The Nature of Oaks, Douglas W. Tallamy
The Nature of Oaks, Douglas W. Tallamy
3 Rating(s)
List: $18.99 | Sale: $13.29
Club: $9.49

The Nature of Oaks
The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees

Author: Douglas W. Tallamy

Narrator: Adam Barr

Unabridged: 4 hr 16 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Timber Press

Published: 03/30/2021


Synopsis

Discover the complex and fascinating inner world of the mighty oak tree with this engaging nature book!

The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars,  Doug Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area. 

The Nature of Oaks will inspire you to treasure these trees and to act to nurture and protect them.

“With our hearts and minds focused on the stewardship of the only planet we have, the best way to engage in a hopeful future is to plant oaks! Let this book be your inspiration and guide.” —The American Gardener

About Douglas W. Tallamy

Douglas W. Tallamy is currently professor and chair of the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware, where he has taught insect taxonomy, behavioral ecology, and other subjects. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities.

Tallamy won the Silver Medal from the Garden Writer's Association for his book Bringing Nature Home.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Pam on March 28, 2023

The author is a professor at the University of Delaware, a specialist in entomology (bugs to me) and a lover of oaks. In this book he goes to great pains to explain his interest in oak trees and their benefits to ecology. It is not designed for his academic fellows. I can see its use in school libra......more

Goodreads review by Jeff on November 28, 2020

Fascinating And Easy Read. This is one of those esoteric books that you didn't know you wanted to read that turns out to be utterly fascinating... at least if you're remotely interested in caterpillars and similar insects. The narrative structure takes on each month of the year, beginning in October......more

Goodreads review by Amanda on March 21, 2021

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Douglas W. Tallamy, and Timber Press for the opportunity to read this book! My husband and I recently purchased an acre in the mountains in Southern California. We have plans to build a home and get further away from the city. This property is covered with oak trees. Spe......more

Goodreads review by Candice on October 26, 2022

One half of my double major in college was agroecology. I don’t work in that field anymore, but I try to consistently read books in this vein. I think you could quantify this short book as a long persuasive essay. And persuasive essays end with a call to action. And a successful persuasive essay con......more

Goodreads review by Grace on April 01, 2024

This would perhaps be more accurately titled "The Nature of Oaks: An Entomologist's Perspective." Still, highly entertaining and informative! Katydids are much more fascinating than I ever realized. Who knew! Notable pages for future reference 56- leaf litter 68- allergies (brief) 79- evolutionary arm......more


Quotes

“There’s a payoff for the environment, yes, but also for each of us, in the bonds of personal connection. Tallamy feels it, down to the last acorn.” —The New York Times

“The sturdy, steadfast oak is the perfect tree for troubled times.” —Washington Post

“An affectionate yet scientifically rich look at an essential ingredient of the environment… A welcome addition to any tree hugger’s library.” —Kirkus

“An excellent companion to Nature’s Best Hope” —Booklist

“Douglas W. Tallamy has spread a message of people-powered biodiversity, to say that if humans have crowded out nature across the world, they can also invite it back in at close range.” Landscape Architecture Magazine

The Nature of Oaks reads like a biography, chronicling the life of these symbols of strength and their relationships over the seasons with numerous characters of nature… It’s also practical, offering advice on selecting the best oak species for your area, and planting and caring for America’s National Tree.” —The Oregonian

“Doug Tallamy’s personal detail and his conversational writing style keep the book relatable and readable while it delves into scientific matters.” —Horticulture

“Packed with fascinating stories of ecological connections and wonders, this beautiful book is a hymn to the keystones of the forest, the oaks. A timely and much needed call to plant, protect, and delight in these diverse, life-giving giants.” —David George Haskell, author of Pulitzer finalist, The Forest Unseen, and Burroughs Medalist, The Songs of Trees; Professor, University of the South
 
"Powerfully engaging from start to finish, The Nature of Oaks is joyful, scientific storytelling at its best." —Rick Darke, landscape designer, lecturer, photographer, and coauthor of Gardens of the High Line

“A fascinating and compelling book devoted to native oaks… With our hearts and minds focused on the stewardship of the only planet we have, the best way to engage in a hopeful future is to plant oaks, lots of them! Let this book be your inspiration and guide.” —The American Gardener

“In this new and enlightening book, New York Times bestselling author Douglas W. Tallamy focuses his attention on the great monolith of the arboreal world: the mighty oak! It’s a rich explanation of exactly what oaks are and how they thrive, plus it’s got a bunch of tips for how you can maintain your own oaks!” —LitHub
 

“You will not finish the book without realizing how important oak trees are to our ecosystem and the hundreds of animals that rely on them.” —The Scholar

“An essential resource on protecting and preserving the most important tree.” —The Advocate

“This book is an essential read for anyone interested in the natural world, engagingly written and dense with insights and fascinating facts.”The Los Altos Town Crier

The Nature of Oaks describes the rich web of life around one of our most loved trees and tells how people can bring this into their own yards and communities.” —Yahoo!News

“Tallamy has long been advocating for homeowners to take conservation into their own hands. With this latest publication, he provides a guide to the mighty oak: from their place in the ecosystem to how to care for those in your own backyard.” —The Wolf River Conservancy