How to Read a Tree

Clues and Patterns from Bark to Leaves

By: Tristan Gooley

Narrated by: Tristan Gooley

In his singular, eye-opening books about the overlooked layers of the natural world – including The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs and The Natural Navigator – Tristan Gooley helps listeners reconnect with nature by finding direction and searching for hidden clues 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! Here you’ll discover hundreds of astonishing secrets hiding in plain sight among the living network of branches, trunks, roots, bark, leaves, buds, flowers, stumps and more. A pale line down the centre of a leaf indicates that water is nearby; a touch of reddish or purple bark signals new growth; low-growing, young branches reveal that 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 whole new and vivid portrait of the surrounding land, soil, weather, animals, people and even time. You’ll never see a tree the same way again.©2023 Tristan Gooley (P)2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critic reviews

'You will never look at a tree in the same way again after reading this mesmerising book. Gooley drops learning as lighty as blossom falls in spring.' (John Lewis Stemple)

'Tristan Gooley has done trees the greatest service.' (Isabella Tree, award-winning author of Wilding and travel writer)

An Arborists Appreciation

Very informative and digestible. This adjudication book was enjoyable both to listen and ti learn from.

Truly the Crown jewel of his writing so far!

Have thoroughly enjoyed all of Tristan’s work, including a waterlogged copy of how to read water that is at least been covered three times in its entirety but this is without a doubt a message from the observational Demi God himself. Indispensable in moving through any wooded landscape. This book is truly a gem..

For nature lovers

Good read if you love being in nature...7 more words will not change my message.

Lots of Good Information

This book is best read through with a hard copy and not as an audio. Too much information delivered quickly!

Awareness of tree herstories

Geeky, English Mini Stiched utre, slightly arrogant always ingenuous and presumptuous with overall faux humility. Not my grove or groove living off the grid in Northern California amongst kingly Douglas firs.