Must Love Trees: An Unconventional Guide by Tobin Mitnick

 

I feel like I get most of my followers on Goodreads because the books I read are so weird, that people are like, trying to figure out my system. "Does she read bodice-rippers on Wednesdays and nonfiction on Fridays? WHERE did she hear about an art coffee table book about stuffed Victorian hunting trophies?" I have weird taste in books, okay? I'm not even going to bother defending it; my taste is eclectic and odd, because so am I. But if there's one thing that's basically guaranteed to snag my attention, it's weird nonfiction books about FUN!SCIENCE.

MUST LOVE TREES is a book written by a dude who is a tree aficionado. (Treeficionado?) I think he might be TikTok famous but I'm not sure. What I am sure about is that this man LOVES trees. In addition to some scientific information, he also creates a fake award set for best trees in movies (he calls them the Treemies), talks about going for walks in his neighborhood and taking paths to see his favorite trees, provides lists about most huggable trees, and then even brags about his impeccable taste in Christmas trees, followed by a breakdown by genus.

I like trees but apparently I don't LOVE trees. Not like this guy, anyway. But I appreciate and admire his enthusiasm. I also appreciated and admired the art in this book, which was cartoony and cute. The cover actually doesn't do this book justice, imo. I'm giving this a three because sometimes this book could be too cheesy and it would make you feel how one-note this book is, hard. For what it is, I think it's really fun, and this would probably be a great resource in an elementary school or middle school science lab because I think kids would get a kick out of it. But it's not something I'd pick up again and again. (Although I miiiiiight be obsessed with sweetgum trees now, SO PRETTY.)

Thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!

3 to 3.5 out of 5 stars