The Treeline cover art

The Treeline

The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Treeline

By: Ben Rawlence
Narrated by: Jamie Parker
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $26.99

Buy Now for $26.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The Treeline is a spellbinding blend of nature, travel and science writing, deeply researched and beautifully written, underpinned by an urgent environmental message.

The Arctic Treeline - the northern limit of the boreal forest that encircles the globe in an almost unbroken green ring - is the second largest biome on our planet. At this little-known frontline of climate change, the trees have been creeping towards the pole for 50 years already.

Six of the tree species that populate these forests (larch, spruce, mountain ash, downy birch, balsam poplar and Scots pine) form the central protagonists of Ben Rawlence's story. In Scotland, Northern Scandinavia, Siberia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland, he discovers what these trees and the people who live and work alongside them have to tell us about the past, present and future of our planet. Scientists are only just beginning to understand the astonishing significance of these forests for all life on Earth. At the Treeline, Rawlence witnesses the accelerating impact of climate change and the devastating legacies of colonialism and capitalism. But he also finds reasons for hope. Humans are creatures of the forest; we have always evolved with trees. The Treeline asks us where our co-evolution might take us next.

©2022 Ben Rawlence (P)2022 Penguin Audio
Botany & Plants Earth Sciences Environment Polar Region Alaska

What listeners say about The Treeline

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    10
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful, challenging, essential.

This book is a masterpiece - a travelogue of a journey around the northern forests; an investigation into the impacts of climate change, deforestation, and industrial capitalism more generally; an insight into the complex lives not only of trees, but of their symbiotic relationship with the rest of the forest; an exploration of how many indigenous societies have evolved to live with the Arctic tundra and how this ecosystem is now disappearing; and a consideration of some of the principles we will need to follow in order to adapt to a world that is already changing dramatically.

The descriptions of the landscapes, the trees, animals and people are full of wonder and memorable detail. There are a few scientific ideas and terms used but this is always done carefully and with respect to a lay reader like myself. The author shows respect to the views of all people interviewed regardless of their politics, and although his own perspective is clear, this is never a polemic.

I’ve been fortunate enough to discover some outstanding books recently, particularly The Nutmeg’s Curse, Born in Blackness and Stolen Focus, but this is the pick of the bunch and I would love for it to reach the widest possible audience.

Thank you Ben Rawlence, and wonderfully read by Jamie Parker.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

fascinating

This was a beautifully written book, however, if it hadn't of been for the epilogue it would have left me quiet depressed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A reminder of the fragility of our planet

Scary but so important, this book should be on the school curriculum if we want to save ourselves and the planet.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.