Customer Reviews

Remarkable Trees of the World

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I bought Pakenham's precursor to this book ("Meetings With Remarkable Trees"), I was astonished then. Now I've run out of superlatives, hence the plus sign suffixing the title of my review. As enjoyable as his poetic writing style is, that's just a bonus. The highly detailed photos in this book are, well, astonishing+. He uses a heavy, large-format camera, lugging it all around the world to photograph some of the most amazing trees on the planet. And as fine as the print quality was in "Meeting With Remarkable Trees", the print quality of this book surpasses the former. I am constantly amazed at the print quality of the best books being printed today, and this is right up there at the top of the heap. You'll swear you're looking at fine, lithographic prints. I am a fanatic tree lover to begin with, and this book is just glorious, and satisfies my wildest dreams for such a book. It gives me a sense of ecstasy over being alive.

In "Remarkable Trees of the World" Thomas Pakenham has taken his personal love of trees and turned it into a remarkable book. By turns photo album, travelogue and field guide, this book transcends any one of these classifications and becomes something truly "remarkable" as a result.

First off, the photography is absolutely spectacular, and all the more impressive because the author took the pictures himself. Anyone who has wiled away the hours beneath the branches of a particularly noble arboreal friend, can't help but be enchanted by these shots. Reproduced with beautiful clarity and color, Pakenham succeeds in capturing the essence of each of his subjects.

Secondly, Pakenham's descriptions of how he came across these trees are engaging in their own right. The "World" in the title isn't just for show; he literally travels to the ends of the earth to capture his remarkable subjects. His musings about what trees reflect of the surrounding culture and geography are fascinating and engaging. While anyone who buys this book is clearly doing so for the photography, that doesn't mean that the writing is at all sub-par.

Finally, while this isn't a botanical study by any means, Pakenham does discuss some interesting aspects of tree-ring dating, conservation, and evolution. While no particular topic is considered in any great detail, he offers plenty of jumping off points for anyone interested in pursuing the subject matter in more detail.

"Remarkable Trees of the World" is a must have for any nature lover. Pakenham does a superb job of surveying a broad variety of trees, and there were several I'd never even heard of. Moreover, he offers great suggestions about which of these trees will survive where; I'm already looking forward to a more varied planting than I had planned on in my backyard this spring!

Enjoy!

If you are trying to give a gift to someone who you really like, this book would be ideal - It's that good.

Briefly, this is a book of photographs of 60 trees scattered throughout the world that appeal to the author in some way. The photos are excellent and if you have ever tried to photograph a tree you will appreciate the thought and hard work that went into this book. The author includes photos of the biggest, the oldest, the holiest, and the oddest trees in the world. Ruminating about why he chose these particular trees is as fun as viewing the photos and text. Each photo is accompanied by well-written text that fleshes out the photos with historical, biological, or cultural information regarding each tree and its setting.

I found myself lost in time and space as I read this book and looked at the trees - which is probably what the author intended and why he calls these trees "remarkable".

The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is because I read it after I had read Pakenham's first book, "Meetings With Remarkable Trees", which is even richer and better. I'm no tree-hugger but after reading these books I could be tempted.

I heard Thomas speak at Swarthmore College this past Spring(2002)at the woody conference. I was tempted to leave early on this beautiful Friday afternoon, but my conscience prevailed for after all my job had sent me to this conference to learn some things. Was I glad I stayed to hear Thomas, what a delightful speaker and presenter. He had the audience spell-bound and of course we all wanted the book, which he did not have for sale at the event. Why, I cannot imagine, because I am positive he would have sold out.

This book is so wonderful it is almost impossible to describe, except he takes one to another level of appreciation for trees. I already loved trees and was almost arrested one time for trying to stop a huge stately live oak from being murdered to make way for, of all things, a Burger King. As if we needed one more hamburger stand. Anyway, Thomas showed me there are so many unusual trees around the world that I *must* see, but until I can travel, I can open that book and plan my adventures.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that I went back to visit some of the wisest friends I know, the 4500+ year old Bristlecone Pine trees in California. I had met them a few years earlier, they had comforted me after a death in my immediate family by giving me some perspective. A short while later, I quit my job to travel the world for a couple of years. On that go round, I also visited a grove of tall trees in Redwood National Park - which had some former world record holders. I thought I had seen it all. The oldest, tallest, and in 1997, I had visited General Sherman - the largest (In volume). All of these are noted in the book with glorious photos.

Boy, was I wrong. I recently discovered another tree of distinction, also while in California. A moreton bay fig tree with a crown of 100+ feet, 75 feet tall. Magnificent. I've started to look at registers of trees, and then I found this book.

I've begun to realize there are so many more trees of distinction, and not just the ones he mentions. The author has helped open up my eyes to seeing the world in another different way. His prose, descriptions, and inclusion of historical photos makes for an enjoyable read. I like to repeat - "The true voyage of discovery, is not in going to new places, but in seeing with new eyes." - Proust. The author has succeeded in having that effect on me.

He finds glorious trees in Botswana, Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa / Japan, Sri Lanka, Turkey / France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden / Canada, USA, Mexico / Australia, and New Zealand.

I've had the fortune of visiting 10 of these countries in my life, but other than what I noted earlier, didn't particularly make an effort to seek other trees out. I will now. My list of reasons to travel and re-visit some places is growing. Thank you Mr.Pakenham.

I'm back in the Northwest US now - home of many trees, as I drive or bicycle I pay much closer attention to the friendly giants all around. I'm sure I'll lie down under one of them soon and have that daydream.

In Remarkable Trees Of The World, Thomas Pakenham informatively combines stunning, full-color photography with intriguing tales of famous and ancient trees worldwide. Each individual anecdote tells a simple yet amazing story of great, arboreal giants that live for so long as to be seemingly be immortal - save to the hungry depredations of humanity, that is. Attention engaging and "reader friendly", Remarkable Trees Of The World is an especially recommended visual experience for nature lovers -- and an especially suitable selection for school and community library Memorial Fund acquisition lists.

This is not a book only for tree enthusiasts, it is for everyone and I hope that everyone, everywhere will buy this book and be enriched by it. It is a blend of richly beautiful photogrophy with insightful and haunting narrative. The trees themselves come alive, sometimes as dieties. The stories behind these particular trees left me with a sense of affection for these remarkable beings.

I remember reading a review and wondering what the fuss was all about. But there is much to fuss about. I know we are not to comment on other reviewers, but I must break the rules here. The reviews of this book are by far the most eloquent and beautiful I have come across. Usually there is some crank in the bunch who has awful things to say about a really good book. Not so here. It is as thought the sublime spiritual nature of the subject and the presentation brought out the best in everyone.

This is a beautiful book. The Photographs alone are almost worth the price. The text is a whimsical account of the author's encounters with his subjects (the trees) and a mish mash of fun historical tidbits. Pakenham brings history, mythology and bit of ecology together in tight one to two page sections that are easily digestible in a sitting. In other words, this is the perfect coffee table book, a good browse and a launching point for the imagination. The reason why I gave it only four stars, instead of five, is that I would have liked a little more ecological substance. As an ecologist, this is a personal preference and in no way should hinder one from purchasing this book. If, however, you are looking for something with a little more science check out Forest Giants of the Pacific Coast by Robert Van Pelt, which is unique in it's ability to convey the ecology and natural history of the trees it covers.

Joyce Kilmer wrote, "I think that I shall never see, A poem lovely as a tree." Here in this magnificent publication, "Remarkable Trees Of The World," Thomas Pakenham has given us a book that is, indeed, a poem worthy of trees, gifts to Earth from God. Enchanting, majestic, some almost mystical, these trees are truly remarkable, as the title suggests. Pakenham, on a five-year odyssey to most of the world's tropical and temperate regions, photographed and wrote about sixty of his most notable discoveries. The results are a delight - the photographs spectacular. Selected for their age, size, form and historical interest, some of the author's choices include, Japan's bonsai, Sequoia's redwoods, Death Valley's Joshua Trees, banyons, a 4700-year-old Methuselah, a 4600-year-old bristlecone pine and a tiny tree in Morocco with six goats perched in the branches, plus sacred trees, haunted trees and once-inhabited trees.

The well written text and anecdotes provides legends and history. Pakenham has taken his love for trees and communicated his feelings, in beautiful living color, for all of us to enjoy. This book makes a wonderful gift, especially for nature lovers. I recently gave it to a friend as a birthday present and was thrilled at how well it was received.
JANA

Note that the book is about remarkable trees. This presumes a certain amount of subjective judgement. Sure, several of the trees depicted here are certified world record holders - the oldest, tallest, etc. In a sense, encountering their pictures in a book like this is not a surprise. The real treat here is to have Packenham direct our attention to lesser-known trees that are spectacular in an unexpected way. Some bespeak a magnificent history, weathering storms and human intervention (not always benevolent) over centuries. They have overcome obstacles, and have lived to tell the tale. Others have grown to be extremely unusual examples of their kind, sometimes when transplanted from their indigenous surroundings. Included also are photos of outstanding examples of ginkgos and baobabs etc. which as a species, look grotesque in comparison with more elegant, controlled trees that one normally sees.

As other reviewers have remarked, the layout of the book is superb. Packenham has managed to capture not only the majesty of the individual trees but the spirit of each locale. Some scenarios are bright, friendly and welcoming. Many are not; the trees cast an eerie sense of forboding, still evoking an aura of dark deeds committed in their precints.

This is a treat for a nature afficianado. It also makes a great compendium of freakishness, a great hostess gift for Halloween, or for a friend whose tastes lean towards the macabre.