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...

Words are magic. They can be used to awaken as well as instruct. The inquiring mind can reason only that which the heart has prepared it to do. The words in this book are intended to awaken, through the heart, an awareness of human divinity so that, once acted upon intelligently, a spiritual healing may result. The messages within these letters hold the promise of personal transformation and the opportunity to change the world around us one person at a time.