Book Review: THE WILD TREES By Richard Preston

Few books make me want to spring into action after reading them like Richard Preston’s non-fiction book The Wild Trees, which is the account of several botanists and scientists who spend their lives studying the life of some of the tallest trees in the world. Although not exclusively about the tree climbing specialist who climb trees in excess of 350 feet tall to study the canopy of some of the tallest organisms on the planet which is the redwood tree (among many others featured in the book), Preston weaves the stories of several of these scientists whose worlds and lives collide through time and different locations all across the globe to give not only a comprehensive look at the lives of these dedicated (and sometimes under paid) scientists but the worlds that they discover that have never been seen by any human being. Preston presents these people as the true adventurers exploring the strange new worlds right in our own back yards.

As Preston’s own exploration of these dedicated individuals grows deeper, he becomes not just a chronicler of their stories but a willing participant who soon finds his way as one of the team members of tree climbers. This is a far cry from his previous non-fiction books The Hot Zone and The Demon in the Freezer (where he is far removed) revealing a more personal journey in the process. In addition to the wonderful stories of his subjects (especially the couple that get married 350 feet in the air in the canopy of one of the great redwoods) there are extensive drawings and sketches of what the world of some of these trees are really like (since the location to many of these greatest discoveries remain a guarded secret from the greater public who would destroy the natural habitat of such great organisms of nature).

The Wild Trees is one of Preston’s most personal works that not only gets into the lives of its subjects following them over years of discoveries and history but it also gives an inside look into the man whose life was forever changed by the experience especially when you consider that the joy of tree climbing has infected several of his children (although he makes great mention that the sport is not for his wife). This is an adventure that we all want to make after reading the book.