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Being an Oak
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
'A wonderful book' - Tristan Gooley, author of How To Read A Tree
'Unique and thrilling' - Ben Rawlance, author of The Treeline
'A celebration of the oak as nature's masterpiece' - Daniel Lewis, author of Twelve Trees
' A glorious, revelatory tale of a tree that enlarges our world' - Patrick Barkham, author of The Butterfly Isles
The enchanting biography of an ancient tree.
For over two centuries, as rulers have risen and fallen and wars have raged, one majestic oak tree has lived out an epic drama. From germination in 1780 to adapting to the changing climate of the modern age, its struggles and triumphs took place far from human eyes. That is, until one day a young man named Laurent Tillon came across it, and a decades-long relationship began ...
In this dazzling book, biodiversity expert Tillon narrates the story of the tree he calls Quercus. Evoking the richness which is all around us, he reveals that Quercus is embedded in a network of ever-shifting relationships, from close alliances between plants and animals to battles between insects, birds and fungi.
A book of ecology unlike any other, Being An Oak offers a tree-eyed view of life on earth.
Translated by the award-winning translator Jessica Moore.
'A wonderful book' - Tristan Gooley, author of How To Read A Tree
'Unique and thrilling' - Ben Rawlance, author of The Treeline
'A celebration of the oak as nature's masterpiece' - Daniel Lewis, author of Twelve Trees
' A glorious, revelatory tale of a tree that enlarges our world' - Patrick Barkham, author of The Butterfly Isles
The enchanting biography of an ancient tree.
For over two centuries, as rulers have risen and fallen and wars have raged, one majestic oak tree has lived out an epic drama. From germination in 1780 to adapting to the changing climate of the modern age, its struggles and triumphs took place far from human eyes. That is, until one day a young man named Laurent Tillon came across it, and a decades-long relationship began ...
In this dazzling book, biodiversity expert Tillon narrates the story of the tree he calls Quercus. Evoking the richness which is all around us, he reveals that Quercus is embedded in a network of ever-shifting relationships, from close alliances between plants and animals to battles between insects, birds and fungi.
A book of ecology unlike any other, Being An Oak offers a tree-eyed view of life on earth.
Translated by the award-winning translator Jessica Moore.
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Paperback
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 24, 2025
3 1/2 nice exploration of the complex processes it takes for being a tree
October 13, 2025
A really engaging and entertaining read, following the life of an Oak tree from beginning to now... and hopefully many more years to follow!
This is a tree close to the authors' heart as it is near where he lives and it brings him calmness in an ever crazier world, so he shares the story of this oak, and all those others from their tiny beginnings as an acorn, their journey into a tree and how perilous it is for it still to be standing. Seeing the tree as a character adds such a fascinating aspect to the telling of it's story.
he looks at the wildlife that the tree supports, and the wildlife that threaten its' existence and that goes through to the encroachment of humans on the forests and habitats it has stood proudly in for years - so sad to see a tree that has stood tall for so long, swiftly destroyed by humans in seconds.
I've learnt so much from this book and now have an even greater respect and admiration for all trees still standing - we must do all we can to save them! A wonderful read.
This is a tree close to the authors' heart as it is near where he lives and it brings him calmness in an ever crazier world, so he shares the story of this oak, and all those others from their tiny beginnings as an acorn, their journey into a tree and how perilous it is for it still to be standing. Seeing the tree as a character adds such a fascinating aspect to the telling of it's story.
he looks at the wildlife that the tree supports, and the wildlife that threaten its' existence and that goes through to the encroachment of humans on the forests and habitats it has stood proudly in for years - so sad to see a tree that has stood tall for so long, swiftly destroyed by humans in seconds.
I've learnt so much from this book and now have an even greater respect and admiration for all trees still standing - we must do all we can to save them! A wonderful read.
February 6, 2026
What a jewel! A non-fiction book that reads like fiction, with fascinating characters popping up all around over centuries and a bit of the background human history along the way, specially in what forestry is concerned. I rarely get my hands on a non-fiction book that I don’t want to end. I was only a bit deflated by the last chapter in which the author reflects on the lessons from the forest that humans could learn from; relevant reflection but I felt the execution came out somewhat weak.
September 24, 2025
Enlightening story of Quercus, his environment and stages of life. Marvellous read revealing his existance from an acorn to a 150 year old tree. We learn of predators, those species that encourage life and his abilities to control his space by producing the nutrients needed.
February 4, 2026
Who wouldnt want to be a biologist have read this. It is beautiful. My reason for missing a star is the absence of mention of the hundreds of other species that live in harmony with the oak.
February 20, 2026
love how this book flows chapter by chapter, enlightening read.
August 25, 2025
Not the book I was expecting but very relaxing to listen to and though provoking
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews