The Attentive Heart: Conversations with Trees [Hardcover]

Stephanie Kaza (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 1993

A Buddhist and environmentalist carries her appreciation of trees beyond simple nature study or poeticism with 27 evocative, thought-provoking meditations. An extraordinary source of spiritual enlightenment and practical knowledge. 27 original lithographs.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers who feel a kinship with trees will be captivated by these "conversations." Now a professor of environmental studies at the University of Vermont, Kaza bases most of these meditative essays on experiences she had in California. With a Buddhist reverence for living things, she follows the Zen practice of shikantaza --just sitting--to find serenity and inspiration among trees. She observes the change of seasons with a stately gingko, re-visits a commune to renew her acquaintance with a tan oak and madrone, dreams as she leans against a massive blue oak. On Arbor Day, Kaza joins a group planting redwood seedlings; she makes a pilgrimage to Methuselah Grove to see bristlecone pines and to Yosemite for whitebark pines. Other encounters include red firs, alders and sycamores. This is a beautifully written, imaginative appreciation of trees. Illustrations. First serial to New Age Journal; QPB alternate.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This book records a series of the author's intensely personal, sometimes spiritual, relationships with individual trees. Her approach is based on her experience as a practitioner of Zen meditation techniques. Kaza's training as a naturalist, however, gives her essays a more realistic bent; she recognizes the many uses of wood as a raw material--for paper, furniture, fuel, lumber, etc.--and does not dismiss the human uses of trees as an evil. Her descriptions of the trees and the life around them and in them are accurate and lyrical, although the writing is almost too poetic and intense in spots. This is not a book to be read straight through; it should be dipped into at reflective moments, like a book of poems. Notes in the back constitute a bibliography of sorts. Recommended for environmental collections.
- Eleanor Maass, Maass As socs., New Milford, Pa.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 258 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett; 1st edition (June 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449907791
• ISBN-13: 978-0449907795
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,895,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honest, Beautiful, March 7, 1998

By 

Mizdeegz "mizdeegz" (Orland, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Attentive Heart: Conversations with Trees (Paperback)

I would rate the spiritual factor of this book at least a 10. The world would be a better place if all of us could revere trees in the way of Stephanie Kaza. The stories are rich, honest, and full of love. The illustrations are beautiful, free, and alive. The only thing I didn't care for in the book was the extremely Buddhist perspective; I found it structured & confining. Still, a very beautiful and moving book--Particularly, the chapters on the Coastal Redwoods and Bristlecone Pines. As a tree artist and hardcore druid-at-heart (especially when it comes to redwoods), I very much enjoyed it. I appreciate a book which provides such utter spiritual reverance and love (which we have often towards animals), to trees!.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you care about connecting with nature, read this book!, October 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Attentive Heart: Conversations with Trees (Paperback)

I was thrilled to find this book at my local public library. The more I read, however, the more I wished to own a copy myself so that I could refer to it again and again.