What To Read

Anyone who has seen the movie Avatar can’t shake that image of talking trees. But do trees actually communicate with each other? The social life of trees in literature is just one of the intriguing themes in this collection of sublime books about trees, along with fascinating tidbits of scientific research and tributes to their spiritual significance over the ages. Our round-up includes a botanical masterwork that is one of Oprah’s Favorite Things, the ultimate reference guide to trees, a mind-blowing memoir from a forest ecologist, a few dazzling novels and a poetry book to keep handy by the hammock. Here are our picks for the 15 best books about trees.

1. Twelve Trees: The Deep Roots of Our Future by Daniel Lewis

In Twelve Trees, acclaimed curator and historian Daniel Lewis takes us on a captivating global expedition to explore the incredible biology and indispensable role of a dozen remarkable tree species. From the high-desert landscapes of the American West to the lush jungles of Peru, Lewis guides us on a sweeping journey to the frontlines of scientific research, where pioneering ethnobotanists, indigenous communities, and dedicated collectives are working urgently to understand and protect our imperiled arboreal wonders.

By unveiling the hidden secrets of these magnificent plants, Lewis offers us a riveting new perspective on the past, present, and future of our planet – and a vital roadmap for safeguarding our forests, and our shared destiny, for generations to come.

2. Looking at Trees: New Photography of Trees, Forests and Woodlands by Sophie Howarth

In our fast-paced, ever-changing world, it's easy to overlook the natural wonders that surround us every day. But this stunning collection of contemporary tree photography is here to change that. Looking at Trees invites you to slow down, observe, and truly connect with the arboreal marvels that line our streets, fill our parks, and dot our landscapes.

Whether you're a nature lover, a photography enthusiast, or simply someone seeking to reconnect with the natural world, this book is a must-have for your collection.

3. The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

For any reader wanting to fully embrace the wonder and magic of trees, the first place to start is a woodland walk through the pages of OG forester guru Peter Wohlleben’s books. The Hidden Life of Trees, his 16th book, was a break-out bestseller which catapulted him to fame in 2015 in his native Germany and globally. The book combines his profound wonderment and personal observations about trees with scientific findings. For example, he explains how trees communicate with each other and how they scream when they are thirsty. While some scientists are skeptical about the veracity of Wohlleben’s claims and the way he humanizes trees, he maintains a fervent following of readers who find his passion for trees contagious. 

4. The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us If We Let Them by Peter Wohlleben

Wohlleben also has a new book coming out, which may spur new debate. The main thesis of his book, The Power of Trees: How Ancient Forests Can Save Us If We Let Them, is that forests are naturally equipped to face environmental challenges, so we should be wary of tree planting schemas and let forests heal themselves naturally as a salve for climate damage. 

5. Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard

So, do trees talk to each other or not? Forest ecologist Suzanne Simard is most well-known for identifying the existence of “mother trees” that act as the dominant nurturing force among underground networks of tree roots. But she’s also known for her work exploring below-ground fungal networks that connect trees and facilitate underground inter-tree communication. (Her TED talk on the topic has been viewed nearly 5.5 million times.) This memoir, which walks through the fascinating discoveries in her research career, is ultimately a story about her courage and journey as a scientist.  

A review in The Guardian praised Simard's ability to unpack scientific concepts in a personal and spiritual narrative:

“Finding the Mother Tree is the kind of story we need to be telling, a new way of communicating that the world desperately needs to hear… This book has, at its centre, a simple tale of a woman who follows her intuition, views compassion as a strength, and dares to see the world differently. It is also a reminder to listen to our wilder selves, and to remember, with humility, how little we know of the complexities of the natural world.”

6. The Language of Trees: A Rewilding of Literature and Landscape by Katie Holten

One of the most exquisite books inspired by trees in recent memory is the newish anthology of writings and accompanying illustrations by artist and activist Katie Holten. The collection, organized in alphabetical order, is like getting lost in an enchanted forest of stories about trees, from the death of a 3,500 year-old cypress tree to tree clocks in Mongolia. 

Tobias Carroll wrote in Inside Hook:

"You don’t often find Robert Macfarlane, Radiohead and Zadie Smith all in the same place. But all three… contributed to the new anthology The Language of Trees. Add evocative artwork from Katie Holden and an introduction by… essayist Ross Gay and you have a compelling whole." 

This is one of our favorite books about trees and it's now available in paperback!

The hardcover is a beautiful gift for any tree lover.

7. Trees: An Anthology of Writings and Paintings by Hermann Hesse

Another book to treasure as an objet d'art, this posthumously published collection from Nobel Prize-winning author Hermann Hesse is to be experienced as much as read. Hesse (Steppenwolf, Siddartha), who was born in the Black Forest of Germany, appreciated trees as a profound symbol of transcendence and rebirth. Following the order of the Earth’s seasons, the collection includes 31 watercolor illustrations interspersed with his essays and poems curated by the world’s foremost Hesse scholar Volker Michels. 

Cultural curator extraordinaire Maria Popova called it “a slender gem of a book” that is “a cover-to-cover delight.”

8. How to Read a Tree: Clues and Patterns from Bark to Leaves by Tristan Gooley

The nickname for British nature writer Tristan Gooley is “the natural navigator,” based on his bestselling book that shows us how to find our way by following the signs in nature without a GPS or compass or even map. His forthcoming book (out May 1) delves into the overlooked clues to be found specifically in trees. Gooley shares hundreds of secrets and intriguing facts about trees; for example, did you know that a pale line down the center of a leaf indicates that water is nearby? This book indeed may be the closest you can come to “reading” a tree.

9. The Sibley Guide to Trees by David Allen Sibley

Any birdwatcher, whether novice or expert, has reverence for the name Sibley, the now definitive illustrated guide created by painter and ornithologist David Allen Sibley. Lesser known, his guide to trees (North America only) is an accessible reference guide featuring more than 4,000 detailed paintings of 600+ tree specimens. Sibley’s essays on taxonomy, cultivation and conservation make this a must-have resource for any treelover or budding naturalist. Not only is it a pleasure to browse, but that Sibley app isn’t going to load when you’re deep on a hike without wi-fi.

10. Architecture of Trees by Cesare Leonardi

Okay, warning: This is a splurge. But there’s a reason it was one of Oprah’s “favorite things” in 2019. A kind of holy book for tree lovers, this coffee table book is the result of more than 20 years of dedicated study by landscape architects Cesare Leonardi and Franca Stagi represented by quill-pen drawings that reflect true-to-scale trees in various states of change throughout different seasons and times of day.

11. The Overstory by Richard Powers

Don’t forget to look up. The “overstory” is the term that ecologists use to describe the canopy of treetops. We’re often so focused on tackling what’s right in front of us in our manmade world that we don’t take the time to look up to see that trees provide a common roof over us, which is one subtext of this Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece by Richard Powers. The book weaves together various intertwined storylines of characters (some based on real people, including an author on this list) who develop a quest throughout the book to protect our trees, which is in essence, protecting our humanity as well.

In addition to critical acclaim, the book counts many celebrities as fans including Bill Gates. Actor Hugh Jackman described it beautifully:

“It works on you in the way nature does. It’s patient, and it’s in no rush. It’s slow and it’s steady and it’s true.”

12. Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt

While not about trees exclusively, this book by a naturalist explores the concept of “rootedness” as a way for humans to manage our interconnected relationship with nature. She shares her personal stories of intense communion with nature and suggests ways for us to make more conscious connections with trees and wildlife in the everyday.

In a podcast interview with Ezra Klein of The New York Times, Richard Powers recommended a few books, and this was one of them:

“Rooted is a personal series of short meditations, very intimate. But her lyricism is in the service of the kinds of science and the new sciences of interdependence, biological interdependence, that we’ve been talking about today." 

13. The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak

Already read The Overstory but looking for a solid novel? Imagine a taverna tucked into the wild beauty of Cypress with a fig tree growing right through the roof. That tree—and its spiritual heir a generation later—is a totem to capture the magic of love as it persists through war and destruction. In Elif Shafak’s novel, a finalist for the Women’s Prize for Fiction last year, trees are proven to share a lot in common with families: they thrive in good conditions, endure trauma and inevitably go through cycles of life and death. Reese Witherspoon, who selected the book for her book club, tweeted:

“From the captivating prose and magnetic writing, to the stunning imagery, everything about #TheIslandOfMissingTrees by @Elif_Safak is incredibly enchanting.”

14. Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson

Another recent novel, this one from a debut author named Ash Davidson, takes place in a tight-knit California community that lives and dies on timber. While the storyline is a family saga with beautifully drawn characters, the vulnerable ancient redwoods are a kind of interwoven tapestry to their lives.

After reading it, Stephen King said it was “probably the best novel I’ll read this year,” and it was named a Best Book of 2021 by Newsweek, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. In his review for The New York Times Book Review, book editor John McMurtrie called it a glorious book:

“It’s about human nature. It’s about our relationships to our loved ones and our communities, it’s about morality and greed, it’s about our understanding of and respect for the natural world.”

15. Poems about Trees by Harry Thomas

A reading list for trees wouldn’t be complete without some poetry, but trees figure so prominently in poetry that it’s hard to select one book or poet. We recommend keeping this anthology handy by your hammock as a source for dipping into the poetic tribute of some of our greatest poets including A. E. Housman, Marianne Moore, Czeslaw Milosz, W.S. Merwin, and of course Wordsworth, Whitman and Throreau.