The Life of a Leaf

The Life of a Leaf is a more than a book on general leaf biology, morphology, and physiology. It is more than just describing experiments; it is an approach to teaching and learning various aspects of biology. The author has brilliantly integrated biology and chemistry to show how the leaf’s extraordinary design enables it to adapt to its physical world.

The Life of a Leaf provides opportunities for students to qualify observations and analyze how leaves acquire the resources essential for growth and reproduction, resources not all different from those needed by animals—humans included.

The book was written by Steven Vogel and has already been reviewed by many, from different universities to several scientific and educational magazines. The Life of a Leaf consists of 14 chapters, and each of them contains a general subject. The first chapter of the book shows how the story began and displays the “big picture.” The second covers questions and hypotheses. The following chapters (3–14) present and discuss important biological subjects, including an introduction to new problems, materials for experiments, questions for reviewing, using student’s knowledge, the most important references on the studied subject, and many, very efficient do-it-yourself topics. Some chapters have additional schematic pictures, methodological patterns, and keys.

All problems are presented with didactic talent, using examples to highlight the theory along with nicely made illustrations. Students, researchers, and passionate laypersons can investigate, explore, and discover the world of the leaf using this book. As stated by the author, this book represents an attempt to draw people into the world of science; not the one of interminable names and arcane procedures, but the one that offers satisfying explanations for innumerable aspects of the world around us.

Reviewed by: Francesco Ferrini Professor Arboriculture and Green Areas Management University of Florence, Italy

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