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A review by benjobuks
Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest by Suzanne Simard
4.0
One of my favorite memoirs by a scientist. Dives deep into the chaos of the experimental method, and the role of the author's (renowned forester Suzanne Simard) relationships and family history in informing her focus on relationships as the foundation of forest health. It's raw, it's beautiful, it flows, it held my attention and I have the greatest respect for this researcher who's work became groundbreaking, but only after the male establishment threw all its might into trying to break her.
My only qualm is technical: she ignores the importance of fungal agency in plant-fungal (mycorrhizal) relationships. For resources to move from "Mother Trees" to their kin, they have to move through fungi first. Fungi are active agents who make complex decisions to actively transport water, nutrients, etc... in ways that promote their own health. When trees send nutrients to each other, it's only because it also aligns with what benefits fungi. She seems to ignore this significant piece of the mycorrhizal equation, emphasizing the agency of trees above all else. this trend is present not just in this book, but in her TED talks, popular science articles and her academic research.
Outside of this informational issue, the book is wonderfully written and elegantly composed. Highly recommend, especially to those interested in conservation, alternative science, forests, and anything plant related.
My only qualm is technical: she ignores the importance of fungal agency in plant-fungal (mycorrhizal) relationships. For resources to move from "Mother Trees" to their kin, they have to move through fungi first. Fungi are active agents who make complex decisions to actively transport water, nutrients, etc... in ways that promote their own health. When trees send nutrients to each other, it's only because it also aligns with what benefits fungi. She seems to ignore this significant piece of the mycorrhizal equation, emphasizing the agency of trees above all else. this trend is present not just in this book, but in her TED talks, popular science articles and her academic research.
Outside of this informational issue, the book is wonderfully written and elegantly composed. Highly recommend, especially to those interested in conservation, alternative science, forests, and anything plant related.