The Genius of Trees

A wondrous spreading canopy of a book that gives us trees as we’ve never seen them before: as dynamic forces, founders of our world, and agents of their own destiny - as well as ours. This is science writing at its best - beautifully explained, brilliantly written and perception-changing – Isabella Tree, author of WildingAn exceptional book. Up to date scientifically, beautifully clear for all of us, it changes our entire view of trees while carrying us to other worlds and times. Enchantingly written, it has personal touches which unite science, travel and fine literature and lead us by the hand through woods we never understood before – Robin Lane Fox, historian and gardening correspondent for the Financial TimesA compelling journey of a book, full of wonder and revelation. Highly recommended – Sue Stuart-Smith, author of the Sunday Times bestselling The Well Gardened MindIf I was dazzled by nature and in awe of trees before I read this book, I now know how much we are indebted to them for the way they have shepherded life on earth for millions of years – Kirsty Wark, television presenter and journalistFascinating and evocative, an intimate ride into the magical world of trees. This book contains everything you ever wanted to know - and so much you never knew you wanted to know - about these incredible organisms – Chris Fitch, author of Wild CitiesYou will forever love trees after you read this wonderful book. Not only is the text brilliant, but the author is genius. Harriet Rix’s stories range from why sloths are shaped by trees to be greenish in colour, to the chemical secrets of chocolate trees, to how one fragile moth pollinates the Joshua trees. You will want to read this book again and again – Meg Lowman, aka Canopy Meg, author of The ArbornautA magisterial tour de force. Rix packs in several lifetimes of science into this sweeping story of the amazing genius of trees. I learned so much. Surely destined to become a classic – Ben Rawlence, author of The TreelineTrees are not passive passengers in Earth’s story; they are the engineers of life itself. The Genius of Trees is a rare blend of science and wonder, reminding us just how much we still have to learn from these ancient organisms. Harriet Rix captures their wonder with clarity and awe – Thomas Crowther, Ecologist and Climate Scientist

Harriet Rix is a tree science consultant and writer. She was formerly based at the Tree Council where she supported Defra in researching tree diseases and urban tree strategies and was secretary for Hedgelink. Before joining the tree sector, she worked in landmine clearance in the Middle East. She is trustee of the Iraqi environmental charity Hasar. Rix holds a biochemistry degree from the University of Oxford and an MPhil in the history and philosophy of science from the University of Cambridge. She was a London Library Emerging Writer, and her writing and photography has been published in the Financial Times, London Review of Books and Times Literary Supplement and more. The Genius of Trees is her first book.