A sweeping natural history of the humble trees that built nations, sparked wars, and became the world's most cherished holiday tradition.
Every December, millions of people around the globe adorn their homes, offices, and town squares with lavishly decorated Christmas trees to celebrate the holiday season. Yet few pause to wonder: Where did this tradition come from? And in an age of climate upheaval and artificial replicas, will these beloved trees still be here for future generations?
In Evergreen, Cornell University professor Trent Preszler weaves together a captivating story of humanity's deeply rooted relationship with evergreens, revealing how the trees shaped economies, launched cultural movements, and propelled America's rise to global prominence. With stunning historical range and lyrical insight, Preszler guides readers from the awe-inspiring evergreen cathedrals of the West to Christmas tree farms in the Midwest, sawmills in the South, the iconic Rockefeller Center spruce in the East, and beyond.
Blending cinematic detail with compelling ecological and cultural history, Evergreen explores the hidden tensions between nature, commerce, and spirituality that have confounded humanity for millennia. At once timeless and urgently relevant, Evergreen delivers a stirring reflection on the quiet power of trees, challenging us to reconsider the delicate balance between our restless ambition and the living world that sustains us.
Review Quotes:
"An expansive and unflinching tale about the vastness of America, its ambitions, and its contradictions--all told through the beauty and complexity of our greatest American resource: the mighty evergreens. Beautifully written and deeply researched, this book is filled with surprises, secrets, and unvarnished truths."-- Kevin O'Connor, host of This Old House
"A revelatory, confronting, and skillfully crafted natural history. At once a tribute to the wonder of trees, and a timely reminder of our urgent environmental responsibilities. Eloquent, elemental, and eye opening."-- Callum Robinson, author of Ingrained: The Making of a Craftsman
"A perfect holiday read that will illuminate your Christmas tree in new ways! Preszler reminds us how we have lived alongside evergreens for centuries, and how climate change could impact their future."-- Lyndsie Bourgon, author of Tree Thieves
"Sparkling . . . Preszler's well-researched and often poignant account is strewn with intriguing trivia. History and nature buffs alike will find much to enjoy."-- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Smashing and energizing . . . In each illuminating chapter, Preszler shares how the appearance of the ubiquitous evergreen at key points in America's past has made it an indelible part of the nation's identity and an undeniable symbol of holiday joy. This title is a must-read for book discussion groups and would make an outstanding addition to any general history collection."-- Booklist
Trent Preszler is a professor of practice in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University and serves as director of the Henry David Thoreau Foundation's Planetary Solutions Initiative. After growing up on a cattle ranch in South Dakota and attending a one-room schoolhouse on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, his first job out of college was a White House internship for President Bill Clinton. Preszler received a BS from Iowa State University and an MS and a PhD from Cornell University. A former winemaker and wooden boatbuilder, his life was profiled in a documentary that won a New York Emmy Award in 2018.
Algonquin Books
Pub Date: December 02, 2025
ISBN: 9781643756707
0.89" H x 9.56" L x 6.38" W
224 pages
hardcover