Colin Tudge really likes trees. I mean, he really really likes trees. Him and trees are so close sometimes you think he is a tree. I did enjoy this book in the sections that were more general, though there was something of a tendency to go on and to go off on wild tangents, which was a little annoying. The foundation of it, though, was solid. My problem with this book is, frankly, information overload. The middle section, an exploration of every tree that has ever lived was, well, a lot to take in. Frankly, I skipped most of it. It's more a dip in and out section then a reading cover to cover section, though the surrounding sections are much better suited to cover to cover reading.

Basically, if you want a book that tells you everything ever about trees buy this book, but be aware that it will tell you EVERYTHING EVER about trees so you might be there for a while. ( )

The Tree is a wonderful, though at times tedious, book covering all the different trees of the world and why they are. I loved the first, third, and fourth parts of the book that described what trees are, where they live, and how humans live with trees. The second part of the book was a march through the phylogeny of trees. While much of this part was fascinating, there are some really surprising combinations of plants in the families, it was a bit overwhelming.

Overall I would recommend this book to anyone looking to gain an appreciation of trees and how they serve us on a daily basis. After reading this I wanted to go out and turn my yard into a forest. ( )

Well, I think I read most of this book in a non-sequential sort of way, lying in bed, getting ready to fall asleep. I only wish there had been better pictures of the famous named trees. Or even pictures that would have helped me identify these trees if I ever saw them.

Colin Tudge knows a lot about trees. In fact I don't know if I have ever come across an author who seems to know quite this much about their subject.

It is an amazing tale, starting with the not nearly as apparent as you might imagine question of "what is a tree?" it proceeds to take us through their evolutionary history, genetic idiosyncrasies, and then family structure...what I took away from this is the fact that when we see trees we may actually be seeing living things with far less in common than we imagine - and oak is more closely related to a marrow than it is to a pine tree. You might have known that. I certainly didn't.

The only weakness in this book is in the account of the various tree families - the authors knowledge is encyclopaedic (literally) and that is how these chapters read, as he describes the various tree families and some of their most interesting members. Fascinating and fact packed but not an easy read, and I question how many of those facts I will actually remember. If you do read the book and this section gets you down, skip it, for the final sections on trees and their lifestyles (reproduction, seeds, fruits) and interaction with humans and climate are fascinating and have more in the way of narrative structure. ( )

If you're not a botanist by nature the science can be overwhelming but often very lightly written guide to some of the most beautiful and mysterious inhabitants of the planet ( )