Tree With Golden Apples is a collection of twelve evocative stories drawn from world myths that reveal both the beauty and truth offered to humans by the plant kingdom. Susan Strauss, a renowned professional storyteller, and educator, begins each section with insights and ideas to help new and established storytellers tell stories in the best way possible. Following each story, the scientific significance of the story is explained, providing a depth of content and connection for the storyteller and the audience. These stories help us connect the rich oral tradition to the world around us.
Industry Reviews
"Tree with Golden Apples is that rare book that can only be called a gorgeously integrated work of art. Content (stories, scientific information, storytelling guidance and vibrant illustrations) and form (the way the book is organized and presented) all combine to create an inspired and inspiring whole. A treasure for storytellers, parents and children, interpreters, those interested in marrying literature with science, and of course, lovers of trees." --Linda Sussman, Ph.D. author, The Speech of the Grail: A Journey Toward Speaking That Heals and Transforms
"As a celebrated storyteller, Susan Strauss intuitively understands how human beings are hardwired from our evolutionary history, from our biology, that cellular net stronger and even more subtle than spider silk to connect our roots through the act of telling stories which is a literal expiration, a breathing out of spirit." --Shelton Johnson, Acclaimed Storyteller, Author, and Interpreter
"Susan Strauss expertly weaves myth, storytelling, and science in this gem of a book. She includes the natural cycles of life and death seen in nature and mirrored in the dance all humans encounter throughout our history. This connection of people and plants encourages our own personal desire to sink our hands in the rich, cool soil of the garden and grow something miraculous." --Christine Capra, Coauthor and Editor, The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy (CRC Press, 2019); Cofounder of the Horticultural Therapy Institute
I love this book. I recognize it as a deep and generous gift for these perilous times when we need so badly to draw on the full palette of human understanding, past and present, logical and lyrical, science and story. --Susan Cross, Director, TellTale, UK
Susan Strauss is the "gold standard" of storytelling. Whether on the page or on the stage, she never fails to kindle the fire of memory and recall to us the oldest wisdom and most practical knowledge. She is both profound and delightful, mesmerizing and authoritative, deeply rooted in the study of science and wonderfully gifted in the art form of storytelling. Like Scheherazade of old, Susan Strauss brings the medicine of story to us on a dark night of the soul, reminding us all of creation is pulsing with intelligence, wonder and healing. --Will Hornyak, Storyteller
