Publishers Weekly
08/28/2023
Fredericks (The Secret Life of Clams), a professor emeritus of education at York College of Pennsylvania, serves up pensive if rambling meditations on 10 species of trees that can live to be more than a thousand years old. Exploring the adaptations that contribute to the trees’ longevity, he explains that California’s redwoods evolved needle-like leaves capable of absorbing fog, which spares the trees from having to transport water 350 or so feet from their roots to their uppermost branches, and that bristlecone pines developed shallow roots to better “seize the scarce moisture” in California’s White Mountains. Fredericks adorns the science with poetic flourishes, including scenes depicting what humans were doing around the time that some of the oldest existing trees sprouted. For example, he describes a Wanakipa teenager watching her mother collect shellfish for dinner around 10,979 BCE to emphasize the age of a 13,000-year-old colony of palmer’s oak in Riverside County, Calif. The lack of an overall argument tying together the science, anecdotes about Fredericks seeking out the trees in their natural habitats, and dendrochronology methods makes this feel a bit meandering, but the author’s reverence for his subjects endears (“Wise teachers, those redwoods”). The result is a ruminative exploration of some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. Illus. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
"Fredericks adorns the science with poetic flourishes, including scenes depicting what humans were doing around the time that some of the oldest existing trees sprouted. [...] the author’s reverence for his subjects endears (“Wise teachers, those redwoods”). The result is a ruminative exploration of some of the oldest living organisms on Earth."
CHOICE
"In an engaging narrative written with awe and wonder, Fredericks (emer., education, York College of Pennsylvania) takes the reader across the US to appreciate ancient trees and the landscapes around them. Each of the ten trees and forests explored begins with stories from when a single seed sprouted, which may have been from 1,000 to 13,000 years ago, before returning to the present. Using interviews and quotes from dendrochronologists and other researchers and conservation groups working to protect ancient trees, Fredericks weaves a chronicle of how these trees and forests have come to be, what challenges they face now and in the future, and what inspirations or impact on the senses visiting these landmarks and testaments to time may have on a person. Eight chapters explore western forests, with their bristlecone pines, redwoods, sequoias, and trembling aspen, but other species are visited in the eastern US, including oaks and bald cypress. Fredericks includes many thought-provoking considerations throughout. An appendix catalogs several of the oldest trees in the world outside of the US. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels, but especially general readers."
THE HEALTHY PLANET MAGAZINE
"This book reads as a pilgrimage. [Fredericks'] journey, wide-ranging thoughts and information come to life in his book In Search of the Old Ones, an Odyssey among Ancient Trees. [...] Along with stories about life at the time these trees took root, there is vast information about what scientists know about these trees, how cores are taken to determine exact age and mention of other writings about these ancient lives. There are no glossy photographs, instead lovely black, white, and gray illustrations of the featured trees and land. Phyllis Disher Fredericks and Rebecca Noelle Purvis are the illustrators. Their drawings give the book a nature journal feel that makes for a more personal and intimate communication between the tree, artist, and reader."
“In Search of the Old Ones is a great companion for anyone exploring the outdoors. This book is a spiritual guide to help us appreciate trees, groves, and forests. It humbly asks us to understand and protect these companions that have patiently provided us with support, energy, shade, relief, inspiration, and beauty. I can picture John Muir sitting in front of these Old Ones, in the same way that Anthony Fredericks did, inspiring a generation of conservationists to act in the face of climate change and other defining challenges of our times.” —Ramón J. Cruz, president of the Sierra Club
“Beautifully written and brimming with amazing information. Fredericks is an acute observer who explores the miracles that trees are.” —Beth Moon, photographer of Ancient Trees: Portraits of Time
“A fascinating investigation into our relationship with ancient trees and how they reveal so much about our environment and our past.” —Tristan Gooley, author of How to Read a Tree
“In Search of the Old Ones is a delightful journey throughout the United States to visit the country’s most ancient trees. It’s an exploration of awe-inspiring veteran trees of different species. This fascinating book offers a unique and enlightening perspective on these arboreal wonders, weaving together historical anecdotes and a deep reverence for nature. Whether you’re a nature lover or a history enthusiast, you’ll love this book.” —Holly Worton, author of If Trees Could Talk
