The Overstory is a sprawling, multi-generational novel from award-winning author Richard Powers that explores the power of nature in the modern world. It follows the lives of nine characters who become intertwined as they discover ways to protect the planet, even as they grapple with the limits imposed by human civilization. Through these characters’ varied experiences, Powers illuminates how individuals can contribute to a collective effort to usher in a better, greener future - one of preservation and restoration.
The story begins with researcher Dr. Patricia Westerford, a middle-aged university professor in search of a long-lost stand of old-growth walnut trees. Her quest is fueled by her research on the phenomenon of the “overstory,” where tree roots “communalize” underground and share food, information, and energy, making them inextricably interdependent. With the help of a rag-tag team of tree-hugging activists and a rising tide of public awareness about environmentalism, she embarks on her personal quest to save the ancient trees. In her endeavors, she crosses paths with eight other characters from vastly different walks of life, from unemployed former tree-planter Nick to Vietnam veteran Ray, to young software engineer Neelay, to miner Mimi Ma.
The Overstory is sprawling yet precise in its exploration of themes of human-nature relationships and of the potential for collective responsibility to ebb against the tide of apathy and progress. Powers examines how individuals play into the larger picture of ecological change and preservation, detailing the fight of individuals against corporate greed, climate change, habitat destruction, and other human-made ills.
All nine characters make their journeys (often quite literally) toward a common goal: to protect the environment, both smaller ecosystems and larger systems. In the process, they are forced to come to terms with their own mortality and the reality that nothing lasts. The ancient walnut grove is a driving force, standing as a reminder of a time when people and trees could live in harmony. This idea of connection, of living in relationship, is key to the type of stewardship for which Powers argues throughout the novel.
But although the characters are ultimately successful in saving the overstory, the narrative ends on an ambiguous note, as if to suggest that change is eternal and that such success may only be momentary. Indeed, as the characters ponder their successes, Powers makes it clear that their work is far from over; true progress is an ongoing, multifaceted endeavor that requires collective effort and sustained dedication.
The Overstory is an impressive feat of literary writing - complex yet accessible, poignant yet comedic - that provides an urgent reminder of the diverse ways in which individuals can protect the environment. It’s a wake-up call to take action and a reminder to appreciate the interconnectedness of all life.
