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How to Be More Tree

Essential Life Lessons for Perennial Happiness

Illustrated by Annie Davidson
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A beautifully illustrated celebration of the wisdom of trees and what they can teach us about everyday life, from basking in the sun to weathering the storm.

This sweet and informative book brings together fifty-nine universal life lessons taken from the infinite wisdom of trees. As you learn about dozens of trees, from the Acai palm to the Yoshino cherry, you'll find that their means of survival are not so different from ours. The juniper tree proves that it's possible to flourish anywhere as long as we put down strong roots. A mountain hemlock finds strength basking in the sun while a black walnut's sturdiness comes from its thick, steely core. The hawthorn demonstrates resilience as it adapts to strong winds and storms by finding balance in its roots.

Trees have many more lessons to offer, from letting go of the past, to branching out, to resisting the urge to overstretch ourselves. With detailed illustrations and advice for lifelong happiness, How to Be More Tree is an essential companion for all those moments when we're having trouble seeing the forest for the trees.
Potter Gift, a lifestyle imprint of Penguin Random House, specializes in design, fashion, humor, wellness, stationery, and other paper and gift products. View titles by Potter Gift
Introduction

Trees are truly amazing. Sure, they change carbon dioxide into oxygen, which is pretty important if you like breathing, but did you know they also build networks with other trees, can take action when they are being threatened, and have all sorts of clever ways to carry on growing even when they are knocked flat? Trees have been around for nearly 400 million years – a good amount of time to accumulate some serious wisdom – and they’ve become masters at adapting, surviving, and thriving.

In our complex and often confusing human existence, it’s not always easy to keep a cool head and a happy heart. If something is getting under your bark, or you’re suffering from a few snapped branches, or you just need reminding to enjoy the feeling of the sun on your foliage, we hope you’ll find the inspiration in these pages to help deal with life’s bumps and bruises. So sit back, let the wind gently rustle your canopy, and discover how to be more tree.

About

A beautifully illustrated celebration of the wisdom of trees and what they can teach us about everyday life, from basking in the sun to weathering the storm.

This sweet and informative book brings together fifty-nine universal life lessons taken from the infinite wisdom of trees. As you learn about dozens of trees, from the Acai palm to the Yoshino cherry, you'll find that their means of survival are not so different from ours. The juniper tree proves that it's possible to flourish anywhere as long as we put down strong roots. A mountain hemlock finds strength basking in the sun while a black walnut's sturdiness comes from its thick, steely core. The hawthorn demonstrates resilience as it adapts to strong winds and storms by finding balance in its roots.

Trees have many more lessons to offer, from letting go of the past, to branching out, to resisting the urge to overstretch ourselves. With detailed illustrations and advice for lifelong happiness, How to Be More Tree is an essential companion for all those moments when we're having trouble seeing the forest for the trees.

Author

Potter Gift, a lifestyle imprint of Penguin Random House, specializes in design, fashion, humor, wellness, stationery, and other paper and gift products. View titles by Potter Gift

Excerpt

Introduction

Trees are truly amazing. Sure, they change carbon dioxide into oxygen, which is pretty important if you like breathing, but did you know they also build networks with other trees, can take action when they are being threatened, and have all sorts of clever ways to carry on growing even when they are knocked flat? Trees have been around for nearly 400 million years – a good amount of time to accumulate some serious wisdom – and they’ve become masters at adapting, surviving, and thriving.

In our complex and often confusing human existence, it’s not always easy to keep a cool head and a happy heart. If something is getting under your bark, or you’re suffering from a few snapped branches, or you just need reminding to enjoy the feeling of the sun on your foliage, we hope you’ll find the inspiration in these pages to help deal with life’s bumps and bruises. So sit back, let the wind gently rustle your canopy, and discover how to be more tree.