Customer Reviews

The Man Who Planted Trees

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Jean Giono's inspiring story of the "man who planted trees" reached me some days ago as a birthday gift from my two sons.They thought it an appropriate gift for me probably because I am now engaged in an effort to grow trees in some land which I bought as a barren waste land. I found the book extremely inspiring.The interesting thing is that there indeed are unsung heroes and heroines in many parts of the world who do do such inspiring work without thought of reward.Some months back I read in Indian newspapers about a poor couple in the Karnatak state of India who decided to plant trees to assuage their sorrow in being childless.As they had no land of their own they decided to plant trees on the roadside.And ended up with magnificent avenue trees on miles and miles of the road near their village. There still seems to be hope for mankind!

The Man Who Planted Trees is the tale of Elzeard Bouffier, a man who, after his son and wife die, spends his life reforesting miles of barren land in southern France. Bouffier's planting of thousands and thousands of trees results in many wondrous things occurring, including water again flowing in brooks that had been dry for many years. The brooks are fed by rains and snows that are conserved by the forest that Bouffier planted. The harsh, barren land is now pleasant and full of life.

Written by Jean Giono, this popular story of inspiration and hope was originally published in 1954 in Vogue as "The Man Who Planted Hope and Grew Happiness." The story's opening paragraph is as follows:

"For a human character to reveal truly exceptional qualities, one must have the good fortune to be able to observe its performance over many years. If this performance is devoid of all egoism, if its guiding motive is unparalleled generosity, if it is absolutely certain that there is no thought of recompense and that, in addition, it has left its visible mark upon the earth, then there can be no mistake."

The Man Who Planted Trees has left a "visible mark upon the earth" having been translated into several languages. In the "Afterword" of the Chelsea Green Publishing Company's edition, Norma L. Goodrich wrote that Giono donated his story. According to Goodrich, "Giono believed he left his mark on earth when he wrote Elzeard Bouffier's story because he gave it away for the good of others, heedless of payment: `It was one of my stories of which I am the proudest. It does not bring me in one single penny and that is why it has accomplished what it was written for.'"

This special edition is very informative. Not only does it contain Giono's inspirational story, which is complemented beautifully by Michael McCurdy's wood engraving illustrations and Goodrich's informative "Afterword" about Giono, but it also contains considerable information about how wood and paper can be conserved in the section "The WoodWise Consumer." Goodrich writes about Giono's effort to have people respect trees.

"Giono later wrote an American admirer of the tale that his purpose in creating Bouffier `was to make people love the tree, or more precisely, to make them love planting trees.' Within a few years the story of Elzeard Bouffier swept around the world and was translated into at least a dozen languages. It has long since inspired reforestation efforts, worldwide."

The Man Who Planted Trees is not only a wonderful story, it will inspire you and your children to care for the natural world.

-Reviewed by N. Glenn Perrett

In many readers' lives there are a few books, or maybe only one, which serve as touchstones. They define us like our most vivid memories do. Not many books or stories deserve that kind of devotion, but this one does. It isn't timeless - it's deeply rooted in 20th century France - but its honest treatment of the time and place is one of the things that makes it universal.

There are dozens of facets that could be highlighted in a review, but the one I find most compelling is Giono's treatment of a man alone and how he is yet connected to the world around him. Even a solitary figure can contribute to the birth and health of a community. It's not clear why he does his work, but it's clear that the work is good.

There is such hope here, but no easy palliative. It is a call to lifelong diligence in the service of something good, and important, and bigger than ourselves.

This is a simple, heartwarming and thoroughly uplifting story, narrated by Robert J. Lurtsema with incidental music provided by Paul Winter and his Consort. It tells of the overwhelmingly empowering effect that a single human being can have, through sheer dint of commitment.

The story, by Jean Giono, is simplicity itself. Over a period of three decades, Elzéard Bouffier, a Frenchman finding himself widowed and alone in a barren and desolate region of France, began to transform the area through the simple act of collecting and sorting acorns, and then planting one hundred of the most propitious-appearing acorns each day. It was a task of solitude and almost religious solemnity, taking place totally outside the view of others. Over time, Bouffier transformed the region, making it once again a hospitable place. Many years after the start of Bouffier's work, people - including foresters - marveled at what they "had missed," totally unaware that this was the life's work of a single human being.

Almost anyone could have narrated this simple tale of regeneration with effectiveness. That the task fell to Robert J. Lurtsema is pleasurable beyond measure to one who made it a habit, when he could, to listen to Lurtsema's PBS-syndicated program, "Morning Pro Musica." Robert J. was a polyglot in the best sense of the term, able to talk with authority on a wide range of topics. And now, in retrospect, I cannot picture anyone else telling this story with equal effect.

Recently, my wife and I were nearing the end of a five-hour car journey, and I played this album for her, since she had yet to hear it. She was transformed by the simple beauty of the tale, and by Robert J.'s incomparable narrative skills. As matters would have it, the timing of this event was eerily perfect yet totally unplanned: Elsewhere, at precisely the same hour, a memorial celebration of Robert J. was in process. And his collaborator and long-time friend Paul Winter was there, sharing his reminiscences of this remarkable man.

Robert J., this review's for you.

I heard about this book for the first time in 40 years at a dinner in my appartment in Guyana, south america. I had invited Mike, a South African friend, who mentioned this book, indicating that he loved it and that he read it every two months. I just recorded the name of this book in my memory. The next day, I found myself in a restaurant, in Georgetown, when a british friend, talking about some experience in the bush in Brazil, mentioned this same book. Intrigued, having heard about an unknown book two days in a row, I went on Amazon. com and looked for the book.

I was then surprised to find out that this was in fact a french book. Being french myself, I knew of Jean Giono but had never read anything from him.

This book is fabulous. In the same line as "Le Petit Prince" from St. Exupery or "Jonathan Livingstone, Seagull".

I have since bought five books of "The Man who planted trees" and offered it to friends. I am ordering today another 7.

"The Man Who Planted Trees" is exceptional by its simplicity. It talks about life and the importance to make a contribution in our life.

I would recommend this book to anyone. In the meantime, I continue to plant trees....

This story has inspired me to give selflessly where ever I can back to nature. True naturalism is represented within its pages. As a horticulturalist, I've over time seen my own young trees that I've planted throughout the region, grow into large beautiful specimans. I've also seen the effect a stand of trees can have on a neighborhood. The Man Who Planted Trees, is a lesson in the true meaning of life.

"Yet trees are not 'trees', until so named and seen - and never were so named, till those had been who speech's involuted breath unfurled, faint echo and dim picture of the world..."
- J.R.R. Tolkein.


In 'The Man Who Planted Trees' by Jean Giono we are introduced to a mysterious character called Elzeard Bouffier, leading a solitary existence in a desolate part of Southern France. In the arid, forlorn mountains of Provence Bouffier lives like a Biblical character with his small dog and herd of sheep, yet he has an agenda that is far-reaching; to plant acorns and bring life back to the surrounding desert.

With almost realistic flair combined with poetic resonance Jean Giono paints a landscape that undergoes a gradual but beautiful transformation into a modern day garden of Eden. His primary intention in writing this small book was to invite readers into 'loving and planting trees' for the common good and future generations. This ecologically inspired motive is easily translated as something which can reverse the modern trend in global warming, to replenish the most important assets of our precious earth, and pave the way for a richer and greener future.

The text is accompanied by wood engravings by Michael McCurdy; deep, evocative and earthy illustrations which match the broad significance of the text. Combined they present a complete 'tour de force' in fictional literature, spanning the gap between what we might imagine to be real and that which is actually occurring beneath our technologically focused minds. Truly inspiration for change, and reminiscent of the 'Lorax' by Dr. Seuss!

I was given an audio tape of this haunting story narrated by Paul Lurtsema with background music by Paul Winter. I'd never heard of the story or author before. I found the combination of words, voice and music deeply moving, and felt it showed me a parable of what I could achieve with my own life. I am a solitary teacher and therapist. Like the man in the story, I experience my work as "planting seeds" and usually don't knowing whether they bloom or not. That may be why this was so meaningful a parable for me. I recommend the audio "multi-media" version of this beautiful story to anyone interested in taking their own life serieously, or wanting to suggest that treasure to another person without preaching.
My true rating would be ten stars!

In this parable of Elazard Bouffier, Giono paints a picture of hope. A quiet hope for the future, resting on the solid principles of classical learning, humanism and sound ecological thinking.

Reading this book is like a run through the forest, like diving in tall grass and listening to crickets during summer. This slender volume is one of the most magnificant works of literature ever produced.

I became acquainted with this compelling and moving story through an animation festival. Although the crowd of college students had been rowdy this film was the last shown and people all left the theater hushed. The story is not only about a man who plants trees, it is about how each of us can make a difference in the world by every small action of love. If we do not attach a need for recognition or money to our endeavors, they feed the spirit and health of the world. I have read this book over & over and seen the animated film 4 or 5 times, and I see and learn something different every time. What do you see?