Gerald Jonas

Jonas' book about trees and their history in North America was an interesting and informative one. It would be categorized as a survey book because it covers many aspects involving the trees of North America. The book goes into great depth about forests, trees, and their uses across the development of North America. One thing which I did not expect is that the majority of the information offered in this book was regarding the practical and industrial uses of trees and the history of logging across time and cultures and its connection with the modernization of the continent. This was interesting information to learn, but I was surprised and dissapointed that there was not more emphasis placed on the ecological, aesthetic and spiritual value of trees and forests. These concepts were referred to in the book but were in no way the prevailing theme. One chapter referred to the significance of trees to traditional cultures and how they began to facilitate utility. One chapter informed the basic biology of trees. Three chapters told the story of dependence on trees and the exploitation of them as a resource for development, and the final chapter talks about trees current role in our lives and their conservation. The author is a freelance writer who is also a staff writer for the New Yorker and a reviewer for the New York Times Book Review. An extensive index is included as well as an extensive list of credits showing the book was well backed by research. It also includes a multitude of nice and often sizable color photos to illustrate the trees being refereed to, their uses, and the history of their mining and refining.… (mer)