Oak
The Frame of Civilization
25 August 2006
Description
"A dazzling book, full of knowledge and rare wisdom, too" —Thomas Pakenham, author of Remarkable Trees of the World
Professional arborist and award-winning nature writer William Bryant Logan deftly relates the delightful history of the reciprocal relationship between humans and oak trees since time immemorial. For centuries these supremely adaptable, generous trees have supported humankind in nearly every facet of life. From the ink of Bach’s cantatas to the first boat to reach the New World, the wagon, the barrel, and the sword, oak trees have been a constant presence in our past. Yet we’ve largely forgotten the oak’s role in civilization. With reverence, humor, and compassion, Logan awakens us to the vibrant presence of the oak throughout our history and in today’s world.
Reviews
"Logan’s beautiful treatment opened my eyes to how much human experience on this planet has depended on the single (albeit wonderfully varied) genus Quercus." — Richard Powers, PBS NewsHour
"Passion is never boring…[Logan’s] affection and admiration for the oak tree are so persuasive that the next time you see one you might be inspired to kneel before it in recognition of its sprawling contributions to mankind." — Arizona Republic
"Any student of history or lover of the woods will enjoy discovering the many contributions that this tree has made. Readers will have plenty to think about next time they pass under a canopy of these amazing trees." — Science News
"Human civilization, from its very inception, has been intertwined with the evolution of the oak. From the scientific and practical to the philosophical and spiritual, Logan amazes readers with the connections between Homo and Quercus." — Carl Keeler, Outdoor America
"Certified arborist and nature writer William Bryant Logan has brought a literary voice to the story of the mighty oak. This wonderful history is written in a storyteller’s voice." — Debra Prinzing, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"Oak has plenty to teach us…In his own way, Logan is restoring knowledge that disappeared, and in the end it is his passion for the trees themselves that makes this book remarkable." — Anthony Doerr, Boston Globe
"Logan is a gentle ecologist, and paints an enthralling picture of the cooperative business going on underground." — Richard Mabey, Guardian
"Oak trees have participated in a surprising swath of human history, and now they have finally been recognized for it. William Logan’s Oak is an utterly fascinating story and, in a strange way, a humbling one." — John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Also By: William Bryant Logan 
Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees
Paperback, 2020
Arborist William Bryant Logan recovers the lost tradition that sustained human life and culture for ten millennia.
Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees
Hardback, 2019
Arborist William Bryant Logan recovers the lost tradition that sustained human life and culture for ten millennia.
Sprout Lands: Tending the Endless Gift of Trees
E Book, 2019
Arborist William Bryant Logan recovers the lost tradition that sustained human life and culture for ten millennia.
Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth
E Book, 2014
"A gleeful, poetic book…Like the best natural histories, Dirt is a kind of prayer." —Los Angeles Times Book Review
Air: The Restless Shaper of the World
Paperback, 2013
In a sublime exploration of the most unpredictable element of the earth, William Bryant Logan opens our eyes to the astonishing physics, chemistry, biology, history, art, and even music of the air....
