Description

Trees have played countless roles in human history – by turns hopeful symbols of freedom, pioneering space travellers, keepers of ancient history and accessories to murder. From art to politics, science to crime, these are the stories of the trees that have shaped life on Earth.

Neurobiologist and philosopher Stefano Mancuso brings his signature charm and eye for unforgettable detail to tell eight stories of trees that have rooted themselves in human history – from the red spruces that were made into Stradivarius’ violins to the wooden ladder that solved ‘The Crime of the Century’.

Combining scientific vigour with his inimitable voice, Mancuso reveals the amazing ways that the world’s green-print has shaped the course of our lives, issuing a passionate rallying cry for greater care and attention towards the plants that have helped us survive and thrive.

Publisher Review

Captivating * Independent * Highly engaging … varied and always entertaining * Bookmunch * Science should be taught like one of the humanities – not simply as an apprenticeship for would-be researchers, but also as an aesthetic and spiritual pursuit for everyone: to show us how wondrous the world really is and how privileged we are to be in it. This requires teachers who combine special expertise with broad vision – like the Italian botanist Stefano Mancuso — Colin Tudge * Resurgence and Ecologist * Insightful essays about the wondrous qualities of plants and humanity’s relationship with them … The reflections are as entertaining as they are educational and showcase the overlooked complexity of plant life. Shot through with wisdom and joy, this will captivate readers. * Publishers Weekly * Praise for Stefano Mancuso and The Nation of Plants: Mancuso writes playfully; as manifestos go, he knows, his is deeply weird … but this is peculiarity with a purpose … Mancuso’s plants, in the end, make some very good points — Megan Garber * Atlantic * Powerful …Mancuso concludes his elegant and cogent argument with straightforward advice accessible to anyone…Insightful and arresting, [The Nation of Plants] offers an achievable road map to a more radiant future * Kirkus * Stefano Mancuso’s The Nation of Plants is brilliant and delightful. A perfect little gem of a book — Sonia Shah, author * The Next Great Migration *