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In the Company of Trees: Honoring Our Connection to the Sacred Power, Beauty, and Wisdom of Trees
Fascinating facts, trivia, and stories celebrating nature and the magnificent life of trees and their invaluable place in our lives, including beautiful, full-color photographs throughout.When was the last time you spent time outside? The space between your front door and your car doesn’t count. Nature holds incredible power to soothe our spirits, calm our minds, and open us up to creativity, if we can unplug long enough to step away from our screens and embrace it. And while they say you can’t see the forest for the trees, they play perhaps the leading role in our enjoyment of the outdoors. In the Company of Trees helps you rediscover your own connection to the world outside, with over 195 quotes, facts, and stories honoring trees from across the world and in our own back yards alike. Inviting, full-color photos of sun-dappled forests and tree-filled hikes throughout will inspire you to do some forest-bathing of your own and embrace the healing power of nature.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2019
62 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 14, 2020
This book is just wonderful, but I didn't doubt that it would be for one minute. And my Dragonfly bookmark looks beautiful on the front. I'm going to recommend this to my friend, Trish, whom/who loves these kinds of books as well.
I seriously wanted to add pictures of the whole book, but alas, I'm adding a few. I was also going to add some pictures of trees and me in the many hiking pictures of me and dad in the winter of 2019/2020 and from recently. BUT, I might do that at a later date. The one thing the cancer did for me in 2018 was to push me back out into my nature (after I got my energy back) I'm grateful for that; I still have panic and freak out when going normal places, but nature is my calm and peace. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the pictures and some of the info pictures I have added. I've learned more things about trees that I didn't know before. Enjoy...
Okay, I just had to show the goats in trees...because...goats in trees!
I highly recommend this book to all nature lovers!
Mel
BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
I seriously wanted to add pictures of the whole book, but alas, I'm adding a few. I was also going to add some pictures of trees and me in the many hiking pictures of me and dad in the winter of 2019/2020 and from recently. BUT, I might do that at a later date. The one thing the cancer did for me in 2018 was to push me back out into my nature (after I got my energy back) I'm grateful for that; I still have panic and freak out when going normal places, but nature is my calm and peace. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy the pictures and some of the info pictures I have added. I've learned more things about trees that I didn't know before. Enjoy...
Okay, I just had to show the goats in trees...because...goats in trees!
I highly recommend this book to all nature lovers!
Mel
BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
August 14, 2020
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This book had some beautiful pictures of trees and facts with some nice quotes, but it's definitely the epitome of a coffee table book. It's not something that will really stay with you after you're done reading it, it's not a page-turner, and I sadly have already forgotten most of what I've read. I did enjoy learning about trees in different parts of the world and some of the traditions that go along with them, but this book just isn't that memorable. Also, the pictures are very generic and stock picture-like (and when I got to the end, it turns out I was right - the pictures are all just bought from Getty Images). I think I would have liked it a lot more if the 'writer' of this book had taken these pictures herself, had explored these places herself, it would have added a level of authenticity to it and been far more enjoyable and inspirational.
This book had some beautiful pictures of trees and facts with some nice quotes, but it's definitely the epitome of a coffee table book. It's not something that will really stay with you after you're done reading it, it's not a page-turner, and I sadly have already forgotten most of what I've read. I did enjoy learning about trees in different parts of the world and some of the traditions that go along with them, but this book just isn't that memorable. Also, the pictures are very generic and stock picture-like (and when I got to the end, it turns out I was right - the pictures are all just bought from Getty Images). I think I would have liked it a lot more if the 'writer' of this book had taken these pictures herself, had explored these places herself, it would have added a level of authenticity to it and been far more enjoyable and inspirational.
April 23, 2019
In honor of Earth Day - beautiful.
July 5, 2020
I have been savoring this wonderful book a few pages at a time. It is quite beautiful.
February 22, 2023
Within the first 4 paragraphs I'm instantly put off the book the second the author asserts that "many indigenous cultures have long understood the value of living harmoniously with forested areas-".
As Prof. Iain Provan does a great enough job debunking in his book Convenient Myths, this mythical "noble conservationist aboriginal who intentionally lived harmoniously with and stewarded nature" never existed. These ecological stances have been reactionarily adopted in recent history as aboriginal cultures have sought to reclaim their cultural practices from the grasp of colonialism and racism, and as conservation science has generally improved. And in many cases, the vast majority of these cultural practices are only now being considered valuable outside of their cultures specifically because science is proving them valuable from conservation standpoints- perpetuating a subtle but particularly nefarious form of racism that reappears later throughout this book.
In regards to the actual content, the book follows a rather lackluster pattern, alternating between color photography and black and white illustrations, interspersed between small paragraph long expositions about various things relating to trees. Topics of these minor expositions range from limited histories of the conservation of specific trees, folklore and mythology about others, to random bits of science like "Inhale Exhale"- which lauds the "clean fresh air" created by trees' absorption of CO2 (as if that's all that needs to be removed from air to make it "clean"). Sometimes a suitably naturey or tree themed quote is provided to break up the monotony.
In all cases, however, the information provided on any topic is (to put it mildly) pathetic. None of them are longer than a single paragraph blip offering the most minimal passing information possible on any single topic... Other sections have headers which have nothing to do with their contents at all- like the one titled "Aboriginal Water Authority", which talks so briefly about forest watersheds and the like as to be utterly useless --- as opposed to speaking on something seemingly actually relevant... Like literally any of the actual Water Sovereignty projects spearheaded by any number of the world's aboriginal populations in efforts to reclaim heritage ancestral lands ripped away (again) through centuries of racism and colonialism.
In fact, despite indigenous people being mentioned several times throughout the course of this book, they remain faceless among its pages. Certainly, the Berbers are mentioned in one case. A spirit is specified as being Taíno in origin, in another. The Batek get a brief mention alongside "other indigenous Malaysian [groups]"... But in very, very few cases are any of the aboriginal groups mentioned, ever explicitly mentioned by name.
Which aboriginal people, for instance, "also used the fibrous, hollowed-out trunks [or the Quiver tree] for storing food and water"? And which "Indigenous Africans have long valued the fruit" of the Baobab Tree? Which aboriginal Brazillian "rubber tappers continue to fight to defend" rubber Trees and the Amazon rainforest? We don't know in any case, because the author never tells us; once again this subtle form of racism within "natural" works persists, and aboriginal peoples are reduced to the faceless figurehead of natural romanticism, only mentioned only through the hazy lens of the myth of the Noble Savage.
I did appreciate that the photographs appear to be semi-attributed to some extent, however- which is rare in publications that include pictures it seems. But while that's the case for the photographs, no such attributions are ever provided for any of the various "facts" the author states throughout the course of book- whether in the form of footnotes or a bibliography, or even simple parenthetical attribution. This is something which is integral if you're making any sort of scientific or other claims, an action which the author does regularly... And while most of these facts seem accurate at least on a surface level... Many are really only partially so once properly investigated in full; in many cases I found that the factoids were hypersimplified to a point which artificially created inaccuracies due to the sheer level of oversimplification.
This is easily seen in the case of their section on Ogham in particular, which perpetuates the semi-myth that the Ogham staves are assigned tree names. And certainly this is a trueish claim. It's only true, however, of one very small example of the Ogham alphabets. One that happens to be the most popular for a variety of reasons linked largely to the Pan-Celticism myth of the Celtic Twilight, and general Victorian Romanticism (including the Victorian penchant for making shit up)... The reality is that Ogham is a writing system of which there are hundreds of extant variations- including other plant and even animal Oghams, as well as cipher Oghams, and even silent and rudimentary hand-sign Oghams. But such name-letter associations such as those found in the animal and plant Oghams, in nearly all cases that we can tell thus far, are mnemonic devices intended to help scholars memorize the alphabets- and nothing more.
The writing style throughout, I will at least give them credit, is passably decent and the author isn't necessarily bad at writing by any means. In fact, they're rather good at exposition and providing information without seeming too horribly dry- which is a part of what makes this book so infuriatingly disappointing; it had a lot of potential to be good, but ultimately I found the book shallow and incapable of delivering on anything the blurb actually promised (let alone delivering it well).
If you're looking for a mindless coffee table book, then fine. It suits that purpose well enough I guess... But if you want something legitimate, with depth, that delivers on what it promises? I'd recommend trying something else.
As Prof. Iain Provan does a great enough job debunking in his book Convenient Myths, this mythical "noble conservationist aboriginal who intentionally lived harmoniously with and stewarded nature" never existed. These ecological stances have been reactionarily adopted in recent history as aboriginal cultures have sought to reclaim their cultural practices from the grasp of colonialism and racism, and as conservation science has generally improved. And in many cases, the vast majority of these cultural practices are only now being considered valuable outside of their cultures specifically because science is proving them valuable from conservation standpoints- perpetuating a subtle but particularly nefarious form of racism that reappears later throughout this book.
In regards to the actual content, the book follows a rather lackluster pattern, alternating between color photography and black and white illustrations, interspersed between small paragraph long expositions about various things relating to trees. Topics of these minor expositions range from limited histories of the conservation of specific trees, folklore and mythology about others, to random bits of science like "Inhale Exhale"- which lauds the "clean fresh air" created by trees' absorption of CO2 (as if that's all that needs to be removed from air to make it "clean"). Sometimes a suitably naturey or tree themed quote is provided to break up the monotony.
In all cases, however, the information provided on any topic is (to put it mildly) pathetic. None of them are longer than a single paragraph blip offering the most minimal passing information possible on any single topic... Other sections have headers which have nothing to do with their contents at all- like the one titled "Aboriginal Water Authority", which talks so briefly about forest watersheds and the like as to be utterly useless --- as opposed to speaking on something seemingly actually relevant... Like literally any of the actual Water Sovereignty projects spearheaded by any number of the world's aboriginal populations in efforts to reclaim heritage ancestral lands ripped away (again) through centuries of racism and colonialism.
In fact, despite indigenous people being mentioned several times throughout the course of this book, they remain faceless among its pages. Certainly, the Berbers are mentioned in one case. A spirit is specified as being Taíno in origin, in another. The Batek get a brief mention alongside "other indigenous Malaysian [groups]"... But in very, very few cases are any of the aboriginal groups mentioned, ever explicitly mentioned by name.
Which aboriginal people, for instance, "also used the fibrous, hollowed-out trunks [or the Quiver tree] for storing food and water"? And which "Indigenous Africans have long valued the fruit" of the Baobab Tree? Which aboriginal Brazillian "rubber tappers continue to fight to defend" rubber Trees and the Amazon rainforest? We don't know in any case, because the author never tells us; once again this subtle form of racism within "natural" works persists, and aboriginal peoples are reduced to the faceless figurehead of natural romanticism, only mentioned only through the hazy lens of the myth of the Noble Savage.
I did appreciate that the photographs appear to be semi-attributed to some extent, however- which is rare in publications that include pictures it seems. But while that's the case for the photographs, no such attributions are ever provided for any of the various "facts" the author states throughout the course of book- whether in the form of footnotes or a bibliography, or even simple parenthetical attribution. This is something which is integral if you're making any sort of scientific or other claims, an action which the author does regularly... And while most of these facts seem accurate at least on a surface level... Many are really only partially so once properly investigated in full; in many cases I found that the factoids were hypersimplified to a point which artificially created inaccuracies due to the sheer level of oversimplification.
This is easily seen in the case of their section on Ogham in particular, which perpetuates the semi-myth that the Ogham staves are assigned tree names. And certainly this is a trueish claim. It's only true, however, of one very small example of the Ogham alphabets. One that happens to be the most popular for a variety of reasons linked largely to the Pan-Celticism myth of the Celtic Twilight, and general Victorian Romanticism (including the Victorian penchant for making shit up)... The reality is that Ogham is a writing system of which there are hundreds of extant variations- including other plant and even animal Oghams, as well as cipher Oghams, and even silent and rudimentary hand-sign Oghams. But such name-letter associations such as those found in the animal and plant Oghams, in nearly all cases that we can tell thus far, are mnemonic devices intended to help scholars memorize the alphabets- and nothing more.
If you'd like more information on the various Oghams, then I suggest picking up Ogham: The Secret Language of the Druids by Fr. Robert Ellison.
While I generally dislike Druids and don't support the ADF organization with which he's affiliated, and the text is intended for Pagans? If Ogham is a topic that interests you, it's a great starting place; the book is a well sourced overview of historical Ogham use, with a proper bibliography and (largely Primary) sourcing- as well as visual examples of a great number of the known alphabets.
The writing style throughout, I will at least give them credit, is passably decent and the author isn't necessarily bad at writing by any means. In fact, they're rather good at exposition and providing information without seeming too horribly dry- which is a part of what makes this book so infuriatingly disappointing; it had a lot of potential to be good, but ultimately I found the book shallow and incapable of delivering on anything the blurb actually promised (let alone delivering it well).
If you're looking for a mindless coffee table book, then fine. It suits that purpose well enough I guess... But if you want something legitimate, with depth, that delivers on what it promises? I'd recommend trying something else.
November 29, 2019
This is a quick and easy read that made me see and smell the green of trees. 🍃
April 25, 2024
In the Company of Trees is a little volume of photos and reflections on trees, a pleasant mixture of science and cultural writing peppered with arboreal quotes — though not, curiously, the classic “I think that I shall never see / a poem as lovely as a tree”. (That verse is partially appropriated for the title of one section, though.) A piece on the life of the strangler fig tree is followed by a history of Christmas trees, for instance, and connected by a bit of German verse hailing the trueness of Tannenbäume. The photos are often gorgeous, and despite having read full-length monographs on trees and forests, I still learned a few things: I’d never heard of the Wollemi evergreen, for instance, an ancient species considered a living fossil and now being actively propagated, nor of fig stranglers. The trees that feature here hail from every part of the globe, including Antarctica, which was once subtropical. This is a coffee-table kind of book, attractive and easy to dip in and out of. Those who want a hardier read would most enjoy Peter Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees, one of my favorite science books ever.
September 11, 2022
This gorgeous book introduces a few hundred of Earth's thousands of types of trees. Enchanting combination of fascinating facts, beautiful photos, poetry, and quotes kept me turning the pages in one go, then returning to savor its inspiration..
A great coffee table book, and gift to give to a school or nursing home. The Kindle version is great for instant web searches of places, people, and customs the author introduced.
A great coffee table book, and gift to give to a school or nursing home. The Kindle version is great for instant web searches of places, people, and customs the author introduced.
December 16, 2020
This is not a story in the strictest sense. Not a book you read like a novel. More like a coffee table book. But it is a story of the most important species on our planet- Trees. It is full of good information, powerful quotes and gorgeous photography. Also a bit of tree medicine, folkore and myth. A wonderful gift of beauty.
December 10, 2020
The best I can say is that the images are exceptional, but I expected a bit more of a story about each of them.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews