The narrative of civilization’s rise and fall is often painted with grand achievements and epic downfalls, but one of the most understated forces behind humanity’s progress—and its moments of regression—is the forest. John Perlin’s, A Forest Journey, reveals how forests have been central to human history, shaping the fate of societies from antiquity to the modern day. Perlin’s book, now in its third edition, has long been a cornerstone of environmental literature, even earning its place as a Harvard Classic in Science and World History. Published originally in 1986, A Forest Journey explores how wood, once the primary material for nearly all human activity, fueled the development of civilizations across millennia. …Perlin charts how the exploitation of forests for timber, fuel, and other needs contributed to the rise of some of history’s greatest empires, only to sow the seeds of their collapse when the forests were depleted.