The Genius of Trees

An exceptional book. Up to date scientifically, beautifully clear for all of us, it changes our entire view of trees while carrying us to other worlds and times. Enchantingly written, it has personal touches which unite science, travel and fine literature and lead us by the hand through woods we never understood before

Robin Lane Fox, historian and gardening correspondent for the Financial Times

A compelling journey of a book, full of wonder and revelation. Highly recommended

Sue Stuart-Smith, author of the Sunday Times bestselling The Well Gardened Mind

If I was dazzled by nature and in awe of trees before I read this book, I now know how much we are indebted to them for the way they have shepherded life on earth for millions of years

Kirsty Wark, television presenter and journalist

Fascinating and evocative, an intimate ride into the magical world of trees. This book contains everything you ever wanted to know - and so much you never knew you wanted to know - about these incredible organisms

Chris Fitch, author of Wild Cities

You will forever love trees after you read this wonderful book. Not only is the text brilliant, but the author is genius. Harriet Rix's stories range from why sloths are shaped by trees to be greenish in colour, to the chemical secrets of chocolate trees, to how one fragile moth pollinates the Joshua trees. You will want to read this book again and again

Meg Lowman, aka Canopy Meg, author of The Arbornaut

A magisterial tour de force. Rix packs in several lifetimes of science into this sweeping story of the amazing genius of trees. I learned so much. Surely destined to become a classic

Ben Rawlence, author of The Treeline

Trees are not passive passengers in Earth’s story; they are the engineers of life itself. The Genius of Trees is a rare blend of science and wonder, reminding us just how much we still have to learn from these ancient organisms. Harriet Rix captures their wonder with clarity and awe

Thomas Crowther, Ecologist and Climate Scientist