The Penguin Podcast is back! Listen Now
The Man Who Climbs Trees

The Man Who Climbs Trees

Summary


'A book of heart-stopping bravery and endurance' -- Helen Macdonald
'A great read – incredible adventures and a dramatic new perspective' -- Chris Packham
'[A] delightful, endlessly fascinating book' -- Daily Mail BOOK OF THE WEEK

This is the story of a professional British tree climber, cameraman and adventurer, who has made a career out of travelling the world, filming wildlife for the BBC and climbing trees with people like David Attenborough, Chris Packham and Helen Macdonald.

James's climbs take him to breathtaking locations as he scales the most incredible and majestic trees on the planet. On the way he meets native tribes, gets attacked by African bees, climbs alongside gorillas, chased by elephants, and spends his nights in a hammock pitched high in the branches with only the stars above him.

This book blends incredible stories of scrapes and bruises in the branches with a new way of looking at life high above the daily grind, up into the canopy of the forest.

Reviews

  • A book of heart-stopping bravery and endurance, packed with astonishing—and sometimes gruesome—encounters with wild creatures. James Aldred is an old-school hero, and his thrilling recollections of a life of adventure driven by a love for trees will give you new reverence for the beauties and mysteries of the natural world.
    Helen Macdonald

About the author

James Aldred

James is an Emmy winning documentary cameraman specialising in wildlife and filming at height. He has spent the last 20 years working regularly with the BBC and National Geographic to explore and help document the wonders of this tree-top world. He has worked on many acclaimed productions along the way - including numerous David Attenborough projects (such as Life of Mammals & Planet Earth etc) and has been BAFTA / RTS award nominated several times.

Learn More

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more