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avesmaria's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In "The Forest Unseen," the traditions of writers like Thoreau and Annie Dillard are blended with aspects of Zen Buddhism, thoughts on "observation," and legit scientific information to form an engaging meditation on the complexity and mysteries of nature. Haskell, a biology professor at the University of the South, spends an entire year quietly observing a square yard of old growth forest in Tennessee. Each chapter is a meditation on a different aspect of this territory, which he dubs his mandala (after the circular ephemeral drawings of sand made by Buddhist monks), and he focuses on subjects ranging from nematodes to how sap moves through trees in the winter to underground symbiotic plant-fungus communities. And yet, each chapter makes it clear how interrelated all of these things are. As an artist, I really connected with the emphasis on truly "seeing" and being present in one's environment. As a lover of nature and one who really embraces changing seasons, I really connected with the rhythm and evanescence of the unbelievably complex, dynamic forest biome. Haskell's writing doesn't get in the way of itself, and his style conveyed a mindful tranquility rather than sounding cloying or ridiculously awestruck.
eileen_critchley's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
***1/2
I found this book to be a bit on the slower-paced side, but that's perfectly fine; by its nature, it's more of a meditative read and the concept is interesting and beautiful. It's also a good one to pick up and put aside. Reading it over the course of a year would be a nice experience. It was fun to see several dates of personal significance to me happened to be days he wrote about in the 'mandela' (my birthday, my anniversary). The author also documents the forest in an area very similar to my own, with many of the same animals, insects, and plants that we see when hiking here. I like the cover image too, and have taken some similar photos of the forest floor myself. I have an interest in biology and there are lots of little fun tidbits of information here, without going too deep.
I did find this book a little metaphor-heavy, and some of it was a bit dry (again, slower-paced). The writing gets a bit overly descriptive/flowery in parts as well.
This book is about appreciating small things in nature, how interconnected the world is, and our place in it. It's also a reminder to slow down. And I very much appreciate those sentiments.
<I>These journeys will weave in and out of other lives, knitting together the multidimensional cloth of life. My blood may join the snail's shell in a young bird that eats or is bitten by a passing mosquito, or we may meet later, in millennia, at the bottom of the ocean in a crab's claw or the gut of a worm.
To love nature and to hate humanity is illogical. Humanity is part of the whole. To truly love the world is also to love human ingenuity and playfulness. Nature does not need to be cleansed of human artifacts to be beautiful or coherent. Yes, we should be less greedy, untidy, wasteful, and shortsighted. But let us not turn responsibility into self-hatred. Our biggest failing is, after all, luck of compassion for the world. Including ourselves.
Keeping the woods trash-free is a symbol of our desire to be more careful members of life's community. But there is also value in the discipline of participating in a world as it is, discarded golf balls and all.
The interior quality of our minds is itself a great teacher of natural history. It is here that we learn that "nature" is not a separate place. We too are animals. .. Each on of us inhabits a storied mandala with as much complexity and depth as an old-growth forest. Even better, watching ourselves and watching the world are not in opposition; by observing the forest, I have come to know myself more clearly. Part of what we discover by observing ourselves is an affinity for the world around us. The desire to name, understand, and enjoy the rest of the community of life is part of our humanity. Quiet observation of living mandalas offer one way to rediscover and develop this inheritance. </i>
{library, hardcover}
I found this book to be a bit on the slower-paced side, but that's perfectly fine; by its nature, it's more of a meditative read and the concept is interesting and beautiful. It's also a good one to pick up and put aside. Reading it over the course of a year would be a nice experience. It was fun to see several dates of personal significance to me happened to be days he wrote about in the 'mandela' (my birthday, my anniversary). The author also documents the forest in an area very similar to my own, with many of the same animals, insects, and plants that we see when hiking here. I like the cover image too, and have taken some similar photos of the forest floor myself. I have an interest in biology and there are lots of little fun tidbits of information here, without going too deep.
I did find this book a little metaphor-heavy, and some of it was a bit dry (again, slower-paced). The writing gets a bit overly descriptive/flowery in parts as well.
This book is about appreciating small things in nature, how interconnected the world is, and our place in it. It's also a reminder to slow down. And I very much appreciate those sentiments.
<I>These journeys will weave in and out of other lives, knitting together the multidimensional cloth of life. My blood may join the snail's shell in a young bird that eats or is bitten by a passing mosquito, or we may meet later, in millennia, at the bottom of the ocean in a crab's claw or the gut of a worm.
To love nature and to hate humanity is illogical. Humanity is part of the whole. To truly love the world is also to love human ingenuity and playfulness. Nature does not need to be cleansed of human artifacts to be beautiful or coherent. Yes, we should be less greedy, untidy, wasteful, and shortsighted. But let us not turn responsibility into self-hatred. Our biggest failing is, after all, luck of compassion for the world. Including ourselves.
Keeping the woods trash-free is a symbol of our desire to be more careful members of life's community. But there is also value in the discipline of participating in a world as it is, discarded golf balls and all.
The interior quality of our minds is itself a great teacher of natural history. It is here that we learn that "nature" is not a separate place. We too are animals. .. Each on of us inhabits a storied mandala with as much complexity and depth as an old-growth forest. Even better, watching ourselves and watching the world are not in opposition; by observing the forest, I have come to know myself more clearly. Part of what we discover by observing ourselves is an affinity for the world around us. The desire to name, understand, and enjoy the rest of the community of life is part of our humanity. Quiet observation of living mandalas offer one way to rediscover and develop this inheritance. </i>
{library, hardcover}
arborwinter's review against another edition
5.0
Delightful, insightful, and so needed. A beautiful take on being in the moment, in the present, and taking in a diverse world at our fingertips
i_have_no_process's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
4.75
I'll go broke buying this book for everyone who doesn't have it. Broke, I say!
kathrynnnnnn's review against another edition
5.0
I am sad the Waitakeres are closed. It makes spending time with forest harder. This book reinforced my fascination with animals and ecology more broadly. I just want to go to the forest and never need to come back.
tboltkid's review against another edition
4.0
very detail driven but well written even if at times attempting to be over poetic. tons of seldom relevant tidbits to learn, if you want to look at life through a microscope to understand our natural world, knock yourself out.
lacyk_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised to learn several new things as the author documented a very thoughtful and thorough journey into his patch of Tennessee refuge. There were times that it read like a love letter, but always easy to relate to and beautiful. Made me want to get outside, take a close look at the ground, and listen to the birds.
jimcaserta's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was an extremely pleasant listen. I listened to the audible version and it was like I was taking a nice hike with my most knowledgeable friend. Each chapter is a day and focuses on something in our small patch of the forest. It could be a mushroom, salamander, eft, or hawk. Haskell takes different elements of the forest, and does a quick deep accessible dive into that topic. His great skill with the book is that he relates that particular topic to the greater forest and then to our larger ecosystem. What I liked the most is that he would go even further and tie many of the individual forest dwellers to their evolutionary history and a general philosophy of life - 'there's a reality far beyond our perceptions'.
The book had a great pace. Each chapter is its own day, and they are short enough that one at a time works great. I can't wait to get my 13 year old to read (or listen) to this.
The book had a great pace. Each chapter is its own day, and they are short enough that one at a time works great. I can't wait to get my 13 year old to read (or listen) to this.