Honors Book Review: Wild Trees - Week 1

Entry 2: Thesis/Purpose

Quote:

“Steve became sensitive to the movement of time in a forest. Time has a different quality in a forest, a different kind of flow. Time moves in circles, and events linked, even if its not obvious that they are linked. Events in a forest occur with precision in the flow of tree time, the motions of an endless dance.”

Chapter Nameless: The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring by Richard Preston, p. 11

Background:

In every single chapter Richard Preston writes about a different experience that people have with northern trees. In this chapter a trio of friends camp and explore an area of Northern California surrounded by giant redwood forest. Marlon, Steve and Scott ventured into Northern California to observe the Giant Redwood Forest. Steve is interested in the lichens of the forest while Scott is interested in the giant trees.

Commentary:

Throughout the first section of this book Scott and Steve along with their friend Marlon venture into Northern California to view the magnificence of the redwood trees. The thesis so far in this book is how the environment intertwines itself into the lives of many humans. My quote falls right in the middle of this chapter when Richard Preston flashes back to when Scott was young. Scott saw how time in the forest moves differently than time moves for humans. Scott also sees how time flows in a circle and how every event in the forest is directly linked to another. I have never felt the same way Scott felt within the forest. I did not see time flow in a circle but I could see how he did. Just sitting down and observing my surroundings I can see how one thing will directly affect another thing but i never saw it go in a circle. A tree falling and taking out a bush, which essentially destroying the home of a rabbit does not come in a circle. I see it is linear. But reading this chapter has opened me to try to see everything moving in a circle. I have never tried to see things in this light but by reading this chapter I am open to trying to see it that way. I do not have the luxury of sitting in a forest and trying to see how every event is linked in a circle but i will keep it in mind next time I am in a forest. And hopefully I am as amazed as Scott is with this life changing experience.