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270 reviews for:
The Inner Life of Animals: Love, Grief, and Compassion - Surprising Observations of a Hidden World
Peter Wohlleben
3.68 AVERAGE
270 reviews for:
The Inner Life of Animals: Love, Grief, and Compassion - Surprising Observations of a Hidden World
Peter Wohlleben
3.68 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I had hoped for more informative content from the book, but Wohlleben's exploration of ecological topics is not particularly groundbreaking for readers who have delved into this subject before or just watched few nature documentaries on the BBC. Nonetheless, Wohlleben's writing style makes for an outstanding reading experience.
It is evident that the author has a deep affection for nature and its various inhabitants. This is apparent in the way he describes his observations, which are infused with a sense of wonder. Unlike a scientist, who may view amazement as an irrelevant factor intervening his inquiry, Wohlleben captures and puts this sense of awe into words. I believe he has successfully achieved this in his book.
It is evident that the author has a deep affection for nature and its various inhabitants. This is apparent in the way he describes his observations, which are infused with a sense of wonder. Unlike a scientist, who may view amazement as an irrelevant factor intervening his inquiry, Wohlleben captures and puts this sense of awe into words. I believe he has successfully achieved this in his book.
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
A light, quick read packed with adorable and poignant stories about animals and the scientists studying their feelings and thoughts. Not an in-depth account, but heart-warming!
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
Very interesting topics discussed. I particularly enjoy the chapters on animal communication, and each chapter on the various emotions shown by different species of animals. The evidence for each claim was chiefly anecdotal, which is arguably not as strong as pure science, but still thought provoking.
More of a collection of observations and anecdotes, with the repeated idea that since humans are animals too (having evolved from other animals), why believe that other animals don't also have and experience emotions? Various observations and anecdotes illustrate this like mother animals putting their own lives at risk for their babies, older animals acting as midwives to their grown young, rescue pets feeling anxious that they might be given away again, etc. But I found the chapters didn't always make their point strongly.
There was occasional empirical science discussed - I found it interesting how feeding wild deer in winter can actually cause them to starve, since it reactivates their digestive system to a degree that causes them to burn more energy than they can afford to in winter - but most of the book was based more on observation and opinion.
I can see some readers enjoying thins more than I did, and at last it is a relatively short book without too much jargon, but I have read other animal non-fiction I enjoyed much more.
There was occasional empirical science discussed - I found it interesting how feeding wild deer in winter can actually cause them to starve, since it reactivates their digestive system to a degree that causes them to burn more energy than they can afford to in winter - but most of the book was based more on observation and opinion.
I can see some readers enjoying thins more than I did, and at last it is a relatively short book without too much jargon, but I have read other animal non-fiction I enjoyed much more.
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Animals of all kinds have played a part in the human story from way back; they have been companions, used for work, providing and actually being the food in a lot of cases too. Whilst some have been cherished, lots have been treated as pure commodities and we have often been quite cruel usually because people thought that they were not capable of communicating or had emotions.
The latest scientific research and observations though is uncovering a very different story. Lots are known about dolphins and whales though we and not very far down the road of understanding what is being said, and it turns out there are a lot of other animals that communicate in one way or another but there is another world that is slowly being revealed. They have discovered instances of animals feeling shame, sadness, regret and as well as the way they can consciously select partners.
I really enjoyed Peter Wohlleben's first book, The Hidden Life Of Trees, a subject he knows a lot about having been a forester for around three decades, and the intimacy of his knowledge there shines like a blade of sunlight through the glade. With this, he is out of his comfort zone somewhat and even though he is drawing on personal experience and scientific research to highlight just how animals behave. Whilst it may have a grounding in science, this is primarily anecdotal evidence and also shows how we as humans project our not fully understood emotions and habits onto all sorts of different species. Still worth reading as some of the stories in here are quite entertaining.
The latest scientific research and observations though is uncovering a very different story. Lots are known about dolphins and whales though we and not very far down the road of understanding what is being said, and it turns out there are a lot of other animals that communicate in one way or another but there is another world that is slowly being revealed. They have discovered instances of animals feeling shame, sadness, regret and as well as the way they can consciously select partners.
I really enjoyed Peter Wohlleben's first book, The Hidden Life Of Trees, a subject he knows a lot about having been a forester for around three decades, and the intimacy of his knowledge there shines like a blade of sunlight through the glade. With this, he is out of his comfort zone somewhat and even though he is drawing on personal experience and scientific research to highlight just how animals behave. Whilst it may have a grounding in science, this is primarily anecdotal evidence and also shows how we as humans project our not fully understood emotions and habits onto all sorts of different species. Still worth reading as some of the stories in here are quite entertaining.
Just as well written, varied, and researched as the Hidden Life of Trees, but i had heard many of these examples before, simply because they happen to be more on my radar. Still an enjoyable read.
The studies mentioned provide compelling evidence for points made, and even some of the anecdotes, but I feel that some points made are not fully thought out or perhaps biased.
For example, the author claims that some animals "enjoy work" or exploitation, simply because they do what we intend them to do. There is clearly no way to make this claim when no evidence suggests their enjoyment, especially when humans tend to breed such animals to have to do what we exploit them for ("working" dogs having instincts to herd animals, sheep growing harmful amounts of wool so they need shearing, etc.)
The book was interesting, but for me certain parts just fell short of what I'd hoped for.
For example, the author claims that some animals "enjoy work" or exploitation, simply because they do what we intend them to do. There is clearly no way to make this claim when no evidence suggests their enjoyment, especially when humans tend to breed such animals to have to do what we exploit them for ("working" dogs having instincts to herd animals, sheep growing harmful amounts of wool so they need shearing, etc.)
The book was interesting, but for me certain parts just fell short of what I'd hoped for.