From the Bookshelf of Science and Inquiry…

The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World

Peter Wohlleben,

Tim Flannery (Foreword)

Start date: May 1, 2017

Finish date: May 31, 2017

Discussion: Book Club 2017

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Book Club 2017

May 2017 - Hidden Life of Trees
By Betsy , co-mod · 25 posts · 173 views

last updated Nov 17, 2022 06:26AM

April 2017 - Reality is Not What It Seems
By Betsy , co-mod · 15 posts · 159 views

last updated Mar 18, 2021 04:12PM

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What Members Thought

May 22, 2017 David Rubenstein rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ecology, nonfiction, biology

Peter Wohlleben has written a wonderful little book about trees. He is a forester; he manages a forest in Germany. He must do a wonderful job, as he has amazing insights into the life of trees and tree society.

Did I say society? Yes, trees communicate with each other, nurture their young, and aid the ill when disease or distress strikes. Does this sound unlikely? Well, it sounded a bit over-the-top to me, until I started reading this book. Forests are superorganisms that exchange nutrients throu Peter Wohlleben has written a wonderful little book about trees. He is a forester; he manages a forest in Germany. He must do a wonderful job, as he has amazing insights into the life of trees and tree society.

Did I say society? Yes, trees communicate with each other, nurture their young, and aid the ill when disease or distress strikes. Does this sound unlikely? Well, it sounded a bit over-the-top to me, until I started reading this book. Forests are superorganisms that exchange nutrients through inter-connected root systems. They are a bit analogous to ant colonies. Wohlleben cites evidence of a 400 year-old beech tree that was actually being kept alive by neighboring beech trees!

Acacia trees warn other nearby trees of giraffes who are feeding on them. As a result, the pre-warned trees pump toxic substances into their leaves within a period of a few minutes, causing the giraffes to leave the area. The giraffes walked 100 yards away, bypassing nearby trees before continuing to feed. They chewed on trees that were either oblivious to the warnings, or they walked upwind. These warnings are sent using electrical impulses that travel 1/3rd of an inch per second. These impulses are propagated along filaments of fungi.

When trees sense insects eating their leaves, the trees can classify their saliva. Then they release pheromones that summon specific insect predators. So, it seems that trees actually have a sense of taste.

I learned how older, mature trees nurture their young. Their enormous canopies shut out most of the light from the shorter trees, preventing the young ones from growing too fast. This enables the young trees to grow strong, dense wood that will eventually, in a hundred or two hundred years, to grow big and strong themselves. However, in forests that are overly managed, some of the bigger trees are culled, allowing the smaller trees to grow too fast. Then they never reach their potential height as they age.

I learned why conifer trees grow needles and are "evergreen", while deciduous trees shed their leaves each fall. It would almost seem like conifers are "smart", as they do not waste energy growing new leaves each spring. But there is a reason for all this. Evergreens grow needles that are shed only once every few years. Each fall the needles develop a waxy covering that impedes evaporation over the winter. The needles have very little surface area for catching the wind and snow. Deciduous leaves, however, do catch the wind, and are a handicap during storms and snowfalls. They are dropped in the fall to prevent the trees from bending and breaking in a big wind-storm or under a heavy layer of snow.

This book was originally written in German and translated into English; the translation is excellent. The book is not only informative, but is fun to read. Wohlleben makes analogies between trees and animals, and these analogies help shed insight into the slow, ancient life of trees. The book is not written in a humorous tone; it is written in a wonderful down-to-earth style. Although Wohlleben is not a scientist, he discusses the latest research and it is a joy to learn about his points of view. ...more

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Jun 03, 2019 JZ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2019, non-fiction, photo, science, analog

This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever had the pleasure of holding in my hands and looking at with awe.

I live in the woods, so I'm biased, but, really, the photography is exquisite. I was a photographer for about 40 years before eye problems forced me to other pursuits.

But, it's more than that. The choice of the paper, the size, and the arrangement is not American, and I mean that as a compliment. What books have become in this country is truly disappointing. Shiny paper is not opti ...more

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May 25, 2023 Holli rated it it was amazing

Shelves: listened-to-it, 2024-sffbc

Trees are amazing!!!

2 likes · Like · see review

Jan 16, 2017 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: garden

Thought-provoking book about one of my favorite things, trees, and how they live their lives. I really appreciated the kind of out-there ideas proposed by the author, but I do tend to see human characteristics in everything around me so I can understand how some of this book might be a bit too woo-woo to the more literal minded. That said, this is still a wonderful book for anyone who loves the outdoors and wonders about the secrets that nature holds close. Very recommended.

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Apr 29, 2017 Jenny rated it liked it

This book has some lyrical passages and some great quotes, but it also includes repetitive passages. Some of the information like the interconnected web of fungi and micro-organisms associated with larger plants in the forest is supported by broadly accepted scientific research, but in other areas engineering explanations for the transport of liquids through trees are just dismissed and the work of a single group of researchers cited in support.

I thought it was cute and interesting enough to sp ...more

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