I Know Why Old Men Plant Trees

by Bob Seay

“A refreshingly original, immensely engaging tour de force of humor, wit … and grace.”
— Rich Follett, Readers’ Favorite

Great for book clubs!

The story of a man defying authoritarianism, algorithms, and the zucchini police, with the enduring hope that even the smallest roots can break through concrete.

Wendell Jones once enforced the rules of conformity as an Algorithmic Landscape Compliance Officer. Now, disillusioned and unemployed, he plants a single outlawed flower in a sterile neighborhood park—a small, forbidden gesture that sets in motion a chain of events far greater than he imagined.

Perfect for fans of Richard Russo, Barbara Kingsolver, and Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove—novels that blend wit and heart while showing how ordinary lives can spark extraordinary change.

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2025

About the author

I live in Colorado. When I'm not writing, I teach high school band, choir, and guitar classes.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a refreshing dystopian farce! Bob Seay’s new book reminds me of The Handmaid’s Tale or The Stepford Wives at its dystopian level, except that it’s euphoric, downright hilarious satire.

As dystopia, the author portrays a Denver suburb controlled by Artificial Intelligence and Algorithmic compliance. The protagonist, Wendell, is the Landscape Compliance Officer for the Algorithm Compliance Department of Peregrine Perch, Colorado, responsible for protecting the community from unauthorized vegetation— “any flora not on the approved list or growing in a spot not authorized by the Algorithm.” (p. 9) Until he isn’t. He quits his job because he can’t stand his supervisor, Leonard. Eventually, Wendell looks back and confesses that he had become an extension of the Algorithms.

Algorithms dominate every aspect of life in Peregrine Perch. For example, “the Algorithm required all communications, notifications, schoolwork, anything that another person might read for any reason, to be written by artificial intelligence.” (p. 46) A little girl’s letter to her grandpa is a violation because it’s in her own words instead of being written by AI. A woman, whose dog Wendell takes for walks, gets fined for posting on social media that she hates her job as a Seasonal Decorations Compliance Office. As she acknowledges, “the Algorithm does not allow anti-business messaging or anything that might be construed as anti-commerce.” (p. 81) Failure to report someone else’s noncompliance is also a violation deserving of a fine. One man observes that the purpose of the Algorithm protocols is to maintain the status quo. “Control. Intimidation. Making people feel helpless until they just give up out of sheer exhaustion.” (p. 59)

The extent to which the community has granted the Algorithms control of their lives is absurd, which is where the dystopia turns to a farce. The people rise up. Wendell becomes a “guerilla gardener,” an older man discreetly joins him, and one by one, so do others, especially the older, retired people who like to hang out at the park. “That’s how revolutions work sometimes. Slowly, and with arthritis.” (p. 154)

You’ll laugh your way through this book even with its dark undertone of authoritarianism. What a relief for readers concerned about book bans, cancelled television programs, and deformed museums! Plus, there are playful dog stories. Get a copy of I Know Why Old Men Plant Trees and read it soon.

[Lucas W Mayberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure how far in the future this book is set but it’s definitely on the fringes of dystopian. It could possibly be set in the present and be a clever analogy of how we’re living now. Where schools now teach kids to use AI to write and punish them for original thought. Or where a code determines on how everyone should live and give heavy fines if they break the laws which can include eating the wrong kind of tomato or they plant a wrong coloured flower that’s not in keeping with the rest of the foliage around it. I’ll let you decide that. But that is where our hero Wendell is living. At the beginning of the story he’s a Compliance Officer ensuring that everyone lives according to the Code. But some personal setbacks have made him disillusioned and he quits his job. Taking a job as a dog walker he soon fines himself rebelling against the system, first by planting one flower but as he butts heads with his former boss he moves on to bigger things and realises he has started a revolution. This is a cleverly written satire with genuine heart. I was routing for the main character and laughed out loud at the funny bits. But like all good satire it gives an ironically true perspective on today’s society and for that it was scarily thought provoking.

[Eric · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author boldly compared himself to Richard Russo, a man who won a Pulitzer Prize. After reading it, I honestly don’t know if we have read the same books. This felt less like a moving work of fiction and more like a high-schooler’s first attempt at sounding “literary.”
The writing is painfully uneven — one page will try so hard to sound profound that it borders on parody and the next will have dialogue that reads like a bad high-school play. The setting could have been interesting, but the details are shallow and inconsistent, like the author skimmed a Wikipedia page and called it research.
I appreciate that the author self-published — that takes courage — but there’s a difference between passion and polish. Comparing this book to Russo or Kingsolver isn’t ambition; it’s delusion. Maybe with more editing and humility, the author could find his own voice. Right now, though, it reads like a school project that got way out of hand.
But what can I say, not everyone enjoys fine dining.

[James Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This work of art by author Bob Seay is a statement on several levels. It is certainly a most entertaining and humorous story about a man frustrated with his life and searching for a way to make a difference and have his life be meaningful. On a larger scale, this story is steeped in symbolism regarding the horrors of censorship and the suppression of free speech.
My favorite sentence in the book and one that is so telling about the lesson behind the plot is “A lie doesn’t become truth just because it’s accepted by the majority.”
This story can be taken at face value as satire with its humor that made me laugh out loud at times, or it can take on a more serious stance with its message of rebellion against the suppression of societal norms.
The book is relatively short and can be read in one session and I highly recommend it. It will leave you entertained but also maybe a bit thoughtful about present day circumstances. This book is perfect for book club discussions.

[Sue Binder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I am still a bit tearful after finishing this amazing story. Why tearful--because it is a powerful reminder of how powers can destroy something as simple as an idea, a piece of nature, or personal decisions. This author has the ability to touch on social, political and personal issues with a gentle reminder of who and what we are and can become. The idea of taking a solitary stand when all seems lost, to reach out, in our personal and community lives, he has woven so expertly within these pages. The character development, the plot, the theme, all demonstrate this author's unique ability to tell a simple, but also complicated story. I do not hesitate to give Bob Seay a 5-Star review.

[Ava Brody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Know Why Old Men Plant Trees is a vibrant, quirky, and accessible meditation on disturbing societal trends.

It is also inspiring.

We all have agency. We all have contributions to make. We all can, in ways large and small, resist such destructive trends -- if not (only) for ourselves then for those who come after.

[Vicky Peplow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The storyline was well thought out, and a lot of passion was put into creating this book. Well Done.

[Gail McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving and Witty Portrayal of a Serious Subject
In a time where, more than ever, technology is encroaching on our very humanity, Bob Seay’s book is a breath of fresh air. This story portrays the consequences of the human touch being replaced by a tyrannical bureaucracy of algorithms in such a way that is moving and witty. I delighted in Wendell Jones’ amusing journey from selling his soul to redeeming it with those things that make humanity lovely. Friends, dogs, and nature. His various friendships move the story along. They’re touching and often so funny I laughed out loud. That’s the art of this book. Its quiet sincerity, humility, and uncommon wisdom are interwoven in a heartfelt tale. I loved every minute of it. Highly recommend!