The Forest: A Dramatic Portrait of Life in the American Wild

by Roger A. Caras

An evocation of life in a northwestern American forest concentrates on a golden eagle's two-week stay in a conifer grove during which time bears, weasels, mountain lions, and other animals struggle to maintain the continuity of their species

Genres: Nonfiction, Natural History

179 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Roger A. Caras was an American wildlife photographer, writer, wildlife preservationist and television personality.

Known as the host of the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Caras was a veteran of network television programs including "Nightline," "ABC News Tonight" and "20/20" before devoting himself to work as president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and to becoming an author.

Reviews

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little gem of a book. Since it was published a number of years ago, I'm not sure if the science is all perfectly correct, but I'm sure the general scope is and the book is worth it for the language.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A female golden eagle soars over a verdant valley and comes to rest atop a conifer tree. Thus begins this extraordinary story of life in a northwestern American forest. Roger Caras, author of some of our finest nature literature, here take up the whole balance of life -- plant as well as animal -- that makes up a wild forest. During the eagle's three-week stay, we see everything: the insect wars within the wood of giant western hemlocks and Douglas firs; the magical processes of photosynthesis and pheromones; the layers of microscopic life, from the forest's upper stories to the cryptozoa below the ground; the struggles of bear, weasel, mountain lion, bobcat, snake, and other species to survive. The skill of Caras, along with the superb line drawings by Norman Arlott, makes all these aspects of forest life equally dramatic and fascinating. The Forest should become a classic of nature writing: an enlightening -- and unforgettable -- picture of the full scope of the web of life."
~~back cover

This was a very engaging book, although it seemed to be to be a bit dated (published in 1979.) But it very thoroughly covered every aspect of the forest, and was an easy as well as enlightening read.

[Ava Varszegi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is such an interesting blend of science and imagination. I can picture it being transformed into a children's book with cyclical infographics and fun animal illustrations. Speaking of which, the pen and ink illustrations in this book are gorgeous. They recenter the reader between chapters, and provide a strong visual of all the moving parts of the forest. The progression of this food chain and ecosystem through the chapters is unlike anything I've ever encountered in a book before, and really emphasizes the interconnectedness of the mentioned species. The transitions felt similar to a wildlife documentary.

[Vishaal Bhatnagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! A great book that explains the beauty of nature in simple yet profound terms, through the lens of the wildlife inhabitants and the majestic trees of the Rocky Mountains.