THE GENIUS OF TREES How They Mastered the Elements and Shaped the World

Author Rix is clearly fascinated with trees. She surveys them, going back millions of years, and describes their current importance as a moderating force on climate change. Rix's English voice is lovely, and her performance is both precise and full of enthusiasm. She travels the world to oak trees in Iraq, cloud forests in the Canary Islands, and eucalypts in Australia. Rix is no fan of the eucalypts, given their tendency to burn intensely. A plethora of scientific and technical information is provided, so even with Rix's careful delivery, a certain level of background knowledge is helpful. Overall, Rix's narration celebrates the positive effects of trees on the air and soil, on fire and water, and even on people. [Published: JANUARY 2026]