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. ( )

What an eye-opening and fascinating read into the life and network of trees and how they defend and nurture each other. There is still so much to learn from our planet, and Mr. Wohlleben's expertise really hits the mark on why life on Earth needs our protection further study. ( )

Peter taught me that trees are not just dull objects. They are proof of the beautiful symphony of Nature. They can adapt, feel, communicate, defend, sleep, obey, learn and do all kinds of things we were taught they couldn´t. But even this knowledge isn't enough to overcome a fatally flawed book. ( )

Anthropomorphizing trees -- yes please! I have always been a bit disdainful of the scientific proposition of not anthropomorphizing other living things. I feel that it leads to a real lack of empathy and is used to justify awful behaviors that have negative consequences for our ecology. I felt that this book was companionable to another I have read, "Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?" by Frans de Waal.

This book answered so many questions I have had about trees and how they behave. Like why do trees still drop leaves in climates like Southern California where the seasons don't really change? It also gave explanations for feelings I have had when I walk through various types of forests, from old growth (peace), to logged and replanted ones (dissonance).

I loved the last quote in the book, "Until then, when you take your next walk in the forest, give free rein to your imagination--in many cases, what you imagine is not so far removed from reality after all!" ( )

I enjoyed the book, and learned a lot — I think, anyway. I don’t entirely trust the science here. Scientists have been learning incredible things about trees lately, for sure. My guess is that everything in this book is backed by a science paper or two (there are some footnotes) but I’m not confident that it’s all settled science, or that we are given sufficient context for all the marvelous things described. (The author is a forester, not a scientist.) Also, the anthropomorphism has kind of run amok, I fear. Maybe it’s really pretty true that in some cases “mother” trees are “caring” for their young. Such a wonderful way to see it! But I think he’s gone out on a limb (!) saying that trees have emotions, as he does in the last chapter. Who knows, maybe depending on how you define emotion, maybe this could conceivably be true. But I think it’s a stretch, I doubt any rigorous science really indicates an emotional life for trees.

I’d like to read a book, covering the same basic subject matter, by a well recognized biologist who specializes in trees and is also a good writer. Maybe Hope Jahren? ( )