--- title: The Overstory by Richard Powers description: "Editor’s note: Two reasons to avoid this book, kindly referenced by my friend, Joe Gibson: a. you’re looking for recreational reading or b..." image: https://springmag.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Overstory-1200x600.jpg --- [![Main-Logo-01-1](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Main-Logo-01-1.png?width=250&height=43&name=Main-Logo-01-1.png "Main-Logo-01-1")](https://www.thebusinessofgood.org) # | Blog ## [The Overstory by Richard Powers](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/the-overstory-by-richard-powers) ** Aug 1, 2020 12:08:31 PM / by [Tim McCarthy](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/author/tim-mccarthy) [***![](https://springmag.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Overstory-1200x600.jpg)***](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-overstory_richard-powers/19531683/item/32136134/?mkwid=%7cdc&pcrid=448933291908&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&plc=&pgrid=107307614311&ptaid=pla-957644527157&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpZT5BRCdARIsAGEX0zla3H168fx95kSe5HuzF_iVMoFuKhuqudLJZLqD1D34nfF3QaykRwQaAveGEALw_wcB#isbn=039335668X&idiq=32136134)   ***Editor’s note: ** Two reasons to avoid this book, kindly referenced by my friend, Joe Gibson: a. you’re looking for recreational reading (I had to strain to stay on track) or b. you’re not much for Thoreau-type literature that combines style and point of view.  Powers creates seven fabled characters then weaves them into a long and stylish commentary about trees and nature’s relationship to humanity.  The extreme arc of his characters, from western farmers to silicon valley gamers, along with the depth of his understanding and research on botany and human history, both lost me and captivated me. Everything in this book is a stretch, but one in my view worth taking.*   **Excerpt: ** “There are no individuals.  There aren’t even separate species.  Everything in the forest is the forest.  Competition is not separable from endless flavors of cooperation. Trees fight no more than do the leaves on a single tree.  It seems that most of nature* isn’t* red in tooth and claw, after all.   For one, those species at the base of the living pyramid have neither teeth nor talons.  But if trees share their storehouses, then every drop of red must float on a sea of green.”   [**Available Here**](https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-overstory_richard-powers/19531683/item/32136134/?mkwid=%7cdc&pcrid=448933291908&pkw=&pmt=&slid=&plc=&pgrid=107307614311&ptaid=pla-957644527157&gclid=Cj0KCQjwpZT5BRCdARIsAGEX0zla3H168fx95kSe5HuzF_iVMoFuKhuqudLJZLqD1D34nfF3QaykRwQaAveGEALw_wcB#isbn=039335668X&idiq=32136134)   Tags: [Creativity & Favorites](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/topic/creativity-favorites) ![Tim McCarthy](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Tim-square%20edit-1.png?width=100&height=100&name=Tim-square%20edit-1.png) #### Written by [Tim McCarthy](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/author/tim-mccarthy) ### Subscribe to Email Updates - Recent - Popular - Categories ### Lists by Topic - [Creativity & Favorites (686)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/creativity-favorites) - [Monthly Newsletter (232)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/monthly-newsletter) - [Learning and Knowledge (209)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/learning-and-knowledge) - [Organizational & Operational Excellence (34)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/organizational-operational-excellence) - [Personal Well-Being (30)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/personal-well-being) - [Communication & Relationships (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/communication-relationships) - [Professional Growth and Development (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/professional-growth-and-development) - [Business & Entrepreneurship (27)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/business-entrepreneurship) - [Social Impact & Responsibility (9)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/social-impact-responsibility) ### Posts by Topic - [Creativity & Favorites (686)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/creativity-favorites) - [Monthly Newsletter (232)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/monthly-newsletter) - [Learning and Knowledge (209)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/learning-and-knowledge) - [Organizational & Operational Excellence (34)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/organizational-operational-excellence) - [Personal Well-Being (30)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/personal-well-being) - [Communication & Relationships (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/communication-relationships) - [Professional Growth and Development (29)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/professional-growth-and-development) - [Business & Entrepreneurship (27)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/business-entrepreneurship) - [Social Impact & Responsibility (9)](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/tag/social-impact-responsibility) [See all](https://blog.thebusinessofgood.org/the-overstory-by-richard-powers#) ### Recent Posts --- Listen to Tim's Monthly Favorites on Spotify --- See Tim's Library at GoodReads ## [Tim's Book of the Month Library](https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/16122954-tim-mccarthy?shelf=books-of-the-month&utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [![The Hunter](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1692131625l/174156145._SX50_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602634062?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [The Hunter](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602634062?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) by [Tana French](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/138825.Tana_French) [![Man’s Search for Meaning](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535419394l/4069._SY75_.jpg)](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602636003?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) [Man’s Search for Meaning](https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6602636003?utm_medium=api&utm_source=custom_widget) by [Viktor E. 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