Oak: The Frame of Civilization

The story of the oak is the story of civilization. The oak tree is everywhere in the temperate zones of the world; knowing how to use it has made an astonishing difference to human history. Its acorns have sustained humans and animals; its wood has been central to religious rites, heating, homemaking, and travel by land and sea; the ink from oak galls advanced the written word; oak casks have made possible food and drink storage and transport; oak ships have fought the dramatic naval battles that determined political and economic history. Book combines science, philosophy, and history with curiosity about why the natural world works the way it does. Recent studies reveal remarkable facts about the communitarian nature of oaks and their role in ecosystems.

ISBN 9780393327786 • Author: William Bryant Logan