Hidden Life of Trees
The graphic novel adaptation of Peter Wohlleben's international bestseller, with breathtaking illustrations and easy-to-follow text that will delight readers young and old. Are trees social beings? For forester Peter Wohlleben, the answer has always been yes, the forest is a social network. Trees live like human families: tree parents live together with their children, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick and struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. This vibrantly illustrated graphic novel follows Peter as its loveable main character, revealing the secret network of the forest and sharing struggles and triumphs from his career protecting trees. Told in Peter's warm, conversational voice, not unlike that of a beloved grandfather chatting fireside, this visually stunning book offers scientific insights and pearls of wisdom gained from Peter's decades of observing forests, including how trees impact weather and climate, how they communicate with each other, and how they interact with fungal networks deep within the ground. It also offers poignant memories from Peter's personal life. Featuring 240 pages of full-color illustrations and text covering the entirety of The Hidden Life of Trees, this adaptation honors the spirit of the original book by seeking to change the way the world looks at trees, and will inspire generations of readers to celebrate the natural world and protect our last remaining forests before it's too late.
Stats for nerds
27recommend
51mentions
45people
2016–2026years
63% recommend35% neutral2% critical
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Read The Hidden Life of Trees [0]
[0] <https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Life-Trees-Communicate_Discove...>
Elm definitely have heart to hearts with each other. If we watch them on a long-enough timeline, they definitely set and achieve goals (for themselves and others).
----
In my previous book recommendation (Pollan) there is a chapter on plants observed in timelapse/FFW, which have been able to effectively "remember solved mazes" (not exactly, but neat studies/equivalents) – similar to slime molds (as described in Entangled Life [1]).
[1] <https://www.amazon.com/Entangled-Life-Worlds-Change-Futures/...>
- The Hidden Life of Trees [0] uses this terminology, and is absolutely brilliant storytelling. Turns out you can learn about sociology through immobile plants.
[0] <https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Life-Trees-Communicate_Discove...>
We're all interconnected; in a properly-functioning society parents nourish undergrowth until their turn to die.
- Desert Solitaire - Edward Abbey
A Brief History of Nearly Everything - Bill Bryson
Entangled Life - Merlin Sheldrake
The Hidden Life of Trees - Peter Wohlleben
- I highly recommend the book "The hidden life of trees". It shows trees in a different light by explaining their behaviors as a collective, how connected they are, and how they help each other survive and thrive over thousands of years. Did you know that trees can recognize their own offsprings?
- I recently read The Hidden Life of Trees which tackles this question. Very good book, to the point, I highly recommend it.
In it there is proof that trees communicate with each other through the roots, different species can talk to each other, they share nutrients and sugars between each other and talk with fungi. Eg. they can warn each other about insect attacks and react with bitter leaves.
My favourite trivia from the book is that there are three currently accepted answer for how trees circulate water: capillary action, transpiration and osmosis.
Capillary action is the same force which holds rain drops together - that should push the water up in the trunk fibers.
Transpiration is basically works like trees evaporates (exhale) water through its leaves and that creates suction.
Osmosis is that if sugar in one cell is higher than the neighboring cell, the water will flow towards the more sugary one until both have the same amount of water.
Now, capillary action cannot work for more than 1 meter height, and water flow is highest in the trees at spring before the leaves open up so that rules out transpiration. Osmosis can only happen in the roots and leaves because trunk contains long tubes for water and not cells.
Which leaves us... Yeah. We don't know :D
- I strongly recommend "The Hidden Life of Trees". I listened to the audiobook multiple times while hiking/cycling through the woods and it changed the way I will see trees forever.
