‘Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest’, by Suzanne Simard
ISBN 9780735237759

This is a well-written book. I liked the opening, a simple declaration: ‘For generations, my family has made its living cutting down trees’. I can imagine Green Party environmentalists and tree huggers recoiling in horror. So Dr. Simard comes clean on her background and level sets. That gives the book a middle-of-the-road reasonableness that makes it accessible. I read this as a North Vancouver City library book club selection and feared it was another Naomi Klein Social Justice Warrior kook tome. It is not.
It is written as a mystery. Why are these young seedlings not growing and thriving? That mystery pulls the reader into the book.
I have a writing quote by Kurt Vonnegut I like: ‘Find a subject you care about and which in your heart you feel others should care about. It is the genuine caring… which will be the most compelling and seductive element in your style.’ Dr. Simard cares.
I did a year of University science before lateraling to night school and an English major, so I do have a basic science background. Even so, I did struggle with this book at points. The biological terms for species, the Latin ‘mycorrhizas’ and ‘mycorrhiza’ , understanding how the different fungi look and functions boggled me a bit. I would have liked a short tutorial to come up to speed. I almost quit reading, but persevered, and am glad I did. I encourage all readers to do the same.
Simard shares personal history and experiences is a way that is gentle yet honest. Writers are admonished to be honest, as it results in the best writing.
So caring and honesty. Two home runs in one book. Highly recommended.

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