Uncovering the Secrets of Nature: Exploring the Wisdom of the Mother Tree

NeverNotReading: Science is slow and hard, especially if you are overturning long established beliefs in a male-dominated field like forestry. Nevertheless, Suzanne Simard, who came from a long line of Canadian loggers, proved beyond question that trees communicate through their roots. In some situations, they cooperate instead of competing. One of the main characters in The Over story by Richard Powers is loosely based on Simard's career. A great read!

United States on Sep 16, 2023

John P.: The theory that trees communicate through an underground network of fungal fibers to their mutual advantage has changed how we look at forests and their management. This seminal work by one of the foremost proponents of the concept that trees cooperate every bit as much as they compete is a must read for anyone interested in how humans and trees are more similar than we could have imagined. The author masterfully weaves in stories of her own family's complexity with her groundbreaking research on how trees communicate. You will be thinking about this book long after you finish reading it.

United States on Sep 13, 2023

xlucent: An absolutely wonderful book detailing the personal journey Suzanne Simard embarked on in the late 1990’s that led to her discovery of the “wood wide web”, the network connecting all life in the forest. Intelligence, compassion and wisdom are all adjectives that can credibly be applied to the web…and to Dr. Simard herself who, frankly, should be awarded the Nobel Prize for her discoveries.

United States on Sep 11, 2023

Robb King: After seeing several talks and documentary interviews, and my recent foray into studying fungus... I got Suzanne Simards wonderful 'biography'. Living near Vancouver as well... I know the forests she has studied.

This research is astonishing... she makes the scientific discoveries exciting by taking you there between the bees and the bears to marvel at the beautiful relationship between a layer of fungus and some of the most magnificent trees on earth.

Hopefully, her research program will help save some of the most magnificent forests on earth - in British Columbia and worldwide. If governments can staff their forestry management divisions with literate employees.

A thoroughly enjoyable read - including her personal battles - that also teaches so much about forest biology.

Canada on Sep 03, 2023

Katherine Turner: I can't show a pic of this books beautiful cover because my dog ate it 😥 which did upset me because I loved it. I think I'm going to buy this book again and keep it in a safe place.

I haven't finished reading it yet as I'm waiting for new reading glasses. So far it is absolutely fascinating and gripping. I love the authors easy to read style of writing. Her enthusiasm for her subject leaps off the page. I don't need to finish the book to know that it's a great read and very informative and educational. It reads like a novel but the truth is often stranger than fiction. I love it and I'm sure many people will love it as much.

United Kingdom on Aug 19, 2023

Catmandew: I came across some of Dr. Simard's scientific papers years ago & was blown away by what she discovered about trees communicating & sharing resources. I haven’t looked at nature the same way since - appreciating it even more. The book is very well written & blends Dr. Simard's personal & scientific journeys beautifully.

United States on Aug 17, 2023

Alice J.: It has been a long time since a book had me so engrossed in it that I had trouble putting it down. This one did. I love trees and I love this book. So down to earth and such a significant story for the trees and for women as scientists and humans living on this beautiful Mother Earth.

United States on Aug 06, 2023

iggypoots: Exvellent read from a scholar of such importance and relevance to todays world.

United Kingdom on Aug 02, 2023

Jonathan F. Vernon: Expecting a dry but necessary read on the science what I got instead was an intricately woven autobiography that put growing up in parallel with a lifetime of learning. Though I have read this happily as a Kindle edition I now want a book in my hands not least so that I can readily share it with others. I’ve learn a huge amount and will apply it every time I visit or work in a wood.

United Kingdom on Jun 19, 2023

Tanja M: Beautiful and moving life story of an intelligent and warm-hearted women. Thanks to her great love of forests, her perseverence , and cleverly conducted experiments we have solid scientific evidence that clear-cutting and weeding are not only harming the integral ecosystem of forests and aggravating climate change, but that these practices are not even economically sound, as the "cash-crops trees" are vulnerable and tend to wither prematurely. Let's hope that governments around the world get the message and introduce regulations that enforce sensible forest-managing rules.

Germany on May 23, 2023