The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop

Trees have played countless roles in human history – by turns hopeful symbols of freedom, pioneering space travellers, keepers of ancient history and accessories to murder. From art to politics, science to crime, these are the stories of the trees that have shaped life on Earth. Neurobiologist and philosopher Stefano Mancuso tells eight stories of trees that have rooted themselves in human history – from the red spruces that were made into Stradivarius’ violins to the wooden ladder that solved ‘The Crime of the Century’. Combining scientific vigour with his inimitable voice, he reveals the amazing ways that the world’s green-print has shaped the course of our lives, issuing a passionate rallying cry for greater care and attention towards the plants that have helped us survive and thrive.