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Book Review: Peter Wohlleben's The Hidden Life of Trees: A Graphic Adaptation by Bernard and Flao


I've just finished reading this well done graphic adaptation.  It is authored by a man in Europe looking back at his youth and life path that evolved into forest management and at the same time -- advocating for primary forests over tree plantations.

In an art course earlier this year, my focus area was on tree bark.  To study that focus area,  I looked at many resources to learn how a tree lives, what the bark does, how deep the bark is that covers a tree trunk, and several other wonderings.  I found this book as one of my resources. 

Some of the fascinating tidbits in the book include:

  • trees are 1/3 above-ground and 2/3 underground;
  • trees need rest (non-light) time; 
  • a tree will typically only produce one successor tree; 
  • mother trees will connect their roots to their offspring to help them get started but won't do the same for a seedling that is from another tree; and, 
  • you can sit under a walnut tree and not worry about mosquitos -- because this kind of tree has tannins that keep insects away.

The Hidden Life of Trees, authored by a conservationist, is a very good read.  You'll appreciate trees much more, as a result.  Besides, the art in this graphic adaptation is perfect in supporting the author's narrative!  

In case you're wondering, the book is printed on responsibly-sourced paper.  

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