
the authors for providing me with the scientific knowledge
and the emotional charge needed to write my letter to the
Kimberly Clark Corporation.

Dan Goldman, Reviewer For Bookpleasures

A Book that Salutes Life.......2005-02-06

+++++

This easy-to-read book, by zoologist, geneticist, environmentalist, TV host, & author David Suzuki and author & translator Wayne Grady is advertised to be a biography of one tree, a Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziessi). This story connects us to other times in history and to all parts of the world. However, this story can be thought of as the story of all trees as well as all life throughout Earth.

This book explores the many mechanisms by which the tree is able to thrive for centuries while remaining rooted in one spot. It also looks at the tree's complex relationships with other organisms in its community, from such things as lichens, ferns, mosses, and fungi to other trees to such things as woodpeckers, squirrels, owls, cougars, bears, termites, ants, salamanders, and salmon. In addition, this book shows how a tree connects us to the atmosphere, the soil, and the world's oceans, as well as linking us all the way back to the universe's origins.

Examples of other topics covered include the history of botany, insect, bird, and mammal portraits, genetics, anatomy, nomenclature and taxonomy, climate, chemistry, biochemistry, and environmental issues. The amazing thing about this book is that these topics and others are combined in such a way as to make the main narrative extremely interesting and never dull. The authors say this more eloquently: "In this book, we have tried to restore a layperson's sense of wonder and questioning and added the kind of information acquired by scientists."

I was surprised to learn that "after [a] millennia of study, there is still much about a tree we do not know." This book definitely tells the reader what is known not only about a tree but about life as well.

Finally, there are over a dozen black and white illustrations in this book. They were created by internationally known wildlife artist Robert Bateman. These illustrations add another dimension to this book.

In conclusion, this is a book that has richly detailed text that's augmented by evocative original art. The final result "is a revelation, a salute to life itself."

(first published 2004; acknowledgements; introduction; 5 chapters; main narrative 180 pages; references; index)

+++++

How Do Apples Grow? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

Average customer rating:

Good for someone, not for me.
How do Apples Grow?

How Do Apples Grow? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)
Betsy Maestro
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Botany | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060200561

Book Description

Bite into a juicy
apple -- yum!

You are eating part of a flower! Have you ever seen an apple tree in the spring? It is covered with pretty blossoms. Each blossom can become an apple. In this enlarged edition, Betsy and Giulio Maestro have created a charming introduction, with simple prose and colorful illustrations, to the life cycle of an apple as it grows from a bud to a flower and into a delicious apple.

Apples

Have you ever eaten a part of a flower? You have if you have eaten an apple! Find out how an apple grows from bud to flower to fruit--ready for you to pick!

Customer Reviews:

Good for someone, not for me........2006-12-06

I purchased this with the hope that I would be able to use the pictures for discussion about apples with the preschoolers that I teach. The illustrations are wonderful but are truly geared toward an early elementary school level science curriculum. A better choice for my age level children was The Season's of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons in which a little boy interacts with a tree throughout the seasons of the year.

How do Apples Grow?.......2000-08-03

Betsy Maestro has done it again! Her book about how apples grow is both informative and fun to read. Students will be captivated by the story and the pictures. This book is a must have for all classrooms!

Growth Control in Woody Plants (Physiological Ecology)

Average customer rating:

Growth Control in Woody Plants (Physiological Ecology)
Theodore T. Kozlowski , and Stephen G. Pallardy
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0124242103

Book Description

The processes and mechanisms that control the growth of woody plants are of crucial importance for both economic and biological reasons. The comprehensive coverage of Growth Control in Woody Plants includes discussion of the growth controlling factors in both reproductive structures (flowers, fruit, seeds, pollen, etc.) and vegetative organs (stems, branches, leaves, and roots). Other major topics covered include seed germination, seedling growth, physiological and environmental regulation of growth, cultural practices, and biotechnology.
This comprehensive treatment of the many factors that control the growth of woody plants can serve both as a valuable text and as a frequently used reference.

* Includes comprehensive representation of a broad subject
* Provides thorough bibliographic coverage
* Well illustrated
* Serves as a vital companion to Physiology of Woody Plants, Second Edition

Average customer rating:

Animal Growth Regulation
CAMPION
Manufacturer: Plenum Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Between The Worlds: Witchcraft and the Tree of Life-A Program of Spiritual Development (Llewellyn's Modern Witchcraft Series)

Average customer rating:

It works!!
I am looking to republish this title
No better book on the subject exists
A wonderful book that has gone out of print
Qabalah Meets Wicca!

Between The Worlds: Witchcraft and the Tree of Life-A Program of Spiritual Development (Llewellyn's Modern Witchcraft Series)
B. Stuart Myers
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Motivational | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1567184804

Customer Reviews:

It works!!.......2004-04-25

I got this book when I was in UK many years ago. Since then, I have been practising all the exercises stated in the book. It has given me the conviction to continue practising Witchcraft alone. Every exercise I do WORKS! I am glad that I bought this book when I first saw it in a bookstore in London! I strongly recommend anyone keen in Witchcraft to start sourcing for it. Would there be a sequel to "Between the Worlds"?

I am looking to republish this title.......2002-07-18

"Between the Worlds" was a labor of love for me. I wrote it to share with others my own interpretation of the Tree of Life, and wove into it an intricate fabric of my own personal, Goddess-centered Qabalah. Unfortunately, Llewellyn Publications allowed this text to go out of print, and because they had no plans to republish it for years, I took the rights to the work back.

Daily, I receive dozens of emails from other wiccans asking when, or if, I will bring this book back into print. To date, I do not have a publisher for this volume.

...I would love to bring an expanded, revised edition of this work back into print. As many reviewers have noted, it is ground-breaking,and is perhaps the first new interpretation of this ancient science since the days of Isaac Luria.

Blessings to all:
B Stuart Myers.

No better book on the subject exists.......2002-04-12

I will keep this review brief and to the point. This book is fabulous. The magick in it works. As an exercise in expansion of a Witch's conciousness, this text is unparalleled. I don't care what you have to do to obtain this book -- you must get it.

A wonderful book that has gone out of print.......2001-03-18

It is a shame that this book had to go out of print. In many ways, this book picks up where Ellen Cannon Reeds "Witch's Kabbalah" leaves off. The Tree of Life is given a Goddess centered spin that makes perfect sense if you think about it. The discussion of the four worlds is tied together with the Middle Pillar exercise, whuch is the best way to illustrate the concept. Best of all, this book contains practices which will lead up to actual Pathworkings. The book is difficult (probably the reason for its low sales) but worth pursuing if you want to tie your Craft to the Kabbalah. Look around; if you really need the book, it will find you.

Qabalah Meets Wicca!.......1998-08-06

Stuart Myers was one of my first teachers when I began my study of Wicca. His insights and in depth study of the Qabalah lend an excellent interpretation of practicing Wicca. I recently recommended this book to a friend who was seeking to understand Qabalah theory. The only books available were huge tomes on Qabalah. I led her to Stuart's book. After reading Between the Worlds, the reader will not only have a good understanding of Qabalah but a good understanding of Wicca and how the two work together. I anxiously await Stuart's further writings and wish my once teacher the best of all that can be found "Between the Worlds".

Cell and Tissue Culture in Forestry: Volume 2 Specific Principles and Methods: Growth and Development (Forestry Sciences)

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Cell and Tissue Culture in Forestry: Volume 2 Specific Principles and Methods: Growth and Development (Forestry Sciences)

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 9024734312

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El Arbol de La Vida / Tree of Life
Francesco Alberoni
Manufacturer: Gedisa Editorial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Personal Transformation | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 8474321840

Growth and Development of Trees (Physiological Ecology)

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Growth and Development of Trees (Physiological Ecology)
T.T. Kozlowski
Manufacturer: Academic Press Inc.,U.S.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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How a Plant Grows (Crabapples)
Bobbie Kalman
Manufacturer: Crabtree Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Botany | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0865056285

Book Description

How A Plant Grows introduces children to the amazing lives of plants-- from their beginnings, through their growth, to reproduction and death. Full-color illustrations and photographs accompany simple plant experiments.

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How Apple Trees Grow (How Plants Grow)
Joanne Mattern
Manufacturer: Weekly Reader Early Learning Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0836863364

Book Description

This guide gathers the best-kept lodging secrets from Caffèlletto, Italy's premiere bed-and-breakfast organization. Included are enchanting private homes with rooms to let, an eighteenth-century palazzo in the heart of Florence, a seaside hideaway with a view of Mount Vesuvius, and a mountain chalet in the heart of the Dolomites. Chosen for their historic associations, locations, and comfort, these accommodations will suit the traveler craving an authentic Italian experience.The text provides thorough practical information: price ranges, directions, tips on the local cuisine, and scenic attractions. Color photographs accompany each bed and breakfast; all you have to do is decide which one to try first.

Italian Bed & Breakfasts: A Caffelletto Guide (Caffeletto Guide)

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Italian Bed & Breakfasts: A Caffelletto Guide (Caffeletto Guide)
Michele Ballarati , and Anne Marshall
Manufacturer: Universe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0789309785
Release Date: 2004-09-18

Book Description

Discover the Italy of warm hospitality, of homemade bread and cappuccino in the morning, of beautiful hidden gardens, of quiet castles outside the well-trodden paths of the country's big cities. From Caffelletto, the premiere Italian bed & breakfast chain, comes Italian Bed and Breakfasts, a guide to Italy's most enchanting private homes, including an eighteenth-century palazzo in the heart of Florence, a seaside hideaway with a view of Mount Vesuvius, and a mountain chalet in the heart of the Dolomites. Chosen for historic association, location, comfort, and hospitality, the rooms are dream accommodations for the traveler craving an authentic Italian experience.

Ideal for travelers who are more interested in experiencing the genuine Italian life than staying at another hip hotel, Bed & Breakfast Italy caters to the curious spirit. Complete with color photography that makes planning a vacation irresistible, Bed & Breakfast Italy provides all of the information that a traveler will need-from price and level of quality to a description of the local cuisine and the distance to the nearest city. Buon viagem!

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