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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Este libro ha sido una muy buena experiencia. Corto, contado de forma directa y sencilla, se hace muy ameno e interesante.
Este libro nos habla del reino vegetal: que a pesar de haber sido siempre subestimado por los humanos, sus habitantes -las plantas- cuentan con propiedades y características sorprendentes. Nos hablará de los sentidos de las plantas y de cómo funciona a pesar de que no tengan órganos especializados como los animales (vista, tacto, olfato, gusto, oído y muchos sentidos más). También nos hablará de cómo las plantas son capaces de comunicarse entre sí, de competir las unas con las otras, de colaborar y de engañarse mutuamente. Pero no sólo se comunican entre ellas, sino que sus relaciones con el mundo animal y cómo se sirven de otras especies para sobrevivir es asombroso y apasionante. Por último, el libro nos habla de la inteligencia vegetal y del sueño de las plantas. Quién iba a decir que estos seres, a los que siempre hemos considerado inmóviles e inferiores, tenían tanto que ofrecer y unas capacidades que incluso superan las nuestras. Un libro muy recomendado, fácil de leer y que te hará aprender unas cuantas cosas.
Este libro nos habla del reino vegetal: que a pesar de haber sido siempre subestimado por los humanos, sus habitantes -las plantas- cuentan con propiedades y características sorprendentes. Nos hablará de los sentidos de las plantas y de cómo funciona a pesar de que no tengan órganos especializados como los animales (vista, tacto, olfato, gusto, oído y muchos sentidos más). También nos hablará de cómo las plantas son capaces de comunicarse entre sí, de competir las unas con las otras, de colaborar y de engañarse mutuamente. Pero no sólo se comunican entre ellas, sino que sus relaciones con el mundo animal y cómo se sirven de otras especies para sobrevivir es asombroso y apasionante. Por último, el libro nos habla de la inteligencia vegetal y del sueño de las plantas. Quién iba a decir que estos seres, a los que siempre hemos considerado inmóviles e inferiores, tenían tanto que ofrecer y unas capacidades que incluso superan las nuestras. Un libro muy recomendado, fácil de leer y que te hará aprender unas cuantas cosas.
informative
A nice, relatively short book. It seems to be a pop science book written for a general audience, so the authors spent a bit too much time in a defensive position. I needed much less convincing that plants are intelligent at the outset, but I recognize the importance of the point made. I was already familiar with many of the examples but definitely learned lots of new stuff. One point that I thought was made a bit too casually was the suggestion that we could genetically modify plants to transfer the ability to fix nitrogen. The implications of that are far less innocent than they seem. The authors also briefly mention how modern corn has been genetically modified to return a trait that it once had naturally in heirloom and wild varieties until it was bred out unintentionally. I wish they could problematize that a little. My personal opinion is that genetic modification further reinforces industrial monoculture and dependence on specific strains from seed merchants (Bayer-Monsanto) instead of encouraging diversity and seed and land stewardship.
A fascinating little book, written in very plain language, and posing some very important question about what we consider intelligence is, what life is, and who/what matters. It also gives a simplified account of the history of science, which is nice and important to have in mind whenever dealing with "Science".
A very interesting read. It has made me realize that I conflate "intelligence" with "consciousness". Although Mancuso suggests that plants can remember and learn things, he does not convincingly argue this case. This may be because the book is aimed at the general public and hence very technical details are not discussed. It also may be that, although Mancuso argues strongly against an animal-centric perspective on intelligence, I still have not sufficiently shed it.
The book does show that plants have amazing sensory capabilities and are able to actively respond to the data they gather about the world. The review of the varied senses and behaviours of plants is fascinating and demonstrates that plants really are not the passive organisms they are perceived to be.
They are able to detect problems and arrive at intelligent solutions, modifying their behaviour accordingly. In the absence of consciousness, I would suggest that this falls under the Dennet's "competence without comprehension" nomer. This is not to say that this signifies a significant divide between plants and animals and us. After all, most (or at least very much) of what we do is also not consciously comprehended and reasoned out.
Some of my disagreements may stem from the translation. The translation is less than perfect and has spelling errors (as an archaeologist I found the use of "bronstijd" where "bronsttijd" was meant most amusing), there is a lack of synonym-use making some sentences annoyingly repetitive.
Most problematic is that the meaning of the author may be distorted in some passages. Throughout the book, Mancuso argues that plants should be studied in light of evolution. The central thesis is that plants as passive organisms would have gone extinct long ago in Darwinian competition. Yet towards the end (p.133) the book states that Darwin realised that plants have capabilities that cannot be explained evolutionarily. This seems to represent a misunderstanding by the translator and leaves open the possibility that more subtle examples occur elsewhere in the book.
The book does show that plants have amazing sensory capabilities and are able to actively respond to the data they gather about the world. The review of the varied senses and behaviours of plants is fascinating and demonstrates that plants really are not the passive organisms they are perceived to be.
They are able to detect problems and arrive at intelligent solutions, modifying their behaviour accordingly. In the absence of consciousness, I would suggest that this falls under the Dennet's "competence without comprehension" nomer. This is not to say that this signifies a significant divide between plants and animals and us. After all, most (or at least very much) of what we do is also not consciously comprehended and reasoned out.
Some of my disagreements may stem from the translation. The translation is less than perfect and has spelling errors (as an archaeologist I found the use of "bronstijd" where "bronsttijd" was meant most amusing), there is a lack of synonym-use making some sentences annoyingly repetitive.
Most problematic is that the meaning of the author may be distorted in some passages. Throughout the book, Mancuso argues that plants should be studied in light of evolution. The central thesis is that plants as passive organisms would have gone extinct long ago in Darwinian competition. Yet towards the end (p.133) the book states that Darwin realised that plants have capabilities that cannot be explained evolutionarily. This seems to represent a misunderstanding by the translator and leaves open the possibility that more subtle examples occur elsewhere in the book.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
In 2019, I visited the exhibition “Nous les arbres” (we, the trees) in Paris at the famous Fondation Cartier. In the small park surrounding the glass building by Jean Nouvel, 2 trees were connected with wires to instruments that recorded all kinds of data. It was my first introduction to the Italian biologist Stefano Mancuso (University of Florence). He wanted to determine whether and how the trees involved respond to challenges and threats. I do not know the outcome of the investigation, but 6 years earlier Mancuso had already published this booklet, together with journalist Alessandra Viola. And its baseline is quite simple: plants are an undervalued species in our culture, we still have difficulty attributing 'intelligence' or 'sensibility' to them, while, measured by their problem-solving capacity, they are among the top of life on earth. Mancuso and Viola pull out all the stops to explain what they mean by that and they try to substantiate it as much as possible. In this they succeed quite well, although at certain times they have to admit that there is no hard scientific evidence for some of their claims. Fortunately they do not go as far as the German forester Peter Wohlleben ([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]), who shamelessly attributes anthropomorphic behavior to trees, such as friendship and mourning, and who clearly ventures outside the scientific domain. What he and Mancuso and Viola do have in common is their boundless admiration for the miraculous life of plants, and their plea to take their intelligence and sensitivity seriously. And I can completely agree with that.
Can plants hear? Can plants taste? Can plants see? In this book, Stefanie Mancuso and Alessandra Viola explore the extraordinary (and oftentimes controversial) world of plant intelligence. When botanists started to propose notions of plants having ‘senses’ in the 18th/19th century, they were met with laughter and ridicule from the scientific community. Even Darwin was met with intense condemnation following many of his publications on flora! However, nowadays we have a much greater understanding of this sylvan kingdom and it’s incredible diversity. This book explores all of these topics and more; if you want to learn what the 15 plant senses are, or how orchids have ingeniously evolved to trick insects, then make this a priority for your summer reading.
3.5✨
A really quick listen/read. Learned some new facts. Overall pretty good! The authors passion spills through the pages and I always love seeing that.
A really quick listen/read. Learned some new facts. Overall pretty good! The authors passion spills through the pages and I always love seeing that.
Plants are aliens and you can’t convince me otherwise