Not for everyone, but I did find it interesting how oak has played such an important, integral role in societal evolution. Some bits are abut technical and could use more in the way of illustration especially some of the carpentry terms. The first section on acorns as a food source was very interesting and makes me wonder why we aren't utilizing acorn meal in our diets today. It sounds like it is very nutritious! I bought this book because I attended a seminar on oaks and the author was a presenter. Otherwise i probably would never have been aware of the book. ( )

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2485017.html

Logan tries to show that the oak tree is Awfully Important to Western Civilisation, and indeed makes a reasonable case for the place of oak in various foundational texts and physical structures of our society. In particular, I liked the points made about the nutritional value of acorn flour (though it's odd that it isn't used more) and the oak structure of Westminster Hall and of early modern sailing ships. There were some odd slips (Burley for Burghley, Wainright for Wainwright) and the naval warfare theme got more than a little sidetracked when it came to the nineteenth century. It's a reasonable effort, though reflecting rather than communicating the author's obsession with the subject.

Of course, he completely omits those civilisations and culture for whom oak was not an option. I'm a little troubled by the nativist resonances of his equating Europe and the Middle East with pre-Columbian North and Central America, and the fact that this particular focus erases Africa and other places where oak doesn't grow.

I would also have liked to know more about how oak fitted in with other types of wood in the ancient world. It's interesting that Ötzi the iceman carried many different types of wood crafted into tools - none of them oak, as far as I can tell from a quick scan of the websites. Logan's focus on oak, important as it was and is, rather obscures the rest of the forest. ( )

Gli alberi sono gli esseri viventi più alti, più imponenti e più antichi del mondo. La quercia non ha nessuno di questi record, ma cosa la rende così speciale? Ripercorrendo la sua storia ed i luoghi in cui cresce scopriremo l'importanza di questo albero per l'evoluzione umana.

Mildy interesting, but neither engrossing nor memorable ( )

While I'm glad I didn't buy it, this book is genuinely fun. Some of the author's information is questionable, but much of it appears to be good. An entertaining and edifying read about Oak, that genuinely makes trees interesting. The book touches on most oak-related topics including their used as food/medicine, and as the wood that made the Viking ships. Very much worth picking up if you're interested in Oaks and history. ( )