The Giving Tree

Rating:
Summary: the Giving Tree
Review: I think the reviewer who was offended by the story missed the whole point of the story. I use this book with my AP students, who are juniors and seniors in high school. At first, many of them say, "Gee, it must have been great to be that little boy in the story and get everything he ever wanted from the tree." But when we really look at the story, they discover that the boy is a very selfish, self-centered person who constantly uses the tree for his own needs. But they also discover that the tree is a willing accomplice. As the story progresses, the tree actually begins to volunteer the sacrifices for the boy, and one has to wonder what the tree is getting in return. Certainly not any great respect fromt the boy for her sacrifice. One would think that the tree would learn over time that the boy is going to use her until she says no, but that doesn't seem to be the nature of the tree. Just as that is not the nature of those pleasers in life who allow others to walk all over them, use them, and never even mumble a simple "thanks." My students spend a lot of time talking about the times in their own lives when they have been the boy and used others to further their own ends. They are very honest about this human failing, with stories of friends, teachers, and parents they've taken advantage of over time. But they also talk about the times they allowed themselves to be the tree and be used by someone else--and how bad and angry that makes them feel. In the final analysis, the book prompts a great deal of soul-searching among my high-school students in terms of the kind of person they want to be in life. To me, that makes is a very moving and worthwhile book.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful spiritual lesson
Review: It seems many well-intentioned readers are sadly missing the point of this beautiful story. Stop being offended or depressed about this story, dear readers. As Dr Wayne Dyer says, That which offends you only weakens you. It is your ego at work, convincing you that the world shouldn't be the way it is. The tree in the story was not abused at all. This view must be a projection from your own experience. (And I'm sorry if that is so). The tree doesn't have to be female either. Don't take it so literally. The tree is just a symbol of a being who has reached ultimate spiritual beauty and grace. Females often have this quality, naturally (but so do many men). You clearly didn't read the words closely enough, or understand their powerful message.

The tree was only truly happy when she gave something of herself to the boy. As St. Francis of Assisi teaches us, It is through giving that we receive. We can only be truly happy when we give of ourselves to others, expecting nothing in return. When we let go of our egos, stop wanting to be admired, and think only of other's needs, we attract true love back to us in return. The boy loved the tree, and that was all the tree needed to be happy.

So many readers have focused on the apparently selfish boy, but the lesson here is not given by the boy, it is given by the tree. (Hence the title). It is the tree who we must try to copy in our lives. The boy represents others around us, who we must love and give selflessly to. The boy actually did nothing inherently wrong. If he had rejected the tree's offers, or the tree's love, that would have been much sadder for the tree. However, he took nothing more than what the tree lovingly and willingly offered to him, and by loving the tree in return, he made the tree truly happy.

Yes, the image of the tree giving away her trunk to the boy, and becoming only a stump at the end, is indeed stunning. The first time I read the book, I had tears streaming down my cheeks. Tears of humility and awe. This story is a breath-taking example of abundant love. It shows us that we are not our bodies or our possessions. Our ego tries to cling to these things, but it will never be satisfied. Our ego can never have enough material things and will always be disgruntled and offended, because our bodies and possessions cannot be controlled. Over time they will age, fade and disappear.. However, who we really are is our spirit, which lies deeper than our bodies and possessions, and is infinite. Our spirits are full of beauty, love and abundance, no matter what happens to our bodies or our possessions. The more we give of our selves and our possessions, the richer, more beautiful and more abundant our spirits become. Then, nothing can truly hurt us, not even losing our limbs.

In giving away nearly everything she had, the tree became a thousand times more spiritually beautiful than she was in her younger days. And only then, as the story says at the end, the tree was happy. Only then did the tree reach true lasting peace and happiness.

It is a lesson for us all, and I'm thrilled to hear that this book is being taught in schools. I have now bought the book for my 2 young children, and intend to teach it to them, so that they may learn how to be selfless, loving and giving, so that their spirits may grow so beautiful and abundant that they will have lasting happiness, no matter what happens in their lives.

Rating:
Summary: Giving Tree, Rotten Boy
Review: Many people love this book. I remember having a Sunday school teacher read it to us when we were little. Even then I thought 'That boy does not deserve or appreciate that tree's love'. It's a great lesson about selfless giving but as a kid that's not what I took away from it. To me it was a story in which she gave and gave and he took and took until she had nothing left.

Rating:
Summary: The Importance of Giving and Receiving
Review: This poignant book will teach children about what true giving and receiving is all about. The story is analogous to people who take and take, and take some more, as well as those who give and sap everything from themselves while they never receive anything in return.
This book provides a good lesson about the importance of reciprocal giving and receiving. Fairy tales are fine, however applying stories that children can learn valuable life lessons from will serve them better, and teach them about the importance of value, both for others, for nature, and especially for themselves.
Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: A classic!
Review: Like the reader from Brunswick, GA, I too am offended. I'm offended by the suggestion that this book in any way, shape, or form demeans women. Shel Silverstein, instead, could have written a book about a Grandfather who adores and loves his only Granddaughter. Unfortunately, the Granddaughter doesn't appreciate him because she's too busy growing up. I guess the book could then be condemned for taking advantage of the elderly. Take off the feminist glasses and enjoy a touching story about "the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return." I agree that such giving should be reciprocated; use this book to teach your children about giving and taking. It is a simple story that has stood the test of time.

Rating:
Summary: The Giving T ree Rule
Review: The book The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a good book. My opinion is that it is a good and sad book it has a lot of sad things in it. The setting is in the light blue sky by a tree. My first reason for you to read this book is if you like sad things you can read this book. An example is when the little boy goes to the tree he chops it down and that is sad. My second reason to read this book is if you like trees getting chopped down. An example is when the boy copes downs the tree. My threed reason to read this book person this is a good book for you. This book is a second to threed grade book for you. You should read this book because its about a tree that gets coped down in tell there is nothing but a trunk of the tree. and sad book it has a lot of sad things in it. The setting is in the light blue sky by a tree. My first reason for you to read this book is if you like sad things you can read this book. An example is when the little boy goes to the tree he chops it down and that is sad. My second reason to read this book is if you like trees getting chopped down. An example is when the boy copes downs the tree. My threed reason to read this book person this is a good book for you. This book is a second to threed grade book for you. You should read this book because its about a tree that gets coped down in tell there is nothing but a trunk of the tree.

Rating:
Summary: Letting people use you
Review: This book is about giving but it is also about letting people take advantage of you. The tree gives and gives till it is nothing but a stump. The boy (later the man when he grows up) uses and uses with no thought of the tree's needs, its feelings, or the tree's life. It is interesting that the user is male and the one being taken unfair advangage of is female. In this day of political correctness, it is a wonder that people like this book. Why didn't the author make the user female and the victim male? I bet it would have not been as popular this way. I find it offensive. We are teaching girls to let people use them and teaching boys to have no concern about hurting someone: chopping them down bit by bit as is done in this book. Some people actually use this book in classrooms. We need to be aware that this is not just teaching about giving. It is teaching about let people abuse you. The tree even likes being used this way even when she is just a stump instead of the beautiful tree of her younger days.

Rating:
Summary: Worst of the Shel Silverstein books ever
Review: This book is terrible. What makes it seem even worse is how good the Poetry books by Mr Silverstein are. My kids hated this book because the basic story is that the tree is willing to die for the kid. The kid is seen by my kids as a spoiled brat who doesn't appreciate the gifts given to him and the tree never learns. ARRRRGGG! We are not tree huggers but the one side "love" is not a healthy relationship between kid and tree. Skip this book and buy the poetry books. Those are worth owing.

Rating:
Summary: Vegatative masochism - Most over rated kids book I know of
Review: If you despise mankind or yourself this may be the book for you, but not for kids. The story, by the Playboy magazine hipster cartoonist, is about a tree that hacks itself to pieces for an ungrateful child. Yes, yes, an allegory for man's indifference to nature/God(s)and/or the absolute love of same. Either way, not the type of gory half truths that are appropriate for young children. Take my advice, do not buy it. Some sot will end up giving it to you. When they do, spare you child the experience.

Rating:
Summary: An adult reader
Review: I was thirty and my brother was thirty-five when he bought a copy of this book for our mom, a selfless giver. All of our family found it amusing and sadly true that she was just like the tree. Over the years we have all made references to "that book" my brother bought her one year at Christmas. Mothers who are like the tree aren't taught to be that way, they are born that way and continue to be that kind of giver throughout life. The hard part is, you're never sure how to please them, unless you like the idea of cutting off one of your mother's arms. It's hard to shake free of a mother you cannot absolutely please -- there's never any closure on anything. Although we always thought my mom was the best there was, actually, I think my brother and I would have become more selfless adults if my mother hadn't come 90 percent of the way when there was a problem between us. We never had to do anything.

This book certainly stimulates conversation. It's sort of a sad commentary, actually. Yes, a mother needs to be giving, but how giving must she be?