A rich, authoritative look at a material that plays an
essential role in human culture
Wood has been a central part of human life throughout the world for
thousands of years. In an intoxicating mix of science, history, and
practical information, historian and woodworker Harvey Green
considers this vital material's place on the planet. What makes one
wood hard and one soft? How did we find it, tame it? Where does it
fit into the histories of technology, architecture, and
industrialization, of empire, exploration, and settlement? Spanning
the surprising histories of the log cabin and Windsor chair, the
deep truth about veneer, the role of wood in the American
Revolution, the disappearance of the rain forests, the botany
behind the baseball bat, and much more, Wood is a deep and
satisfying look at one of our most treasured resources.