Knowing the Trees - by Ken Keffer (Hardcover)

About the Book

An engaging, fact-filled, and beautifully illustrated guide to a forest's life cycle

Book Synopsis

"...an informative hardback book that should be at every nature lovers bedside or campsite." ― Forbes

• Includes wide range of natural history and facts about types of forests, tree species, tree biology, and more
• Full-color illustrations throughout and Seeds of Knowledge sidebars enliven and deepen understanding of tree science
• From the award-winning author of Earth Almanac

In Knowing the Trees, naturalist and outdoor educator Ken Keffer explores our forests with both precision and charm. He offers essential context for understanding scientific knowledge and discoveries about trees and forest ecology, informed by rich anecdotes and specific examples from across the US.

Modeled after the life cycle of a tree, this beautifully illustrated guide showcases a wide range of topics, including unique reproductive strategies, the wonders of seed dispersal, vast underground networks of roots, the importance of photosynthesis, treetop canopies, how snags and nurse logs contribute to the future of a forest, connections among other species throughout the habitat, benefits of forest bathing, and so much more. Keffer also makes the convincing case that our health depends on the health of trees and being able to see the forest and the trees.

Review Quotes

Knowing the Trees: Discover the Forest from Seed to Snag is an informative hardback book that should be at every nature lovers bedside or campsite.--Wendy Altschuler "Forbes"

[Knowing the Trees is] an excellent example of the bookmaker's art, and is loaded with hand-drawn illustrations (by Emily Walker) on almost every other page, many of these in full color. This is author/naturalist Ken Keffer's ninth book on the natural world, and his experience shows. With lots of fact-backed evidence and few wasted words, it makes for a concise treatise that sticks to the point.--Bruce Appeldoorn "Conifer Quarterly"

Learn to see the forest for its trees through this enjoyable pairing of words and drawings. From how seeds spread to what happens when timber falls, this book offers entertaining ecology discoveries for anyone who wanders the woods.-- "East Idaho Outdoors"

Anyone who truly appreciates the outdoors needs to read this book, if not for the direct information it presents in an entertaining and informative, comfortable fashion, but for the insights of how trees fit into the scheme of everything we like--and need--about the grand scheme of life.--Tom Watson "MidWest Outdoors"

I've read many books on trees, but this one stands out for its ability to explain in beautiful detail the importance of each stage of a tree's life to the health of a North American forest and all the animals in it. The lovely color illustrations by Emily Walker paired with Keffer's lyrical text just add the immersive feeling that you're walking through a forest.--Rachel Fowler "Yakima Herald-Republic"