Discovering Trees: A Year of Reading for Reforestation

I could tell you that my recent decision to read as many books about trees as possible is solely based on the fact that I’m conducting research for my latest novel. That would certainly be a reasonable argument, since my book is about a 22-year-old woman whose dream is to reforest the world. To help her reach her lofty goal, I’ll certainly need to learn a great deal more about trees than I know right now.

But it’s not just about the novel. The truth is, I’ve always loved trees, and there’s a part of me that—even though I’m 60—wishes I could be the one out there saving the world. So, I’m reading for me too. And I’m reading so I can share what I learn with you. Because I truly believe if we’re going to solve the climate crisis, we must put a stop to current deforestation practices, protect the native forests that remain, and reforest the right trees back into the places they belong. After all, it’s the trees that made this planet habitable for humans in the first place.

Not to discount Ted Lasso, but it’s trees, not football, that are life.

Below, you’ll find my current tree-themed reading list. It may not be exhaustive, but I’ve come to it in an organic way, and it’s a start.

Feel free to comment on any you’ve read or suggest others you think would be helpful. I will most likely be adding to the list over the next few months.

Here’s the list:

Beresford-Kroeger, Diana. Arboretum America: A Philosophy of the Forest. United States of America: The Universtity of Michigan Press, 2003. (READING)

Beresford-Kroeger, Diana. Arboretum Borealis: A Lifeline of the Planet. United States of America: The Universtity of Michigan Press, 2010. (READING)

Beresford-Kroeger, Diana. Our Green Heart: The Soul and Science of Forests. Canada: Random House, 2024. (READ)

Beresford-Kroeger, Diana. The Global Forest: Forty Ways Trees Can Save Us. New York: Penguin Books, 2011. (READ)

Kimmerer, Robin Wall. The Service Berry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World. New York: Scribner, 2024. (READ)

Simard, Suzanne. Finding the Mother Tree:Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest. Canada: PENGUIN, 2022. (READING)

Tapper, Ethan. How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World. United States of America: Broadleaf Books, 2024. (TO BE READ)

Wohlleben, Peter. The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from A Secret World. Canada: Greystone Books, 2016. (WISH LIST)

Wohlleben, Peter. The Secret Network of Nature: Trees, Animals, and the Extraordinary Balance of All Living Things— Stories from Science and Observation. Canada: Greystone Books, 2022. (WISH LIST)

Thank you for reading. ❤️

By the way, I do not use affiliate links in my posts.

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