The Book of Leaves: A Leaf-by-Leaf Guide to Six Hundred of the World's Great Trees Hardcover – November 1, 2010

This book is wonderful and should be in the library of any naturalist or phytologist.

"The Book of Leaves" is appealing to many readers, perhaps even more than Alan Coombs, the author and Zsolt Debreczy, his editor, even imagined. The book features leaves from 600 trees, one to a page. Each page presents a full-sized photograph of the leaf, a smaller photograph in the case of compound leaves, a short description of the tree and leaf, a world-map showing the origin of the tree, a sketch of the tree with an estimate of its size, a chart with relevant facts on the tree and a short paragraph describing the distintion between the subject leaf and similar leaves. This is a lot of information on one page but the pages are well designed and never look crowded or busy. The book includes a glossary of botanic terms, and a chapter explaining how to identify a tree by its leaf. There is an index of trees by common name and another index by Latin name. The trees are grouped by their botanic family, and listed alphabetically. The book includes only trees of the 'temperate' zone, which is most of North America.Photographers will appreciate the quality of the pictures. Perfect specimens were photographed in a studio and the veins, serrations and details of the leaves are readily visible. Naturalists will appreciate the difficulties of collecting 600 perfect leaf samples from many places and keeping the leaves fresh until they were photographed. The author graciously thanks all who contributed to this phase of the project.Students and professionals in botany, forestry and horticultural will appreciate the concise presentation of facts and the wonderful photographs. The general reader will find that the book is fun. Who would have ever guessed that there are so many maple trees? So many oak trees? Who does not want to know the name of the tree in their backyard, in the park, on the street? And, the tree may have been imported from China! I can see children studying the pages, leaf in hand."The Book of Leaves" not include cultivars, and, for the most part, other identifying characteristics such as buds, bark and stems. All of photographs were taken when the leaves were green so Fall colors have to be imagined. These omissions do not limit the usefulness of this well-designed, attractive book.

Wow ... what a phenomenal book!! I was so excited when this book came in the mail. I bought it as a "stab in the dark", right before I hit the trail for field exploration in the Andes. Thanks to other readers for pointing out the virtues of this book. The author has done a tremendous job to take 600 of the major trees of the world, and give an exact lifelike photo of the leaves of that tree. Each page goes with one species of tree. There is a small map showing the distribution (global), a sketch dhowing overall appearance of the tree, a paragraph describing significant features, AND a beautiful color portrait of the leaves. This is one of those types of books ... where you open it and say ... Wow! I cant believe somebody went to the trouble to do this. For me, it's a lifesaver. Big thanks to Allen Coombes. This book is Highly Recommrnded!!

A wonderful reference for my autistic daughter who loves leaves

Whether you're looking for eye candy or a study guide, The Book of Leaves will serve you well. Leaf type and anatomy, taxonomy and nomenclature are covered in brief sections at the front. Glossary, common name index and scientific name index are at the back. The remainder of this very heavy book is devoted to individual pages for selected dicotyledonous tree species from around the world. The designer(s) at Ivy Press in the UK should be commended for outstanding information design. Each page uses the minimum but sufficient space for text about the habit, distribution and leaf type. The rest of the page is devoted to a flat photograph of the leaf in question - life size - providing a better sense of texture than many field guides. Unlike a field guide, however, fruits, blossoms and bark are not shown, but brief descriptions are given. Artists, naturalists and teachers will appreciate this beautiful book.

This is a beautiful book and a very useful one. The images of each type of leaf are just gorgeous.

I purchased this book after reading a great review of it in the Chicago Tribune. It is just as the review described -- a great reference book for the trees of the world, complete with copies of the leaves, typically pictured in their exact size. After perusing the book, I soon recognized, however, that it would be great if the authors could publish a sequel that would limit the coverage just to the trees of the United States and not the entire world. Clearly, this sequel would be of a much-reduced size, but I think the authors would soon find that there would be a great demand for such a book of more limited scope. Anyway, the authors clearly have made a great contribution. I am not an arborist or the like but simply wanted something to bring me more up to speed on what is growing in my tree-infested yard (and elsewhere).

I bought this book for a friend for her b'day. I haven't given it to her yet but I did look through it and it's absoultely beautidul. I'm sure she's going to love it as she really likes leaves and anything that has leaves decor on an item i.e. sweatshirt, dishes, jewerlt ect.

excellent

Book was in perfect condition. Quick delivery

The 'Book of Leaves' was top of my son's Christmas list, as he is an arborist and is doing some more specialised study to add to his qualifications. The book is excellent, loads of pictures, and covers more trees than I knew existed and was interesting, even to me. It has been out of print for many years, so obtaining a copy was not going to be easy. Amazon came up trumps. I ordered a lightly used copy, which seems absolutely as new. My son is delighted, and I am pleased that my seemingly impossible task was so easy.

An exceptional indeed book for trees enthusiasts. I can only recommend it.

Excellent book but Indian tree leaves are slightly less other wise excellent really amazing photography