Peter WohllebenReviews

Achild-friendly version of the popular adult title The Hidden Life of Trees (2016).

There is irony in the idea of revising for children an adult book that boldly challenges the conventional science that keeps humanity strongly detached from the plant kingdom. Indeed, many books for children already deliberately and effectively use terminology of human activities to introduce the vocabulary and rudiments of photosynthesis, and so does this text. The latter word never occurs here, although it states: “Leaves mix water with certain parts of the air to make sugar,” and notes the need for light to produce energy. It goes on to describe tree leaves as having thousands of tiny mouths for breathing and later notes that trees don’t drink in winter because “you can’t drink ice cubes.” Intense anthropomorphism continues throughout, with chapters discussing such topics as tree classrooms, mother trees, and how an “annoyed” birch tree will use the wind to whip its branches against an encroaching tree. Occasionally, readers will notice apparent contradictions, unlikely assumptions, and odd duplication, perhaps a result of the reduction. Nevertheless, the book is full of pertinent information, including the importance of fungi to roots and of trees to one another. The author transmits both wonder and fun, even adding tree-themed activities for children to try with willing adults. A forest’s worth of appealing sidebars, pop-up quizzes with fascinating statistics, and colorful photographs add to a strong subtext: Forest preservation is not just important, but imperative.

A tree-treatise treat. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

-Kirkus Review

I have mixed feelings about this book. I am not a scientist, a dendrologist or an arborist: but just someone who has become interested in trees over the last couple of years as I explored our local woodlands during Lockdown. So this book's focus on individual trees and their place within their wider locality, whether it's as street furniture, in parkland or in woodland began by fascinating me. How trees grow well or less well in relation to other trees of the same or different varieties nearby: how they are affected by the removal, by whatever means, of trees nearby: their relationship with fungi, insects, other plants. All this is thought provoking, and the early chapters of the book excited my interest a great deal. However, in the end, Wohlleben's continual anthropomorphising of the trees started to concern and irritate me, especially as I felt I lacked the tools for constructive criticism. I'm grateful to this book for exciting my interest, and provoking in me a desire to know much more. But at the same time, I'm taking it with a very large pinch of salt.

this is so interesting and illuminating. i will forget almost all of it immediately but that doesn't make it any less fascinating.

trees are so much more alive than i realized. they feel. they have memory. they sense time. they experience pain. they take care of their young and their community. they "see" and they communicate and they hurt and they cry and they live so more like we do than i realized.

(i feel totally stymied at how to interact with them now or if it's okay to plant that magnolia tree in my yard like i want to.)½

The studies he mentions are interesting and the focus on reconnecting people with the forest admirable, I just felt the author was a little too present in the text

This is an informational text about trees based on the book The Hidden Life do Trees. It is broken up by questions and their answers. Each page has pictures to illustrate the responses. I would use this with 3-5th to answer specific questions about trees. I can see this being a great way to pique curiosity about forests and promote research to answer specific questions.

A fluid read packed with interesting research on trees translated to an exciting and accessible language.

However, at the same time the book often foregoes accuracy of scientific language in favour of personification of the trees, describing evolution as cause, extending metaphors of internet to micelial networks and more!

Basically the book may mislead thise who don’t understand how biological research works, and what it means to apply certain metaphors to physical systems.

For me, this book only suffers by comparison with [b:The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World|28256439|The Hidden Life of Trees What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World|Peter Wohlleben|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1464281905s/28256439.jpg|48295241], which (at the risk of hyperbole) was life-changing. But there's plenty to mull over here, presented in Wohlleben's enjoyable style.

There are section of this book in which I think Wohlleben treads a little further beyond current science than I think is warranted. But I had a similar impression with [b:The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World|28256439|The Hidden Life of Trees What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World|Peter Wohlleben|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1464281905l/28256439._SX50_.jpg|48295241], but pretty much all of that turned out to be well-grounded science. So perhaps my current misgivings will prove unfounded. In any event, I learned some new stuff about trees, which always makes me happy.

If you are lucky, a handful of times in your life you will encounter a book that changes the way you look at the world. The Hidden Life of Trees is just such a book (which is why I'm giving it five stars without a re-read). Wohlleben drew me in with a great combination of science and artistic description. I just want to give every book-reader I know a copy.
Now, it must be said: There's lots of solid science here, but Wohlleben employs language that most scientists and science writers would not feel comfortable using. He intentionally chooses to describe trees as volitional beings that make choices, instead of merely reacting to stimuli. He openly admits (although somewhat belatedly and not frequently enough, IMO) that this point of view and narrative choice are controversial. But at least he is open about this and is not letting people think that his is a widely shared opinion. Because of Wohlleben's honesty on this point, I can enjoy (and even entertain) his ideas in a way that I could not if he were less forthcoming.

Rather too anthropomorphic for my tastes.

Gorgeously illustrated abridged version of the author's work on trees and forests. The prose seemed a bit clunky in places with abrupt transitions and unclear references but I'm not sure whether this was due to the author, the translator, or the abridgement. Even so, the main points on the complex life of forests as communities of trees come across.

I guess I've grown cynical and dubious in my older age. I really wanted to enjoy Peter Wohlleben's tale of trees that communicate, feel, think, adapt, and more... but he tends to use really flowery language without providing any kind of scientific citations, and for lofty claims such as these, I feel a need for more citations.

This I'd really a four star book, but I rated it five seeing that this topic is very important for everyone to understand and need to be dealt with swiftly.

Trees have so many secrets and so much to teach us. Beautiful, simple prose, perfect "comfort reading".

This is an interesting pop-science book on the ecology of European deciduous forests. The author is a forestry worker turned conservationist and provides some valuable insights from someone who has switched from an exploiter of forests, to protector of them. If you already love forests, trees and being in their presence, you may find some further understanding of why these places are special here. If you don't, then it would be hard not to pick up some of Wohlleben's love for them along the way.

For the most part the information is well researched and he refers to the scientific literature often. He is however all too eager to make rather less well supported assertions on the matter of the inner lives of trees and other plants, which are a stretch from what science currently understands. I'm open to entertaining the idea that there is a lot more going on in this regard within plant life than is typically assumed, but the presentation of conjecture about what and how trees think and feel on an equal footing with well evidenced phenomena does bother me and in my view is somewhat deceptive. Someone without a background in biology and ecology could easily not realise such equivocation was happening and either come away with an inflated impression of Wohlleben's conjectures, or worse, a deflated perception of the better supported points. Wohlleben's penchant for excessive unnecessary anthropomorphising of these organisms that are awesome and fascinating on their own terms doesn't do anything to help and I'm sure will turn some readers away entirely from a book which does contain much of interest.

Wohlleben does truly speak for the trees, perhaps to a fault: whilst it's obvious that he wants the best for trees, it can be hard to determine some of the nuance to what he is advocating for. He writes passionately about both the trees and the ecosystem they exist within, except when some other member of that biological community, say an ivy or honeysuckle, does something that is harmful to a tree, when the value laden language used is no different to that with which he describes the effects of a humans with their chainsaws, livestock and pollutants. I don't believe Wohlleben thinks these plants should be removed from the ecosystem in the same way chainsaws and pollution should be, but it's not very clear on the face of it. It is a shame to bury the much more important messaging about ecosystem function beneath a pile of "good for trees equals good, bad for trees equals bad" oversimplifications. A hazard of the pop-science genre I suppose.

I was a little perplexed by this German author writing about Europe using imperial units for everything throughout. I am sure this is down to publisher pressure that the translation be digestible to the biggest English speaking market, rather than a deliberate choice.

This is still a worthwhile read, just with caution on these issues. Wohlleben's passion for trees and forests is infectious; his repeated exhortations that we visit forests and observe the things he writes about are to be followed, and his enthusiasm for seeking out and communicating a better understanding of his passion is a commendable example.

An interesting and beguiling read. I had already read [The Hidden Life of Trees] and this is equally appealing.It shows how the various aspects of nature enhance one another, You do feel you are walking with author on his journey though the book. How trees change during the seasons and also through their lifetimes.Forests are different and their ecology reflects this.½

I found the information in this book fascinating, but it was presented in a very dry manner. This may have been an issue with the audiobook narrator, did not click with me at all.

Oh man, this book. I loved it. I hated it. The death of trees really upsets me, and it scares me how even well intentioned governments can go so far off-track as this book suggests is happening right now. I can't stop thinking about it with the sort of futile despair that is hard to overcome in the world right now, when we _know_ what to do to heal the world and our greed and politics won't let us do it. It's a spectacular read, and a perfect follow-up to the last book -- updating the science, delving even more into the connections evident in old-growth forests and how trees both move over time and affect the weather. My mind was blown many times, and I appreciate that it's a book with a clear path to healing forests and affecting climate change. It makes me want to go buy semi-forested land and just, I dunno, camp next to it while it re-wilds. Not something I can afford to do, but I wonder if we could get this book into more politicians' hands and send more foresters to learn the new science, what changes might that bring?

Advanced Readers' Copy provided by Edelweiss.

In most of his previous books, German forester Peter Wohlleben amazed us with his insights into how trees think, feel, nurture their young and communicate with each other. Now in “The Power of Trees” (2023), he focuses on what trees can teach human beings.

When it comes to saving the planet, trees know best, he argues. To a large extent, he says, climate change has resulted from cutting down so many forests around the world, whether to clear fields for agriculture or to provide lumber for construction or wood for fires. With fewer mature trees, the climate has turned warmer and dryer, for forests both cool the air and help manufacture rain. When you are in your own backyard on a hot summer day, you prefer to stand or sit under a tree because it's cooler there. Multiply that by thousands of trees, and this cooling effect impacts a large area.

Planting young trees doesn't make up for clear-cutting mature trees. It can take hundreds of years for younger trees to do the work of older ones. But rarely are they even given the chance to do that, for the forest industry needs their lumber before they have a chance to mature. And to make it worse, the industry tends to replace old forests with trees that grow fast but are not necessarily suited for the climate or soil. Better to plant trees that grow naturally in the area, Wohlleben argues.

Meanwhile, the heavy machinery used to clear forests compacts the soil so severely that young trees cannot develop the root structure they need for a long, healthy life. Trees actually grow best, he says, in the shade of other trees, not out in the open. Too much sun too early leads to a shorter lifespan for trees. Young trees out in the open also provide easy meals for deer.

His solution to the climate problem is simply to let trees do their thing. Let them grow naturally and spread their seeds naturally. Yet this isn't really so simple. Virtually every building that goes up means trees must come down. And so many buildings require large amounts of wood for their construction. Most other foresters work more for the timber industry than for the trees or for the environment, he argues.

Wohlleben doesn't exactly stand alone with these opinions. Even so, among his fellows, he often feels more like a single tree out in the open than part of a forest.

Fascinating book! Some really interesting chapters, and a few weak ones especially near the end.

With a background in forestry, ecology and education, Peter Wohlleben knows a thing or two about trees, and he's passionate about sharing his knowledge with the aim of improving the health of forests worldwide. I read the illustrated version of this book, which I didn't realize at first was abridged. While it left me wondering how much I was missing, for now at least I think I'm OK with just the highlights. What drew me to this edition was the gorgeous, gorgeous photography — truly breathtaking! The text left me with novel insights and many new ideas to chew on with respect to forestry, ecology and environmentalism. What it taught me about trees was frequently mind-blowing, and I continually found myself thinking, regarding each fascinating new morsel, "Are forestry departments in my country aware of this?" (Now I know why my local oak trees produce a combined explosion of acorns in only certain years!) I feel grateful to live at a time when the possibility of acquiring this depth of knowledge about non-animal beings even exists.

green

This is a poor attempt to personify trees and forests. The author makes a "sappy" story of trees as parents/youngsters with brains, having neighborhoods, and demonstrating friendliness when in reality he is speaking about ecosystems with natural feedback mechanisms. And every time he mentions an injury to a tree, he has a one word sentence - "ouch!" My own pain increased as I tried to read more. If I read "in the forest that I manage" one more time, I was certainly going to gag.

The Hidden Life of Trees is entertaining, enjoyable, and informative. I learned a lot in reading it. The author's style is familiar and chatty, like a friendly conversation. He strives hard to make trees and their lives relatable to everyday people which was sometimes off-putting as he anthropomorphized trees and their processes. Still, I highly recommend this for a deeper understanding of trees and forest ecology.½

Been meaning to read this since I read The Overstory by Powers. This book is fairly well written (and translated), and informative. I felt it could have been better illustrated - perhaps there is a photographic version of this book? I was pleased to know the author is a forester who has adapted his practices since discovering the new science.