Refreshingly written, delightfully illustrated book remarks expansively on the resourcefulness of early Americans in their use of this valuable commodity — from the crafting of furniture, tools, and buildings to the use of such by-products as charcoal and medicine. "One of Sloane's best books." — Library Journal. 69 black-and-white illustrations.
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From the Inside Flap
The special knowledge of which wood is suited to which task, the ready identification of native trees, the reverence for wood, the instinctive knowledge that wood can warm the soul as well as the body -- these virtues of a bygone age are revived in Eric Sloane's remarkable work. Heavily illustrated, with a section on identification of nearly sixty native trees, A REVERENCE FOR WOOD provides an illuminating view of the resource that made possible so much of the early settlement of North America.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Eric Sloane was a painter of clouds and sky who built the Hall of Atmosphere in the American Museum of Natural History. He also wrote several books about weather. Later he produced manuals and three-dimensional models of weather phenomena for training military flyers during World War II.
His interest in weather drew him toward old diaries and almanacs that were filled with the weather lore of early American countrymen. And this, in turn, acquainted him with the countryman's reverence for wood.
One result was this wonderful book, whose prose is illustrated with more than 70 of Sloan's skilful pen-and-ink drawings. There's an excellent marriage between his writing and drawing. Just when you wonder exactly what some of his words might mean, along comes another drawing to make everything perfectly clear again. Many of the drawings are very detailed and packed with fascinating information about long ago wood lore.
If you like this book, you'll probably enjoy anything written by May Theilgaard Watts, a fine naturalist who knew how to draw. You may especially enjoy her "Reading the Landscape of America" at the same time as you enjoy Sloan's "Our Vanishing Landscape."
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first discovered Eric Sloane back in 1978 and immediately read everything I could find by him. All his reads are quick, entertaining, and educational. I have read this book many times and now love sharing it with others by giving it as a gift. Woodworkers, antique and Americana enthusiasts, foresters, etc will all find this a fascinating book. His pen and ink drawing are numerous and incredible. This is probably his most famous book. After this one you should consider "A Museum of Early American Tools", "Diary of an Early American Boy", and "Our Vanishing Landscape".
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sloanes book is saturated with his love for discovery. The book is a treasure trove of information with fantastic pen and ink sketches. Its style is narative, and it explores the reasons why the old timers built things the way they did. The original "This Old House" I highly recommend it.
See also "Diary of an early American Boy" this book was one of only 100 books accepted into the Early American Library of the President on merrit. Presented in a thought provoking and imaginative way, Slones book comes alive. It teaches even as it entertains. You will intimately know the boy and his 1805 family.
See also "Diary of an early American Boy" this book was one of only 100 books accepted into the Early American Library of the President on merrit. Presented in a thought provoking and imaginative way, Slones book comes alive. It teaches even as it entertains. You will intimately know the boy and his 1805 family.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Seek-no-further...
for a terrifically illustrated book about the importance of wood to the New World. The information is still applicable and the stories are really interesting. Read more
Published 3 months ago by NorthShoreCanary
Great for Lay Person
The images are stunning. I came searching for this, since the paperback we owned was held together with tape and rubber bands. The new format really showcases the illustrations. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Corali
Wood Widow
My husband read this book cover to cover the first day he received it. When he was considering giving up his dental practice I gave him a gift of woodwork lessons taught by a very... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Carol Griffin
really great
Using wood is an art form of itself. The other reviewers are good. This book talks about specific properties of wood, which I've never seen in print before, which were known... Read more
Published 18 months ago by MO
A must read if you love wood!
A simple but beautiful book which is rich in the history of wood and woodworking in America. It is informative as well as rich in life lessons for all.
Published on January 27, 2009 by Craig S. Larusso
Best book on wood facts EVER!!!!
If you ever thought you knew all about wood, guess again.
This book has more history, knowledge and facts than any we
have ever had. Read more
This book has more history, knowledge and facts than any we
have ever had. Read more
Published on August 25, 2008 by Tree & Nature Lover
A Reverence for Wood
Eric Sloane has written several books, filled with his wonderful drawings, looking back at times in our early American past. Read more
Published on May 15, 2008 by Sam Adams
Cliff Claven writes a book.
This is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it in a sitting. I'm not even all that interested in wood or building anything else that may have made me a likely fan. Read more
Published on June 22, 2007 by Peter D. Gall
Great book, both for woodworkers and those interested in early...
This is Sloane's best book in my opinion, but then I've been a woodworker for many years and already have "a reverence for wood". Read more
Published on January 11, 2007 by Kenneth C. Reed
Pretty neat.
This is an easy read that yet conveys quite a bit of information. An important part are the drawings, which say more than a thousand words. Read more
Published on October 28, 2002 by P. van Rijckevorsel
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19
books
cite this book:
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- Practicing Mortality: Art, Philosophy, and Contemplative Seeing by Christopher A. Dustin on 9 pages
- Trees of Pennsylvania: and the Northeast by Charles Fergus on page 188, page 217, and Back Matter
- Artful Jesters: Innovators of Visual Wit and Humor by Nicholas Roukes on page 138, and Back Matter
- Quail High Above the Shenandoah by Mac Laird on page 45, and Back Matter
- American Household Botany: A History of Useful Plants, 1620-1900 by Judith Sumner on page 358, and Back Matter
See all 19 books citing this book
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