This book starts with a bold and tempting title: can trees, truffles and beasts illustrate how forests function? To a large degree, the book does not deviate from its title. A number of case studies are used to illustrate forest function and advocate for its preservation. Two case study forest ecosystems are examined: the Pacific Northwest of the USA and the south-eastern mainland of Australia. Three case study components of forest ecosystems (namely trees, truffles and beasts) are used to illustrate the functional connectivity inherent in all forests. Innumerous examples and explanations of linkages among these three forest components are provided both in the Pacific Northwest and south-eastern Australia. Even the most knowledgeable ecologist will find interesting anecdotes throughout the text, such as how squirrels scavenge fungi using various methods dependent on fungal species.

The book is well-organized with a solid introduction to case study locations along with illustrations of the seen and unseen forest components/functions. The bulk of the book focuses on examining the co-evolution of disparate forest ecosystem species, relationships between animals and fungi, the influence of fire and ecosystem patterns, and of forest succession on wildlife habitats. The text concludes with a chapter on lessons that might be gleaned from the previous discourses on forest functionality. Throughout the book, the rather disparate topics are well connected and illustrated with clear diagrams and copious colour plates of fungi and beasts alike.

Overall, the book's treatise is hardly new, that forests are more than just trees but are complex assemblages of organisms organized both spatially and temporally. Professional forest ecologists will find very little new information in this book besides interesting anecdotes from the authors' personal journeys and research. However, this book is well written for the layperson and should serve as a compelling and educational read for nature lovers, ecological hobbyists, students and concerned citizenry. The concluding chapter of this book is outright advocacy for preserving complex forest functions in a world that places increasing pressure on forest resources. The authors present no concrete solutions to highlighted forest resource issues. Readers may be inspired to act on the dilemmas presented by the authors in this final keystone chapter. Conversely, readers may feel lectured as ‘adult trustees of Planet Earth’ with the final emotional treatise undermining the solid science of all preceding chapters. We should all hope for the former.