Around the World in 80 Trees

Product Information

Perfect for fans of Peter Wohlleben's The Hidden Life of Trees , this new book will certainly whet the appetite of any tree lover to take an around-the-world trip, or simply visit your local botanic garden. The perfect travel guide for nature enthusiasts.

Everything else I was reading had to be put on hold until I had finished this, though I could have dipped in and out of it as the book is written in episode like chapters following the author around the world. Each chapter describes a different tree and has such brilliant illustrations by Lucille Clerc. A colleague of mine, in the Dendrology (the study of wooded plants) Department, knowing that I live in the middle of a nature preserve and my inclination to wander through nature recommended this book. I am glad he did. There are many trees I have loved reading about in this book – some were completely new to me, but many with a special place in my heart: the sacred banyans and peepuls of India, rubber from passing so many rubber plantations in my childhood as we drove to visit my grandmother in Malaysia, breadfruit from seeing it everywhere in Samoa, the Wollemi pine from a documentary I watched a few years ago, durian which I grew up eating, paper mulberry from having seen the making of beautiful tapa and tapa products in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

Around the World in 80 Plants

When Jon Drori first told me that he was going to write a about trees, I thought that he had set himself a Herculean challenge to come up with something novel, given the plethora of material that already exists. Around the World in 80 Trees is evidence of Jon's talent and ingenuity and my underappreciation of his vision and creativity: the book is a masterpiece. And it's not only a book about trees, it's a book about how trees have shaped our world, which is beautifully illustrated and succinctly crafted. [...]" The success of 80 Trees has been the most wonderful surprise. Now available in many languages, the book contains 80 biographies of extraordinary tree species, illustrated by the fabulous Lucille Clerc. For me, 2020 was a rekindling of a love for nature - not that it ever went away - but that curiosity to learn more, to explore and to understand was reignited last year, and this book was another lovely addition to that journey. This is the best love letter to trees I have ever read. Had I written it myself, I would die happy." My parents gave me a lifelong interest in the science and beauty of plants and this is the result – a labour of love (or possibly just a labour for my lovely publisher Laurence King and wonderful illustrator, French artist Lucille Clerc).

Nature writing at its best, skilfully weaving science with fascinating folklore and the sheer wonder of trees." Around the World in 80 Trees is available worldwide in many languages and has been widely reviewed. Drori's curiosity about the plant world is infectious. He wears his scientific knowledge lightly and writes with passion and wry humour, whether about intoxicants such as absinthe, iboga and cannabis; flavourings like misunderstood vanilla and the legendary silphium of Roman cuisine; or the imaginative and unflagging search for aphrodisiacs. Take for example the Leyland Cypress. It is of the Cypress x leylandii classification. It is a uniquely English tree. Not only do you learn that it is resistant to salt spray and grows up to 3 feet per year. You will also find that, in England, where the height of man-made fences is 6.5 feet many English prefer to plant these trees instead which can grow up to 115 feet.

Each of these strange and true tales – populated by self–mummifying monks, tree-climbing goats and ever–so–slightly radioactive nuts – is illustrated by Lucille Clerc, taking the reader on a journey that is as informative as it is beautiful. The book combines history, science and a wealth of quirky detail – there should be surprises for everyone. Around the World in 80 Trees takes us on an enjoyable whirlwind adventure through individual species of trees as found in their native habitats. From the London Plane in England, we travel through Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, Asia, and Oceania to the Americas and Caribbean, meeting arboreal majesties such as the Alder, Cedar of Lebanon, Frankincense, Banyan, Yoshino Cherry, Upas, Kauri, Blue Jacaranda, Lignum Vitae, Coastal Redwood, Tree of Heaven, and more.

Just look how they can warn one another in case of danger either by producing scent molecules (yeah, sorry, but I have to break it to you that that wonderful smell after mowing the lawn is actually a cry for help and warning to others) or by firing signals through the root network! This gorgeous illustrated book about trees is a wonderful addition to any bookshelf (physical or virtual) and it is great for adults and kids alike. Nordic spruce grows so slowly its rings are tiny, giving the wood great strength while remaining light. That is why they are used in violins, cellos and basses (notably Stradivarius). Their solidity produces the best vibrations, aka sound. The wood is so dense it takes 10-50 years for the wood to dry. The longer you can wait, the better the sound will be.I'm aware that some people will say that is anthropomorphization but is it? Just because we don't understand plants fully yet? I remember times when arrogant humans claimed animals couldn't feel like we do or when vegetarians assured everyone else that eating fish is alright since they aren't "real" animals much like vegans still claim that eating insects is alright for the same reason. *snorts* In a confined space the smell of the durian fruit can be overwhelming, and signs telling people not to bring durians into hotels or aircraft are common in Malaysia and Singapore. The English writer Anthony Burgess likened the taste to “eating sweet raspberry blancmange in the lavatory”, and American chef Anthony Bourdain said “Your breath will smell as if you’d been French-kissing your dead grandmother.” Each of these strange and true tales – populated by self-mummifying monks, tree-climbing goats and ever-so-slightly radioactive nuts – is illustrated by Lucille Clerc, taking the reader on a journey that is as informative as it is beautiful. The book combines history, science and a wealth of quirky detail - there should be surprises for everyone. I have loved trees all my life. It's fascinating to learn how, across the world, they have inspired people in much the same way, and to understand the key role they play, not just in our lives, but life as a whole." Reads like a love song to the natural world, brimming with ancient anecdotes contained within the earth"

Trees are one of humanity's most constant and most varied companions. From India's sacred banyan tree to the fragrant cedar of Lebanon, they offer us sanctuary and inspiration—not to mention the raw materials for everything from aspirin to maple syrup. As anyone who has been in love knows, we may all be special, but for each of us there is a special kind of special. Around The World in 80 Trees offers that special kind of special. It can be felt in the love the author, Jonathan Drori, has for his subject and, for those who share his affection for trees, a special kind of special between the reader and fruits of Drori's droll writing.Jonathan Drori is a Trustee of The Woodland Trust and The Eden Project, an Ambassador for the WWF and was for nine years a Trustee of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He is a Fellow of the Linnean Society and the Zoological Society of London, and a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He was made CBE in 2006. Around the World in 80 Plants is available now in English, Italian, German and Spanish. Other languages are coming soon. Een van mijn vroegste herinneringen betreft een enorme libanonceder vlak bij ons huis. Op een winterochtend ontdekten we dat hij dood was, zijn stam en takken lagen verspreid en werden in stukken gezaagd. Dat was de eerste keer dat ik mijn vader zag huilen. Ik dacht aan het mooie gevaarte van honderden jaren oud waarvan ik had gedacht dat hij onoverwinnelijke was, maar dat was hij niet, en aan mijn vader, van wie ik had gedacht dat hij altijd alles onder controle had, maar dat had hij niet. Mijn moeder zei dat er een hele wereld in die boom had gezeten. Ik weet nog dat ik daar diep over nadacht.' Trees are one of humanity's most constant yet most varied companions. From India's sacred banyan tree to the fragrant cedar of Lebanon, they offer us sanctuary and inspiration—not to mention the raw materials for everything from aspirin and silk to space shuttles and telephone lines. As I researched the book, using obscure historical sources and the most up-to-date academic papers, I discovered wonderful and frankly, bizarre new things about plants which seemed so familiar, like the tomato, and the humble dandelion, which is pretty much regarded as a weed here in England. And I had goosebump moments investigating plants that I’ve always found creepy, such as the eerie mandrake and Spanish ‘moss’ of Louisiana.