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A review by slightlyliterary
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate by Peter Wohlleben
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
A wonderful read that taught me a lot more about trees as truly amazing living entities—I knew they were alive before I read this, obviously, but not ‘alive’ in the way I perceived other creatures to be.
Learning that trees have senses, are unexpectedly social, and (generally) incredibly supportive of each other was humbling to read. These slow-growing folks forge such strong connections with each other in the natural forests to warn each other of dangers in the form of pesky animals and bugs, and to sometimes supply weaker trees food and water if they’re lacking. In cities where their plots are planned down to the square metre, their inability to grow deep roots and form connections with their fellows renders them ‘street kids’ who are alone and vulnerable to any external threats.
One gripe, though, is that the prose can also simultaneously be incredibly Boring. I had to read this one for several months…
And as a side note, I know Wohlleben manages forests in Europe, so of course all the trees he generally speaks of are trees that thrive in cold/temperate climates. But I was also wondering whether trees in tropical climates interact with others around them slightly differently since the overall makeup of such forests in tropical climates vs. temperate climates look pretty different. Just a minor thing!
Overall, a good, educational read that makes me look at the trees around me more closely. I wonder how they’re growing, if they feel lonely, or if they’re currently fighting a slow, somewhat invisible battle against any invading pests.
Some things I learnt:
- Trees have personality!
Some are more cautious and ‘hibernate’ earlier to protect themselves, some are risk-takers who want to maximise photosynthesis output before winter comes.
- Trees may have hearing????
Their roots crackle at a constant volume, and are shown to grow in the direction of seedlings whose roots are crackling too!
- Trees,, may be able to talk?
When trees are really thirsty, they seem to scream—their trunks vibrate like crazy, similar to the way our windpipes vibrate when producing sounds.
- New tree planting =/= Old forests
I knew they weren’t the same, but I learnt that so many processes go into building an old forest over an inordinate amount of time. If we wanted to let the new trees planted grow into these bigger forests, we’d have to leave them to their devices (no pesky human interruption) for at least 500 years. Bottomline is, please protect and conserve the forests we have now.
Learning that trees have senses, are unexpectedly social, and (generally) incredibly supportive of each other was humbling to read. These slow-growing folks forge such strong connections with each other in the natural forests to warn each other of dangers in the form of pesky animals and bugs, and to sometimes supply weaker trees food and water if they’re lacking. In cities where their plots are planned down to the square metre, their inability to grow deep roots and form connections with their fellows renders them ‘street kids’ who are alone and vulnerable to any external threats.
One gripe, though, is that the prose can also simultaneously be incredibly Boring. I had to read this one for several months…
And as a side note, I know Wohlleben manages forests in Europe, so of course all the trees he generally speaks of are trees that thrive in cold/temperate climates. But I was also wondering whether trees in tropical climates interact with others around them slightly differently since the overall makeup of such forests in tropical climates vs. temperate climates look pretty different. Just a minor thing!
Overall, a good, educational read that makes me look at the trees around me more closely. I wonder how they’re growing, if they feel lonely, or if they’re currently fighting a slow, somewhat invisible battle against any invading pests.
Some things I learnt:
- Trees have personality!
Some are more cautious and ‘hibernate’ earlier to protect themselves, some are risk-takers who want to maximise photosynthesis output before winter comes.
- Trees may have hearing????
Their roots crackle at a constant volume, and are shown to grow in the direction of seedlings whose roots are crackling too!
- Trees,, may be able to talk?
When trees are really thirsty, they seem to scream—their trunks vibrate like crazy, similar to the way our windpipes vibrate when producing sounds.
- New tree planting =/= Old forests
I knew they weren’t the same, but I learnt that so many processes go into building an old forest over an inordinate amount of time. If we wanted to let the new trees planted grow into these bigger forests, we’d have to leave them to their devices (no pesky human interruption) for at least 500 years. Bottomline is, please protect and conserve the forests we have now.