TThere are few places where my steps feel lighter than under a mighty oak or ash tree – when I bathe in the shade and breathe it in. But it is not just the love of a craftsman for his materials that moves me, it is a passion for Character. Like us, each of these wondrous forest giants has been shaped in unique ways by the times in which they lived—the connections they made and the soil in which they took root—and I think this individuality helps explain why trees are so endlessly fascinating. So let’s dive into five very different books about trees.

As our planet warms, much of nature is on the move, and for the hardy trees of the vast boreal forests—a vital ecosystem that rings the Northern Hemisphere—the climate crisis means they must push ever further north. In this gripping, thorough (and frankly terrifying) book, Rawlence traces the path of the pines, larches, firs, poplars, spruces, and rowans native to our harshest latitudes, deftly weaving their stories with those of the locals and scientists who live and work along the tree line, and penetratingly examining the implications for all future life on Earth.

The Wood by John Lewis Stamps

At just three and a half hectares, Cockshutt Wood in Herefordshire is as far from the boreal forest as it gets, but that’s the point. Indeed, the beauty of this lyrical, informative and sometimes very funny forest diary lies in its intimacy. From the smallest sniffing creature to the mightiest tree, its The diverse flora and fauna are treated like family. Day by day, in vignettes that are by turns poetic, poignant, absurd and fascinating, The Wood documents Lewis-Stempel’s fourth and final year of managing the forest.

Mytting’s gripping crime thriller is impressively set in rural Norway and the remote Shetland Islands. It gradually unravels Edvard Hirifjell’s intricate family secrets – the early death of his parents, a bitter wartime feud and a lost inheritance of inestimable value. In the end, it reveals a story full of suspense, drama and the beauty of the unique grain hidden in each tree.

Part gripping true crime, part social history, these carefully researched stories offer a deeply compelling look into the world of international tree poaching and timber for the hidden market. Tree Thieves primarily examines the old-growth redwood forests of the Northwestern United States, but reaches into the Amazon. The novel is insightful and nuanced, sensitively navigating a complex sub-story of class, culture, identity and greed.

Wildlife photographer James Aldred’s gripping memoir offers a uniquely dizzying perspective. Although the book is packed with action and adventure, there’s much more here than grueling climbs, tropical storms, killer bees and marauding gorillas. This is a story about a deep love of nature and the remarkable places your childhood dreams can take you.