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Remarkable Trees of the World
"A stunning volume" ( Time ) and the most magnificent book on the world's trees published in years. The publication of Remarkable Trees of the World took American audiences by storm. Thomas Pakenham embarks on a five-year odyssey to most of the temperate and tropical regions of the world to photograph sixty trees of remarkable personality and presence: Dwarfs, Giants, Monuments, and Aliens; the lovingly tended midgets of Japan; the enormous strangler from India; and the 4,700-year "Old Methusalehs." American readers will be fascinated by Pakenham's first examination of North American trees, including the towering Redwoods of Sequoia and Yosemite, the gaunt Joshua Trees of Death Valley and the Bristlecone pines discovered in California's White Mountains.
Many of these trees were already famous―champions by girth, height, volume or age―while others had never previously been caught by the camera. Pakenham's five-year odyssey, sweating it out with a 30 pound Linhof camera and tripod, took him to most of the temperate and many of the tropical regions of the world. Although North American trees dominate this book, Pakenham also trekked to remote regions in Mexico, all over Europe, parts of Asia including Japan, northern and southern Africa, Madagascar, Australia and New Zealand.
Remarkable Trees of the World is a lavish work that will be treasured for generations by all those who marvel at nature. Color photographs throughout
Many of these trees were already famous―champions by girth, height, volume or age―while others had never previously been caught by the camera. Pakenham's five-year odyssey, sweating it out with a 30 pound Linhof camera and tripod, took him to most of the temperate and many of the tropical regions of the world. Although North American trees dominate this book, Pakenham also trekked to remote regions in Mexico, all over Europe, parts of Asia including Japan, northern and southern Africa, Madagascar, Australia and New Zealand.
Remarkable Trees of the World is a lavish work that will be treasured for generations by all those who marvel at nature. Color photographs throughout
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 15, 2002
8 people are currently reading
579 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Pakenham
33 books91 followersThomas Francis Dermot Pakenham, 8th Earl of Longford, is known simply as Thomas Pakenham. He is an Anglo-Irish historian and arborist who has written several prize-winning books on the diverse subjects of Victorian and post-Victorian British history and trees. He is the son of Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford, a Labour minister and human rights campaigner, and Elizabeth Longford. The well known English historian Antonia Fraser is his sister.
After graduating from Belvedere College and Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1955, Thomas Pakenham traveled to Ethiopia, a trip which is described in his first book The Mountains of Rasselas. On returning to Britain, he worked on the editorial staff of the Times Educational Supplement and later for ,i>The Sunday Telegraph and The Observer. He divides his time between London and County Westmeath, Ireland, where he is the chairman of the Irish Tree Society and honorary custodian of Tullynally Castle.
Thomas Pakenham does not use his title and did not use his courtesy title before succeeding his father. However, he has not disclaimed his British titles under the Peerage Act 1963, and the Irish peerages cannot be disclaimed as they are not covered by the Act. He is unable to sit in the House of Lords as a hereditary peer as his father had, due to the House of Lords Act 1999 (though his father was created a life peer in addition to his hereditary title in order to be able to retain his seat).
After graduating from Belvedere College and Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1955, Thomas Pakenham traveled to Ethiopia, a trip which is described in his first book The Mountains of Rasselas. On returning to Britain, he worked on the editorial staff of the Times Educational Supplement and later for ,i>The Sunday Telegraph and The Observer. He divides his time between London and County Westmeath, Ireland, where he is the chairman of the Irish Tree Society and honorary custodian of Tullynally Castle.
Thomas Pakenham does not use his title and did not use his courtesy title before succeeding his father. However, he has not disclaimed his British titles under the Peerage Act 1963, and the Irish peerages cannot be disclaimed as they are not covered by the Act. He is unable to sit in the House of Lords as a hereditary peer as his father had, due to the House of Lords Act 1999 (though his father was created a life peer in addition to his hereditary title in order to be able to retain his seat).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 15, 2025
Beautiful and fascinating book on a fascinating topic, written by an apparently fascinating guy, (aside from being a recognized historian and arborist, author/photographer Pakenham is also the 8th Earl of Longford — a fact that isn't even mentioned here, much to his credit).
This book is a global follow-up to his 1997 Meetings with Remarkable Trees, which I'd also love to find sometime. Whereas that book covered "remarkable trees" of the UK (both native and "exotic"), in this one Pakenham travels the world* to highlight amazing trees found in Madagascar, Europe, the US Northwest, Australia/New Zealand, and elsewhere, (although unfortunately there's only one here on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic coast where I live; a comparatively unimpressive tulip tree planted by George Washington at his nearby Mount Vernon home).**
Charming text accompanies just stunning photos throughout; below gives just a very rough idea but hopefully encourages a few folks to get copies of their own:
Aside from just a whole lot of fascinating info about the trees themselves, I also learned:
So…obviously I’ve gotta get out and see more trees, while I still can. And as made clear in Pakenham's earlier book, you don't have to travel the world to find them. We discovered this beauty a few years ago — not in Middle Earth, but in Letchworth State Park in upstate New York:
…and I remember actually playing on this sugar maple as a kid (located on the grounds of the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, NY; and it didn't fall down — for some reason, it just grew this way):
Which just shows that these guys are out there — you just have to go find them!
____________________________________
* So my only complaint is that the book would have really benefited from a simple world map that showed just where all the trees here were located.
** That said, several other "remarkables" appear to be within three hours or so of Perth, Australia — the "Four Aces" gum trees in Glenoram, and a giant red tingle in Walpole — so hopefully by GR mates down there can visit them for me!
This book is a global follow-up to his 1997 Meetings with Remarkable Trees, which I'd also love to find sometime. Whereas that book covered "remarkable trees" of the UK (both native and "exotic"), in this one Pakenham travels the world* to highlight amazing trees found in Madagascar, Europe, the US Northwest, Australia/New Zealand, and elsewhere, (although unfortunately there's only one here on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic coast where I live; a comparatively unimpressive tulip tree planted by George Washington at his nearby Mount Vernon home).**
Charming text accompanies just stunning photos throughout; below gives just a very rough idea but hopefully encourages a few folks to get copies of their own:
Aside from just a whole lot of fascinating info about the trees themselves, I also learned:
• The difference between a dendrologist and an arborist (and that I am very much the former)This book was published in 2002, which is discouraging in that even 20+ years ago, Pakenham was commenting on the imperiled nature of many of the trees shown here, (due to a combination of climate change and over-foresting), particularly Madagascar's unique and irreplaceable baobabs. I've also recently read similarly dated books on the planet's coral reefs and rain forests, all painting nearly identically bleak views of the future…and yet so little has been done in the intervening decades to slow — much less reverse — this trend.
• The sad plight of David Douglas, who despite being "one of the greatest of all plant-hunters" (end after whom the Douglas fir is named), died at just 35 after he fell into a bull pit in Hawaii and was gored to death
• And that — as I've noticed in numerous other books — apparently everyone in England at least reads French, since it seems that any time a French proverb or poem is quoted in a book coming out of the UK, the reader is just assumed to understand it, since I've never seen anything translated (i.e., for us dumb Americans)
So…obviously I’ve gotta get out and see more trees, while I still can. And as made clear in Pakenham's earlier book, you don't have to travel the world to find them. We discovered this beauty a few years ago — not in Middle Earth, but in Letchworth State Park in upstate New York:
…and I remember actually playing on this sugar maple as a kid (located on the grounds of the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, NY; and it didn't fall down — for some reason, it just grew this way):
Which just shows that these guys are out there — you just have to go find them!
____________________________________
* So my only complaint is that the book would have really benefited from a simple world map that showed just where all the trees here were located.
** That said, several other "remarkables" appear to be within three hours or so of Perth, Australia — the "Four Aces" gum trees in Glenoram, and a giant red tingle in Walpole — so hopefully by GR mates down there can visit them for me!
January 9, 2021
Thomas Pakenham travels all around the world in search of the most interesting, the most intriguing, the most remarkable trees of all. He focuses upon finding the biggest trees, small trees, old trees, trees with stories about them, and trees in trouble.
My favorites were the various baobobs (there are several, including six different species in Madagascar); the redwoods; and, of course, the live oaks.
My favorites were the various baobobs (there are several, including six different species in Madagascar); the redwoods; and, of course, the live oaks.
August 31, 2019
I caught a copy of Meetings with Remarkable Trees at a bookstore and I only narrowly avoided taking it home. I found this one at the library instead. I take pictures of trees. Perhaps not in the quantity I take pictures of clouds, but in some number. This book captures some of that. It does get wordy at times. The latter part of the book felt less compelling then the earlier parts. And there is no particular ending to the book. But it is generally pretty awesome.
November 26, 2013
Joyce Kilmer famously wrote about the beauty of trees, but he isn't the only one who's ever marveled at them. It isn't unusual to read news stories about activists who chain themselves to majestic trees in the hopes of rescuing them from developers' chainsaws. Trees have been the focal point of numerous novels and works of art, and many of us feel a strong affinity for a certain tree we may have loved and/or climbed as a child, or to the wondrous trees we pass, or stop to admire, as we travel through life.
But this book... THIS book... is like a visual love song to trees. Remarkable trees. Its title calls them "remarkable", and indeed, that's exactly what they are. The tallest... the oldest... the largest girth... the most unusual and glorious trees that most of us will never have the privilege of seeing in person. No need. Pakenham traveled the world over and saw them for us, and captured them in breathtaking photographs for us to enjoy in this book.
Even if all you want to do is look at the pictures, this is a book you might fall in love with. But to get a full appreciation, you'll want to read the text, too, to discover some of the fascinating facts and histories about these trees. These remarkable trees.
Do I recomment this book? You betcha. It's remarkable.
But this book... THIS book... is like a visual love song to trees. Remarkable trees. Its title calls them "remarkable", and indeed, that's exactly what they are. The tallest... the oldest... the largest girth... the most unusual and glorious trees that most of us will never have the privilege of seeing in person. No need. Pakenham traveled the world over and saw them for us, and captured them in breathtaking photographs for us to enjoy in this book.
Even if all you want to do is look at the pictures, this is a book you might fall in love with. But to get a full appreciation, you'll want to read the text, too, to discover some of the fascinating facts and histories about these trees. These remarkable trees.
Do I recomment this book? You betcha. It's remarkable.
May 7, 2019
Some of the photos are absolutely breathtaking as are the descriptions.
I think this book may contain a picture of every type of tree imaginable. I happened to find this at a friend's place and stole it..LOL..actually I read it while I was there.
For anyone who likes nature and the outdoors or loves to travel, this book is a dream! Just throw yourself into looking at all the magnificent trees. After all the mysteries and dark thrillers I read, finding something like this is was great! Everything about is beautiful and remarkable.
I think this book may contain a picture of every type of tree imaginable. I happened to find this at a friend's place and stole it..LOL..actually I read it while I was there.
For anyone who likes nature and the outdoors or loves to travel, this book is a dream! Just throw yourself into looking at all the magnificent trees. After all the mysteries and dark thrillers I read, finding something like this is was great! Everything about is beautiful and remarkable.
November 9, 2025
A coffee table book with some nice photographs. The selection of trees indeed showcases the remarkable: the large, the old, the strangely shaped. The layout is also excellent: big glossy photos, reprints of 1800's etchings featuring trees. My issue is with the text. It doesn't have a huge amount of information. There's nothing taxonomical or about some interesting biology of the tree but neither is there much in the way of social or political heritage. It feels like Pakenham narrated the text, off-the-cuff, to his editor while on a walk. There's just not a lot to it.
I read it in a lobby near the Humboldt redwood groves, which feature throughout, and found very little of interest to direct me to see one set of trees or another.
Overall: it's ok for a lobby but maybe not worth buying for home.
I read it in a lobby near the Humboldt redwood groves, which feature throughout, and found very little of interest to direct me to see one set of trees or another.
Overall: it's ok for a lobby but maybe not worth buying for home.
June 17, 2022
Big trees
June 21, 2014
This is a book of postcards. It’s not in actuality a book of physical postcards (though that might be a fantastic manifestation of this work). But that’s what it feels like: amazing images with just enough explicatory prose to whet one’s appetite. Pakenham traveled the world photographing the most remarkable trees from Asia, North America, Africa, Australia, and Europe. Unfortunately, he did not write a book about it. He published a book of postcards instead. Gorgeous postcards, in a huge, hardcover coffee table book. But postcards, nonetheless.
Remarkable Trees of the World is a follow-up to Pakenham’s earlier work that featured sixty remarkable living trees found throughout Britain and Ireland. I’m still very interested in reading that book. Perhaps a constrained focus on the lingering leviathans of one particular corner of the world would allow Pakenham to go deeper than he does in this work.
The trees here are indeed remarkable. There are again sixty, divided into delightfully non-botanical categories such as Giants, Dwarfs, Methuselahs, and Dreams. Usually one particular tree of either aesthetic or historic significance is featured for each entry—such as the grove of oldest trees in the world, the largest living tree in the world, or a tree said to have been grown from a cutting of the original tree under which the Buddha obtained enlightenment. Others are simply examples of broader categories: particularly impressive baobabs, for instance, or Australian mountain ash or examples of bonsai. Any one of the sixty trees Pakenham examines would be worth at least a chapter on its own. Many certainly merit a book in their own right.
But their stories aren’t to be found here. Pakenham’s book is a beautiful work that gives hints and glimmers of the breathtaking scope of these specimens. We get a glimpse of their physical forms through Pakenham’s excellent photographs, and we get a brief taste of the legends or histories that have grown up around them in his brief prose. Pakenham admittedly shies away from any extensive botanical explication, though the book is not the worse for it.
Ironically though, reading the work feels like a whirlwind tour of those organisms that most embody place, fixity, and rootedness. Maybe I simply read it too fast (though you’re driven to turn the page to catch sight of the next forest giant). I felt I was racing through a forest when I should have been lingering in a garden.
If you are passionate about trees, this book is worth your time for the images alone. You’ve probably read about some of these specimens before, but you’ve never seen them through the thoughtful and elegant eye of Pakenham’s camera. Their stories aren’t here though. Here are frightening, awe-inspiring, and terribly pleasing glimpses alone.
Remarkable Trees of the World is a follow-up to Pakenham’s earlier work that featured sixty remarkable living trees found throughout Britain and Ireland. I’m still very interested in reading that book. Perhaps a constrained focus on the lingering leviathans of one particular corner of the world would allow Pakenham to go deeper than he does in this work.
The trees here are indeed remarkable. There are again sixty, divided into delightfully non-botanical categories such as Giants, Dwarfs, Methuselahs, and Dreams. Usually one particular tree of either aesthetic or historic significance is featured for each entry—such as the grove of oldest trees in the world, the largest living tree in the world, or a tree said to have been grown from a cutting of the original tree under which the Buddha obtained enlightenment. Others are simply examples of broader categories: particularly impressive baobabs, for instance, or Australian mountain ash or examples of bonsai. Any one of the sixty trees Pakenham examines would be worth at least a chapter on its own. Many certainly merit a book in their own right.
But their stories aren’t to be found here. Pakenham’s book is a beautiful work that gives hints and glimmers of the breathtaking scope of these specimens. We get a glimpse of their physical forms through Pakenham’s excellent photographs, and we get a brief taste of the legends or histories that have grown up around them in his brief prose. Pakenham admittedly shies away from any extensive botanical explication, though the book is not the worse for it.
Ironically though, reading the work feels like a whirlwind tour of those organisms that most embody place, fixity, and rootedness. Maybe I simply read it too fast (though you’re driven to turn the page to catch sight of the next forest giant). I felt I was racing through a forest when I should have been lingering in a garden.
If you are passionate about trees, this book is worth your time for the images alone. You’ve probably read about some of these specimens before, but you’ve never seen them through the thoughtful and elegant eye of Pakenham’s camera. Their stories aren’t here though. Here are frightening, awe-inspiring, and terribly pleasing glimpses alone.
May 30, 2011
Beautifully illustrated book!! Amazing pictures of enormous and unbelievable trees...it makes me want to travel the world, just to see these trees in person. Breathtaking!!
December 28, 2025
I was watching an old episode of Martha Stewarts cooking show, and this was a book she recommended as a gift for the Christmas season some 20 odd years ago. Thomas Pakenham is quite a fascinating man, and his book was an enjoyable read with lovely supporting imagery. His style of writing is full of character, and reflects a time where people would write with a certain skill that is often missing from modern books. Obviously this book may not appeal to all, I myself being a nature lover, jumped at the chance to learn more about some of our most remarkable trees. I particularly enjoyed the detail, history, and stories behind some of these wonderful creations of nature. In my future travels I hope to pay more attention to some of these trees, particularly during my hikes, as I think I will hold a greater appreciation for them after reading this book. A special book that I will keep in my library well into the future.
June 10, 2020
I love trees, and this made me love them even more. Lovely pictures from all over the world with engaging commentary. However, the author's credibility as a historian is discredited by his repulsive and utterly untrue statements about the religious group historically called the Mormons. He displayed them as merciless bands of marauders, when really, that is never what it was about. If Pakenham is going to publish statements as fact, he should check his sources; after all, when photographing a tree, he goes there in person, seeking to find out the histories of these grand trees. Can he not then find the time to correctly represent a still prominent Christian faith to all his readers?
May 11, 2023
Beautiful photographs and a great way to connect with unique trees from different parts of the world. However, an opportunity was missed by not having more of their life described from either an anthropological or ecological point of view. There was a clear disclaimer that these topics were outside the scope of the book, but nonetheless I personally hope for more of that information. Still an inspiring collection of incredible life!
June 5, 2022
Compared to this book, Meetings with Remarkable Trees feels more personal to Thomas Pakenham, and I feel his passion does not shine through this one as much. I still find it quite interesting and relaxing to read
June 6, 2017
Really great book about trees. It could make you plan your travels just to see them. Great reference to use as you travel.
April 24, 2018
Interesting book with photos of unique and unusual trees, especially large ones.
July 19, 2021
Die Begleittexte zu den Bildern lassen einen die Ehrfurcht des Autors vor den dargestellten Exemplaren spüren.
August 20, 2021
Beautiful photos and interesting text. Very enjoyable.
March 11, 2025
I would have liked to read more about the lives of the trees and their habitats, and a bit less about how he found and photographed them. Still it was a nice introduction to some species new to me.
March 12, 2012
Trees inspire me. The majestic power they possess is overwhelming. I like to think about how long they’ve been on this earth and dream about speaking with them as if they were the Ents of Tolkien’s tales. Not only do they provide us with the very air we breathe, they give us shade and comfort, teach us history and science. I could sit for days in and under branches and leaves absorbing their timeless wisdom.
Remarkable Trees of the World is a wonderful book. It follows a man on his world quest to see the most amazing trees earth has to offer. Usually when I read non-fiction picture books I skim the text and focus on the pictures. The pictures in this book are incredible. Every page turn is a WOW moment. I was pleased as well, to find in this book interesting stories describing the trees and interesting history of each life. This was pure pleasure reading. Now I want to begin my own quest for trees, but I think I’ll just start with Ohio.
Remarkable Trees of the World is a wonderful book. It follows a man on his world quest to see the most amazing trees earth has to offer. Usually when I read non-fiction picture books I skim the text and focus on the pictures. The pictures in this book are incredible. Every page turn is a WOW moment. I was pleased as well, to find in this book interesting stories describing the trees and interesting history of each life. This was pure pleasure reading. Now I want to begin my own quest for trees, but I think I’ll just start with Ohio.
February 22, 2013
I will always remember walking in delight through an old growth hemlock forrest in the Porcupine Mountains, Michigan, down to Lake Superior. Meggan and I were there in 1997 when we were at WWC. It is one of my favorite experiences from a memorable year. Reading these two companion books about remarkable trees of the world reconnected me to my love of large trees and forests in general. I have spent many, many hours exploring the woods near the places I have lived and realize how disconnected I am right now from creation, even living in Alaska. I hope to take my children both to that hemlock forest and to the Redwoods and Sequoias of California. But more importantly, we need to go and walk in the woods, here, right where we are.
August 12, 2012
The text can get a bit pretentious at times, although you should still read it for the histories presented, and there are some typos, such as one bit where the text refers the reader to "page 00," but the photos are of genuinely remarkable and awesome trees. Considering the predations of the logging industry, increasing human population and its need for more space, time, and occasionally violent weather, it's good to have a permanent memorial of these subjects. I really recommend this book (as well as its predecessor, Meetings With Remarkable Trees, which concentrated on trees in the United Kingdom).
March 23, 2013
This is a great book for the tree lover. It makes a beautiful coffee table book and is a great companion to Pakenham's other book, Meetings with Remarkable Trees. In the back of the book, there is a list of the various locations around the world that these trees were found. I am adding the American locations to my travel bucket list. I am especially excited that my very favorite tree in the book, an unbelievable oak called the Angel Tree, is located just a few hours away from me in South Carolina. I will definitely make a trip to see it!
May 3, 2015
A quick, pleasant read, wonderfully illustrated with large, lovely photos. Actually, the writing is largely secondary to the photos, but it does provide some context and a few interesting facts about the trees (e.g. strangler trees are fascinating). The book gives you an appreciation for trees: how long they can live (4000+ years!), how huge and varied they can get (from a tiny bonsai to a 15,000 ton behemoth), and how beautiful they can be (Baobabs are amazing). They really are wondrous life forms.
April 29, 2016
An entertaining look at some of nature's marvels. Pakenham's injection of his humor made the read even more enjoyable. My only criticism, and it's a bit nit-picky, is a couple of common errors about the Sierra Nevada. In one instance, he refers to the Sierras. Sierra is already plural, so there is no need to add the superfluous "s." In one other place, he writes about the Sierra Nevada mountains. As the definition is "snowy mountains", he's essentially saying, "snowy mountains mountains." A redundancy that leaps out at nit-pickers.
December 12, 2008
Due to the fact that I may one day be taking this tour I thought I'd see what I had to look forward too and I'm now excited to see these trees in person esp. the Baobabs and tree shrines. Though after reading the section on "trees in peril" I feel like we should hurry and start now and see them before they are gone. The hardest one to read about are the Totaras, the lost giants that will have no successors, very depressing.
January 28, 2015
This one is just as good as the first book Thomas Pakenham wrote about trees, although this one is full of tragedy. The story about the oldest living tree (over 4,000 years old)in the world (now no longer living because the idiot who measured its age with the standard special drill bit broke said bit in the tree and got permission from the park ranger to CUT THE TREE DOWN to retrieve it)just kills me.
December 25, 2007
This is a beautiful book with illustrations of trees from all over the world. There is one photograph in particular that keeps drawing me back to it - a picture of red sequoias that looks beautiful yet mundane until you notice the very tiny person next to the trunk of one of the trees. And then the entire picture is transformed from a nice picture into a spiritual awakening.
May 11, 2023
I reread this book after visiting several spots where the author took his photos of trees: Joshua Tree NP, Olympic NP, Ho Rainforest, Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs. Now if I could just figure out how to see all the others.
I would rate the book a 4.5. The photographs are first rate but sometimes the tories and descriptions were a bit confusing.
I would rate the book a 4.5. The photographs are first rate but sometimes the tories and descriptions were a bit confusing.
March 28, 2008
A wonderful picture book with accompanying text on truly remarkable trees, such as the Bo Tree of Sri Lanka, reputedly grown from a cutting of the original tree under which Buddha found enlightenment and the ancient Gingko of Japan, planted in 1232. Companion to Meetings with Remarkable Trees.
May 21, 2016
One of my favorite (my favorite?) coffee table books anywhere. If you love trees, and even if you don't so much, I suspect this book will make you smile and wherever you place it emanate the good energy of the remarkable trees of the world.
- Carl Kruse
- Carl Kruse
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews