Why are no two trees alike? Trees are eager to tell us many things. If we listen to them, they will tell us about the earth, the water, the people, the animals, the weather and the passage of time. And they will also tell us about their lives, the good and the bad. Trees tell a story, but only to those who know how to read it. In How to Read a Tree, we will discover the messages that a tree hides in plain sight: in its branches and leaves; in its bark, buds and flowers; even in its stump. From simple principles, we will understand the shapes and patterns we find in trees, and learn their meaning. We will learn, in short, unusual skills that we can apply every time we pass a tree, whether in the heart of a large metropolis or in the wildest of landscapes. After two decades instructing people in the art of reading nature, and with several best sellers behind him, Tristan Gooley knows exactly how to spot what phenomena to look for, and there is no one like him to guide us on this fascinating journey of discovery.