David George Haskell Boeken

"Written with remarkable grace and empathy, The Forest Unseen is a grand tour of nature in all its profundity. Biologist David George Haskell uses a one-square-meter patch of old-growth Tennessee forest as a window onto the entire natural world. Visiting it almost daily for one year to trace nature's path through the seasons, he brings the forest and its inhabitants to vivid life. Beginning with simple observations--a salamander scuttling across the leaf litter, the first blossom of spring wildflowers--Haskell spins a brilliant web of biology, ecology, and poetry, explaining the science binding together ecosystems that have cycled for thousands--sometimes millions--of years."--Publisher's website

Eclectic, brilliant, and beautifully written, this book reboots our aromatic memory, highlighting our connection to trees. It offers a transportive olfactory journey through the forest, with each chapter summoning a new aroma: leaf litter, woodsmoke, pine resin, and more. The author serves as a knowledgeable and witty companion, guiding readers to breathe in the world around them. The narrative connects deeply with trees through scents tied to emotions and memories. Thirteen essays explore evocative aromas, from the smell of freshly printed pages to the calming scent of Linden blossom, and even the ingredients of a perfect gin & tonic. Imagine holding a highball glass beaded with cool moisture, inhaling the herbal odour of European juniper berries, and tasting the convergence of three continents with each sip. Each essay invites readers to engage in practices, such as taking a tree inventory of their surroundings to appreciate the many ways trees enrich our lives. For those who’ve ever hugged a tree in secret, the book encourages you to breathe in the scents of nearby trees, from the refreshing aroma of eucalyptus leaves to the earthy smell of pine after rain. This work is a celebration of nature's complexity and an invitation to reconnect with the world.

The author repeatedly visits a dozen trees around the world to stop, listen, and look, exploring each tree's connections with webs of fungi, bacterial communities, cooperative and destructive animals, and other plants, and demonstrating how the lives of trees and people are deeply interwoven. Several trees, including a balsam fir in Ontario and an Amazonian ceibo, are located in areas that seem mostly natural, but which are affected by industrial development and climate change. Haskell also turns to trees in places where humans seem to have subdued "nature"--A pear tree on a Manhattan sidewalk, an olive tree in Jerusalem -- demonstrating that wildness permeates every location

This work delves into how the evolution of natural and manmade sounds has shaped our world and highlights the current threats to its acoustic diversity. Our planet is enveloped in a rich tapestry of song and speech, yet this diversity faces unprecedented danger. The author, combining his insights as a listener and ecologist with recent scientific findings, investigates the acoustic marvels of Earth. He traces the origins of animal song and the historical journey of sound, celebrating the creative processes behind our diverse auditory landscape. Sounds are not only products of vibrant ecosystems but also catalysts for them, influenced by animal behavior, environmental shifts, and cultural changes. Currently, four interconnected sensory crises are diminishing our sonic environment: deforestation is erasing complex soundscapes; ocean noise pollution is harming acoustically sensitive marine life; urban noise is exacerbating social inequities; and a disconnection from the Earth's living voices diminishes our sense of joy and ethical responsibility. As wild sounds fade and human noise prevails, the world risks becoming less dynamic and creative. This narrative invites readers to listen, reflect, connect, and take action to preserve our acoustic heritage.