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The Great American Forest
In the fantastic sweep of 100 million years, Platt telescopes the drama for forests marching across continents creating a new world of life and then closes in on the minutest rituals of tree life to explain the mechanics and wonder of how sap runs.
271 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 6, 2023
I picked this up a while ago from the little outside book stall in Hay on Wye. It has that old book smell.
A good but dated title detailing the American Forest.
Platt travels from the macro in that he describes the overall forest make up to the infinite micro where he looks at the humus and leaf litter and its constituent parts.
There are some good albeit grainy black and white photos of forests in America.
The only problem is that the writing is slightly anthropocentric in nature, describing certain forest elements as "inventions". There is a whole chapter at the end about an outdoorsman who "conquered the forest". This is where the dated aspect of writing comes into play. What is interesting though is how Platt, even in the 1970's was lamenting the devastating loss of forest in the hands of man and his rapacious appetite.
Good for the novelty value, but not one I'd return to as there are far better nature books out there.
A good but dated title detailing the American Forest.
Platt travels from the macro in that he describes the overall forest make up to the infinite micro where he looks at the humus and leaf litter and its constituent parts.
There are some good albeit grainy black and white photos of forests in America.
The only problem is that the writing is slightly anthropocentric in nature, describing certain forest elements as "inventions". There is a whole chapter at the end about an outdoorsman who "conquered the forest". This is where the dated aspect of writing comes into play. What is interesting though is how Platt, even in the 1970's was lamenting the devastating loss of forest in the hands of man and his rapacious appetite.
Good for the novelty value, but not one I'd return to as there are far better nature books out there.
October 1, 2015
"The living soil is so logically organized - with every essential detail of structure and an interplay of microorganisms, electricity and chemicals. A deficiency (or excess) of any of the microscopic beings is promptly corrected before the imbalance alters or destroys the forest."
"The forest and its wild life is vulnerable and can vanish from the land as a result of human folly. On the other hand, since it has survived a half million years, bacteria and other primitive soil organisms appear to be timeless and indestructible. As long as a microscopic speck of vegetable matter is left on earth to nourish bacteria, the evolution of life can start all over again."
"The forest and its wild life is vulnerable and can vanish from the land as a result of human folly. On the other hand, since it has survived a half million years, bacteria and other primitive soil organisms appear to be timeless and indestructible. As long as a microscopic speck of vegetable matter is left on earth to nourish bacteria, the evolution of life can start all over again."
January 23, 2019
May I please move into this book, please and thank you.
(also, the chapter title "The tallest, the oldest, the strangest . . ." will be in my obituary.)
(also, the chapter title "The tallest, the oldest, the strangest . . ." will be in my obituary.)
December 17, 2017
One of my favorite subjects.
March 23, 2019
And this is pre-global warming knowledge...we just don't learn or pay attention...we don't heed warnings until it is too late.
March 22, 2021
A classic on the subject that was a pleasure to read. Making room on my shelf.
June 8, 2019
This is an introduction to forests in North America, explaining their origin, types and distribution as well as an explantation of how trees function. The author calls the white oak the 'king of modern forests'. Our American forest may be the remnant of an Asian forest of 100 million years ago when the continents were still combined. He describes the succession of plant life after the recession of the glaciers of the Ice Age. Trees spread northward at the rate of 50 miles a century as the climate warmed. Then a description of how deciduous trees grow and function follows, with remarkable
molecules of the chemistry that governs the annual cycle and growth. He includes descriptions of forest floor and soil organisms that provide the suitable substrate for trees. A comparison with coniferous forests and trees is next along with listing some candidates for oldest, largest and strangest trees. The North Woods ranges from the North Atlantic to the western Rocky Mountains, north to the tundra of the artic. A history of McKinley's expedition to find a way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Coast is provided to illustrate the North Woods. The book closes with a description of the undeveloped (then) wilderness of British Columbia and its wildlife and arguments against building dams on the rivers of this wilderness.
What I find valuable is the author's ability to invoke a feeling of wonder about how it all happens. Evolution, geology, chemistry and biology are threads that are woven into a very interesting look at a huge forest that once blanketed North America and now survives in patches and timber farms. It is a well-crafted narrative that is informative and appreciative of a magnificent forest that is now a tattered remnant.
Rutherford Platt was a writer, lecturer and photographer of nature. This book received the John Burroughs Award. He served as a natural history advisor to the Walt Disney Studios.
molecules of the chemistry that governs the annual cycle and growth. He includes descriptions of forest floor and soil organisms that provide the suitable substrate for trees. A comparison with coniferous forests and trees is next along with listing some candidates for oldest, largest and strangest trees. The North Woods ranges from the North Atlantic to the western Rocky Mountains, north to the tundra of the artic. A history of McKinley's expedition to find a way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Coast is provided to illustrate the North Woods. The book closes with a description of the undeveloped (then) wilderness of British Columbia and its wildlife and arguments against building dams on the rivers of this wilderness.
What I find valuable is the author's ability to invoke a feeling of wonder about how it all happens. Evolution, geology, chemistry and biology are threads that are woven into a very interesting look at a huge forest that once blanketed North America and now survives in patches and timber farms. It is a well-crafted narrative that is informative and appreciative of a magnificent forest that is now a tattered remnant.
Rutherford Platt was a writer, lecturer and photographer of nature. This book received the John Burroughs Award. He served as a natural history advisor to the Walt Disney Studios.
April 17, 2012
This was a great book on the vast eastern forest that covered a third of the US. I'd like to look at this book again
March 19, 2014
Read this in college and I still think of it
December 5, 2011
Interesting story about how our well being is tied to our forests.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews