How to Read a Tree: Clues and Patterns from Bark to Leaves

by Tristan Gooley

From NYT–bestselling author Tristan Gooley, an eye-opening adventure into the secret language of trees, unveiling clues hidden in branches, roots, leaves, and more In his extraordinary books about the overlooked layers of the natural world—including The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs and The Natural Navigator—Tristan Gooley has helped readers reconnect with nature by searching for secrets in stars, clouds, water, and more. Now, he turns his attention to perhaps nature’s most beloved feature: the stately, majestic tree.

Every single tree tells us an epic story if we know how to read it. This book uncovers the marvelous wonders of branches, trunks, canopies, bark, buds, flowers, stumps, and more. A pale line down the center of a leaf indicates water is nearby. A touch of reddish or purple bark signals new growth. Low-growing, young branches reveal a tree is struggling to survive. Tapping into this silent language of trees sharpens our understanding of the environment—to read a tree is to paint a unique portrait of the surrounding land, soil, weather, animals, people, and even time. You’ll never see a tree the same way again.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Environment, Biology, Ecology, Plants

312 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2023

Reviews

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago I read the Natural Navigator by Tristan Gooley and over the years this has been a point of reference before and after hiking and walking - providing me with invaluable knowledge and guidance.

This latest book is as superb and as I read it I found myself wanting to go outside and explore the information about trees I was acquiring. Tristan has produced an incredibly detailed and informative book about trees - yes, we admire and notice them but this book will add further depth and many dimensions to your appreciation of them … so much so I was making notes as I read the book to take with me when walking.

Living a short distance from the South Downs many featured landmarks were familiar to me and this book will help me view them and all other locations in a new light.

With the impact of climate change becoming more and more obvious and it’s impact affecting all ,it feels fundamental that all young people - no all people - should have access to a book such as this and realise the fragility of nature and how these majestic beauties can tell us so much about the world around them. (Trees and people)

This is a truly extensive and wonderful book ( a labour of love I’m sure) and one that you will need to return to time and time again . Highly recommended

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Read a Tree by Tristan Gooley is an astonishing book about how to truly see trees and value them for their unique characteristics. As a nature fiend it became invaluable to me on the first page. This is the most practical, accessible and fascinating book I have ever read on the subject, so many questions answered and addresses questions I never knew I had! As Gooley says, once you know where and how to look, you cannot unsee the hundreds of clues they yield. Not only do we learn from what we see but what we don't.

I live in a stunning varied forest and am happily putting my newly-acquired tree reading skills to beautiful use. Amongst the information I learned so much stands out such as pioneer and climax trees, the distance sea air affects trees (I've wondered this for ages!), how different tree shapes reveal the environment, primary and secondary growth, expending of energy, Parasol Effect, the influence of sunlight, defender branches, the Southern Eye, "reaction wood", windthrow vs. windsnap (I had no idea!), "bulge" effect, root systems and tree family identification. Nature is incredible and has so much to teach us. We will never know it all which is a lovely thought.

If you are even remotely interested in learning more about trees and how they shape our world, this book is absolutely unmissable. The sheer amount of information contained is staggering. The author passionately shares his knowledge in his wonderfully easy conversational tone full of heart and depth. Illustrations are excellent help, too.

My sincere thank you to The Experiment and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this memorable book. It is truly life changing and enriching. I cannot begin to convey my gratitude for the joy it is bringing to my life!

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting book about how to look at trees and reading what it means , learnt a few new things

[Laurie Sefton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first truly useful book about trees and, more importantly, the "why" of trees for the layperson. For example, I am looking out at a forest full of Cedar, Pine, and Fir right now. Gooley presents to the reader how to tell which is which and why these trees are where they are, why they aren't elsewhere, and how they grow and reproduce. Gooley would look through this stand of trees and show the reader that a bit over, there's a stand of Maple and Alder trees, and the reason they are there--a small creek runs through the land, and these trees will thrive nearer to a source of water.

We must have highly readable books like "How to Read a Tree," I would recommend this to anyone interested in trees and forest ecology, especially to those who might have been virtually chased away earlier by works expecting the reader to know "deciduous climax forest" when an explanation of "these are the trees in an old forest that lose their leaves every year."

Gooley keeps a high level of interest throughout the book. This is a book I would give to anyone who has an interest in the world around us.

Very Highly Recommended: Five Stars

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. I've taken up really looking at trees

[Helen K · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some interesting observations in this book and I have made a list of notes of things to look out for when next walking. It is a fascinating subject and I wish the book was a better read.

The reason for two stars is because it feels rather unedited to me, It could have easily been a hundred pages shorter. Between each nugget of interesting observations are dull stories about meeting publishers, going to interviews etc., long-winded and unimaginative analogies and memory aids that do little more than reword a point he has already made. The last couple chapters have the feel of 'what else can i say before the exam ends' feel.

[soph · Rating 3 out of 5]

listen, it’s a book about trees. interesting if you’re interested… but essentially just does what it says on the tin.

[Rainbow Goth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I gained a wealth of knowledge that I'm excited to apply on my next nature walk. After reading, I found myself examining the trees in my own garden, eagerly trying to identify some of the features and characteristics the author meticulously described throughout the chapters.

The author showcases a deep expertise in the subject matter, yet manages to present the information in a way that feels engaging and accessible. The inclusion of witty anecdotes adds a delightful layer of humour, making it not only informative but also a truly enjoyable read from start to finish.

I experienced this as an audiobook, which was a wonderful choice since it allowed me to absorb the content while I explored my surroundings. However, I plan to purchase a physical copy as well so that I can flip back and forth through the pages and revisiting key points will surely enhance my learning experience even further.

[Nathan Ridings · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those wanting to learn a lot about trees and how to read them in their environment this is an excellent book. While this book is not written in an academic format, I feel like you will learn a lot about the general nature of trees with this book. It is likely something that academics in the field would also enjoy as well. Far from being a book that will monotonously fill you with tree facts, this book will take you on a journey that you can immediately start putting into practice in your everyday life and environment. You may find that you feel like you understand trees much better after this read even if you still can’t academically identify all the species that you’re surrounded by. I will definitely be reading the other books by this author that relate to natural land navigation as the things you will learn span far beyond wilderness navigation.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5* dit was zo'n verrassend leuk boek om te lezen! Het enthousiasme van de auteur spat van de pagina's af. Heb een hoop geleerd. Ben inmiddels helaas ook een hoop alweer vergeten, maar zie dat als een goede reden om het boek een keer te kopen (had hem nu van de bieb) en me er vaker in te verdiepen. Ga zijn andere boeken ook zeker lezen!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is both informative and entertaining. Here is a book which I shall buy - I have a library copy just now - because I can see myself reading and re-reading sections of it to build on what I've learnt. Mainly, Gooley's intent on developing the reader's powers of observation. A little knowledge and a lot of looking will reveal all kinds of secrets to the intelligent and well-informed observer. I'm now better placed to things about the woodland, the stands of trees, the single trees in my life. A walk through the woods will become a trip of discovery with Gooley's observations at my disposal.

[Nick Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I walk in the woods most days, and know very little about the trees I see. I expected this to be a guide to species recognition, but despite an appendix with some general guidelines for identifying tree families, this book is actually about something else entirely. What it teaches is how to observe the life stories of trees, to see how their roots are stronger on one side, to see the scars where they have self-pruned branches, and how they have tried to heal themselves after suffering injury or infection.

If I can manage to remember even a fraction of the lessons from this book, my daily walks will be vastly enhanced.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book! I am a big fan of science and nature books and this one did not disappoint! The tone of the book is casual (this would be a great book to listen to on a hike), and yet it is full of details about every part of the tree. I came away with new knowledge, and can’t wait to put it to use in nature. There is even a detailed appendix at the end to help with specific tree identification. I loved this book from start to finish, and will for sure be gifting it to many friends when it comes out.

[Scott Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I’ve yet to read a book by Tristan Gooley that I didn’t like, and How to Read a Tree was no exception! Packed with broad observations and tiny details that help to tell the life story of individual trees and forests alike, the book is useful to those who work in the forestry industry as well as laypeople who want to get a deeper sense of nature.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty much just straight facts about trees, but that’s what I was looking for!

[Peter Herrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skimmed it, looked like there were some interesting facts in there but I just couldn’t find any without spacing out and my mind wandering.

[Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently drove to and from Düsseldorf in Germany, from London, with my Dad (was an 8+ hour drive). We don’t really listen to music in the car so most of the time we stare out the window. I’ve done this drive many times before but this time I noticed every single change. The Lombardy poplars announcing every little Dutch town. The 20km influence of sea salt filled air affecting the trees when driving down the coast near Calais. The lack of medium sized trees when looking at all the broadleaf tree lines in Belgium. This book will stay with me for a long time. I keep re-reading sections like I’ve got an exam on it next week but I just have a strong urge to memorise everything in this book.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, wonderful book. I love the amazing insights and information uncovered by this author, and the loving manner in which he shares it. He obviously loves trees, but not in a super-serious, stern scientific way, nor a woo-woo way, and his chapters read like a casual conversation between friends. One of the best nature books I have read in years.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book for anyone with the slightest interest in trees. Packed full of eye opening facts and insights. One word of advice though - it’s a book far better read out among trees and in woods where you can put your new found knowledge into immediate effect, than sat indoors.

[Helen Kellerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treemendous!!

[Nancy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another way to appreciate nature

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heel leerzaam en ook nog eens lekker vlot geschreven, wat wil je nog meer? Nou, naar buiten en ontdekken!

[Aukje · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heel tof om zoveel meer te leren over bomen! Dit boek laat je echt met andere ogen kijken naar de wereld om je heen. Wat meer beeld erbij zou een goede toevoeging zijn geweest.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always trying to expand my knowledge, especially regarding the world directly around me. And being someone who is lucky enough to live in the English countryside, I'm never more than five minutes away from a forest or woodland. It is honestly one of my favorite places to be and just walk aimlessly around. I do however not really know much about all the things I see there other than name the basics tree, deer bluebells, and so on. So when I heard about How To Read A Tree I was curious to see if it could help me learn about the trees I see all around me. I must admit I'd not heard of this author before seeing this book. So having done a quick bit of googling it became clear that he clearly knows his stuff so you got to figure that it gave me the best possible chance at being able to learn a bit more.

The world of trees is probably way bigger than we all give it credit for. They have been around longer than almost anything else on the planet. And whilst at first glance there doesn't seem to be a great deal of variation, that could not be future from the truth. Gooley sets out to show us the basics of what might seem like a random assortment of trees when in actuality it has a very strong purpose and an ordered structure that goes way beyond what we can see. The author does this by breaking down each chapter to tackle a different aspect of the forests. But rather than simply giving us set boundaries for each topic he wraps them up within anecdotes. It's one of those things that I think all the best teachers do. They manage to make you learn by coming at it a little sideways and before you realize it you're just having a fun time. It also means that whilst you are not only learning about trees you also start to get a better idea of the author himself.

I was impressed by just how much Gooley managed to cram into the pages of this book. I wasn't expecting to be able to learn everything there is to know about trees. But what he has done here is give us a good foundation to build upon. We learn about how and why trees grow the way they do and also how to tell an old forest from a new one. This is all done in his unique style that makes it very accessible for anyone to engage with the text. It is in my opinion the mark of a great author and I feel like I learnt so much from the time I spent within it. Now I would love to say that having read this book I will never get lost in a forest again. But to be fair I can't promise this and I feel like I'm going to have to go through this book again before that happens. But it is also one of those books that I would happily read it again to be able to get it all in such was the experience I had with it.

For me, this is a book that I will happily shove this book into anyone's hands that is looking for something to read. And I was left feeling very impressed by Gooly and the work he produces. It is a work that is sure to both entertain you and allow you to learn a great deal.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating topic and I did learn a lot. I like how the author’s biggest take home message is just to observe trees & not stress too much, in the moment, about the facts. The diagrams were also really helpful, especially as the photo pages were oddly positioned.
But the author adds a lot of anecdotes, not all are germane to the point, some are barely concealed showing off & at least one didn’t actually even have an ending. I got bored of this & found myself zoning out. Kind of like how Goodreads keeps crashing while I write this review.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

24.06.2024

Suuuper interesting read, and really relaxing to listen to on audio, too! I liked how the book was broken up into small sections that you can easily dip in and out of.

This is essentially a love letter to trees and nature. How they interact with their environment, how they grow, why they grow in certain ways. Its not too academic or dense, but I felt like I learned so much!

Can't wait to look out for all the things he mentioned on walks over the next few months!

[Alastair Flynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is annoying to read. The facts in it aren't too bad, but the amount of pointless prose is infuriating. Take for example this introduction to a section on branches:

"When we look at a cat, a dog, a horse, a frog, a spider, or any other animal we see the number of legs we expect (unless it is a most unfortunate creature). The majority of animals are genetically predistined to have a fixed number of legs. This is not true for tree branches: a different process is at work. This is why many misunderstand the branches they see."

What a load of old bumfluff. Aside from the vast majority of the pragraph being complete drivel, the point it makes isn't even true. Do any people really expect a tree to have a fixed number of branches?

The book is full of guff like this between the interesting facts. The facts are the only reason it's earned two stars, not one.

Surely there is a better book about trees out there. If anyone knows of one, please let me know.

[Dan Driver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sitting on the shelf at Waterstones in a deal which screamed at me: "hey 'yew' like trees don't you?". I couldn't say no as it seemed like a 'poplar' choice, for if I didn't leave without it all the knowledge I will have acquired from it will be nothing but 'ash'. I said 'oak'ay and bought it.

I'm very glad. Gooley writes with a real passion that 'branches' out. I found it hard to 'leaf' this book alone.

Hands down one of the best books I've read this year, another smashing piece of writing from Gooley.

Read. This. Book.

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, sometimes really obvious. Things we learned in grade school obvious, but written in a way where you’re like oh, that fact doesn’t stop there…
In other words, he managed to reinstill meaning into the simple things I thought I already knew.
Great book, hopefully will prove itself very useful on future hikes

[Ann Dewar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a great lover of non-fiction but I am a great lover of trees which I find calming, beautiful and a source of great joy.

This book is really of more use to the regular hiker and natural navigator but there is still plenty that will interest ‘civilians’ and allow you to bore the pants off anyone you go for a walk with! 😉

Authoritative and insightful it will inspire you to look more closely at the natural world that surrounds you.