The Oldest Living Things in the World

by Rachel Sussman

This new book captures your attention from the moment you see the title. For most of us growing up in the last few decades, the oldest living things in the world were sequoias, redwoods and bristlecone pines. Now it seems that these methusalahs are just “juveniles”! Not only do clonal “fairy-rings” of the Creosote Bush, (Larrea tridentata) beat the Bristlecones hands down, at almost 3 times their age: 11,000+ years, but giant expansive clones like Pando (Populus tremuloides) are reputed to be upwards of 80,000 years old! Such extraordinary age boggles the chronological perception of short lived beings like ourselves, making it easy to understand why Rachel Sussman became obsessed the more she researched these “new” oldest living things. The subject of the book is enchanting. I love the layout, the art, the presentation and believe you will too.