Evergreen - by Trent Preszler (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A sweeping natural history of the most valuable trees on earth that have quietly transformed our economies, cultural traditions, and collective imagination for millennia.

Every December, homes, offices, and town squares around the world are adorned with lavishly decorated evergreens to ring in the holiday season. But how did this beloved tradition begin? And as the planet continues to warm and more people swap real trees for artificial ones, will Christmas trees still be here for future generations?

In Evergreen, Cornell University professor Trent Preszler takes us on a riveting journey through history, culture, and science, exploring America's story through the lives of its most resilient and cherished trees. From the annual hunt for the perfect Rockefeller Center spruce, back to the earliest days when Ancestral Puebloan builders crafted remarkable dwellings from pine beams, Evergreen reveals surprising connections between past and present that fueled America's rise to global prominence.

With masterly prose and a cinematic eye, Preszler captures the enduring struggle between nature's grandeur and humanity's desire to control and consume it. At once expansive and intimate, Evergreen delivers a stirring reflection on what it means to live in a world where Christmas trees stand as silent witnesses to our restless ambition, challenging us to reconsider the delicate balance between commercial excess and our profound yearning for hope and immortality.

Review Quotes

Previous praise for Trent Prezler:

"Insightful, lyrical...Little and Often proves to be a rich tale of self-discovery and reconciliation. Resonating with Robert Pirsig's classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, it is a profound father-and-son odyssey that discovers the importance of the beauty of imperfection and small triumphs that make extraordinary happen." -- USA Today (four stars)

"The woodworking is rich and beyond impressive, but Preszler's humble soul work is utterly transcendent. Courageous. Genuine. Cathartic. Will restore your faith in forgiveness. Will make you believe in grace." -- Matthew Quick, New York Times bestselling author of The Silver Linings Playbook and The Reason You're Alive

"An impressive memoir, and a richly rendered tale. I thought (with relish) that I was getting a book about wood and tools, but the canoe built herein is merely the vessel carrying the buoyant narrative about a father and son, a mother and sister, love, hard work, wine, boats and a dog. I may have grown misty at one point." -- Nick Offerman, actor and New York Times bestselling author

'Sometimes a writer goes on a journey in order to write a book. More rarely, a writer writes a book in order to go on a journey. Little and Often belongs to that latter category of memoir, built from the inside out. In Trent Preszler's hands, we are smoothed, soothed, and made anew as he peels back layer after layer of his grief and loss until there is only love and forgiveness. This is an unforgettable story of a father's final, life-altering gift to his son.' -- Dani Shapiro, New York Times bestselling author of Inheritance

"Trent Preszler's beautiful, compelling memoir tells of his struggle that spans a divided country and family alike. The writing is simple and elegant, harkening back to great American writers such as John Williams and Willa Cather. The expanse between South Dakota, New York City, and finally the North Fork of Long Island is enormous for a young gay man struggling with his father's legacy. It's a tenderly wrought tale of coming to terms with our past that will resonate no matter who you are." -- Isaac Mizrahi, fashion designer and host of Project Runway

'Woodworking meets bridge-building, and sorrow meets understanding in this impeccably written, loving memoir.' -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Little and Often is a beautiful memoir of grief, love, the shattered bond between a father and son, and the resurrection of a broken heart. Trent Preszler tells his story with the same level of art and craftsmanship that he brings to his boat making, and he reminds us of creativity's power to transform and heal our lives. This is a powerful and deeply moving book. I won't soon forget it." -- Elizabeth Gilbert

'Masterful. With Little and Often, Trent Preszler gives us not only a memoir of sons and fathers, acceptance and reconciliation, but also a stirring meditation on objects, their memories, and the complexities of inheritance. The prose is crystalline, and Preszler's voice is as sure as the steadiest canoe.' -- Grant Ginder, author of The People We Hate at the Wedding and Honestly, We Meant Well

"Little and Often is a meditation on spiritual growth, nature's magic, the love for family, regret, and the redemptive power of craftsmanship. I have the highest regard for Trent's courage in writing this big and beautiful memoir. It's a soulful and sometimes gut-wrenching story of the difficult relationships between fathers and sons. This gem couldn't be more relevant to the times we live in today." -- Kevin O'Connor, host of 'This Old House" on PBS

"Ultimately it's a tale as well crafted as the beautiful canoe." -- Booklist

"Little and Often is filled with joy.' -- Denver Post

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About the Author

Trent Preszler grew up on a cattle ranch in South Dakota and received his BS from Iowa State University in 1998. He was subsequently awarded a Rotary Scholarship to the UK and a diploma from the Royal Botanic Garden. After a White House internship for President Bill Clinton, he earned an MS in agricultural economics and a PhD in horticulture from Cornell University. The recipient of the 2024 Henry David Thoreau Foundation Prize, he is the CEO of Bedell Cellars and founder of Preszler Woodshop in New York and teaches at Cornell University. His first book was a memoir, Little and Often, which Elizabeth Gilbert called "beautiful, powerful, and deeply moving" and Dani Shapirio called simply "unforgettable."