Advance Praise for Like a Tree
“In this book Jean Bolen expresses the essence of our deep connection to and inseparability from trees. Trees have stood by us humans always; it is the least we can do to protect and save and honour them now. Bolen's thoughts and suggestions for moving forward will, as always, help us see and feel how this might be done. This is a conversation with the Tree tribe not to be missed or dismissed.”
—Alice Walker
“Read Jean Shinoda Bolen's Like a Tree, and you will never again see one without knowing it has a novel inside, it's supporting your life, and it's more spiritual than any church, temple, or mosque. Like a Tree is the rare book that not only informs, but offers a larger consciousness of life itself.”
—Gloria Steinem
“I'll always remember the sadness I felt several years ago when I drove my little girl to her first day of the new school year and saw that the huge tree that had always welcomed us as we entered the driveway in front of the school was gone. Upon inquiring about what had happened, I was told that the tree had been removed to make way for a new sports field. I couldn't believe how sad I was, or how little my sadness seemed to be shared by other people at the school. It was then that I realized what a profound shift in worldview is necessary in order for us to save the planet. I applaud everyone—including the brilliant and glorious Jean Shinoda Bolen—for helping us make the shift. Bravo, Jean. You make us feel it.”
—Marianne Williamson
“We shouldn't simply be alarmed by what's happening to our forests and our other fellow creatures. We should feel sick to our soul. And in this, as Jean Bolen says, women are taking the lead and showing, all over the world, that ‘ordinary people’ can make a difference—and that if they don't, nobody else will. Altogether, an excellent and timely book.”
—Colin Tudge, biologist and author of The Tree: A Natural History of What Trees Are, How They Live, and Why They Matter
“As someone who has spent over a quarter of a century working in and out of a cathedral, I was deeply moved by this book's parallel between a redwood forest and a cathedral. Jean Shinoda Bolen touches the sacred mission of trees, women, and all life on this planet. She rings a bell that calls us to an expanded awareness and to positive action.”
—The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, 7th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California and founder and president of the United Religions Initiative
“Jean Shinoda Bolen ... has come out with a most igniting, inspiring, and compassionate book that is bound to motivate thousands upon thousands of people into action in regards to the dire plight of girls, women, and trees in the world today.”
—Jerry Jampolsky, MD, founder, Attitudinal Healing, and Diane Cirincione, PhD, executive director, Attitudinal Healing International
“Like a Tree is for anyone who has ever admired, felt soothed by, or loved being in a tree, under trees, or in the woods. Bolen helps us to understand that trees are our life support system. A great read for anyone who cares about the future of people and planet!”
—Nina Simons, co-founder and co-CEO, Bioneers
“In Like a Tree, Jean Bolen lovingly and simply explains to the reader why trees are our essential partners in life on Mother Earth. The book helps to unravel and integrate some of the scientific facts and spiritual values which have nurtured the development of plentiful ecosystems on our planet for many thousands of years. She also underscores the importance of today's children (especially girls) and future generations in reversing this trend, which I agree is absolutely essential.”
—Donna Goodman, founder and president, Earth Child Institute
“Like a Tree is masterful—a many-branched, mystical manifesto possessing the potential to nourish the taproots of life-enhancing cultures. Reading it will quicken the seed of your own most fulfilling and potent participation in our more-than-human world during this urgent time of immense dangers and evolutionary opportunities.”
—Bill Plotkin, author of Soulcraft and Nature and the Human Soul
“In Like a Tree, Bolen provides an original and provocative look at the relationship between trees and ourselves; and their capacity to foster not only healing, but show us the power of interdependence internally and externally. This book is a call to social and environmental action that will truly make a difference.”
—Angeles Arrien, PhD, cultural anthropologist and author of The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom
“Once again, Jean takes us to a higher level of collective activism with a timely and metaphoric message for global survival. I applaud her call to action to save the planet with a new coalition of trees, women, and ‘tree people’. Count me in.”
—Marilyn Fowler, president & CEO of Women's Intercultural Network (WIN), vice president, US Women Connect
“Like a Tree serves as a deep and abundant well of useful facts, role models, metaphors, connections, resources, and above all, inspiring stories about trees and women that can be drawn on to validate and bolster one's own confidence. Like a tree, this book can sustain its reader for the long haul and mightily show us the way.”
—Andy Lipkis, founder and president, TreePeople
“Once again, Bolen inspires us with her wisdom, passion, and activism. Like a Tree is an invitation for all to see our interconnectedness and our oneness. It is simply brilliant!”
—Zainab Salbi, author of Between Two Worlds and founder of Women for Women International
“In Like a Tree, Jean Shinoda Bolen writes that ‘not enough trees, too many people’ is simple arithmetic that is a prescription for disaster. She notes that what is best for the individual woman—education, contraceptives, equality, and reproductive choice—will also be best for the planet. A genuine commitment to empower women is central to a healthier, kinder, more equitable culture and one that will sustain the quality of human life.”
—Gloria Feldt, author of No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power and past president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America
“Like a Tree is a terrific book. It's not only a very readable compendium of facts about various kinds of trees, but a treasury of wisdom about why we love them, how we love them, and how this love is part and parcel of life on earth. While alerting us to the pending disaster of climate change and other collective mistakes we have made through moving personal testimony, this book also gives us a good starting point for change.”
—Susan Griffin, author of Woman and Nature: The Roaring Inside Her
OTHER BOOKS BY JEAN SHINODA BOLEN
Urgent Message from Mother
The Millionth Circle
The Tao of Psychology
Goddesses in Everywoman
