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The Hidden Life of Trees

What They Feel, How They Communicate - Discoveries from a Secret World

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The Hidden Life of Trees

By: Peter Wohlleben
Narrated by: Mike Grady
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Sunday Times Bestseller ‘A paradigm-smashing chronicle of joyous entanglement’ Charles Foster

Waterstones Non-Fiction Book of the Month (September)

Are trees social beings? How do trees live? Do they feel pain or have awareness of their surroundings?

In The Hidden Life of Trees Peter Wohlleben makes the case that the forest is a social network. He draws on groundbreaking scientific discoveries to describe how trees are like human families: tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. Wohlleben also shares his deep love of woods and forests, explaining the amazing processes of life, death and regeneration he has observed in his woodland.

A walk in the woods will never be the same again.

For those in the UK with a passion for top books on nature, Wohlleben's great work merges the worlds of plants, gardening, and general ecology into an absorbing narrative that underscores the importance of environmental conservation and protection. It is a significant addition to the literary conversation on how we interact with the living world around us. For fans of Suzanne Simard (Finding the Mother Tree), Tristan Gooley (How to Read a Tree), Merlin Sheldrake (Entangled Life) and Isabella Tree (Wilding) and Robin Wall Kimmerer (Braiding Sweetgrass).

 Biological Sciences Botany & Plants Ecology Environment Gardening & Horticulture Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Science Thought-Provoking Health Discovery Animal Communication Plant Biology
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Critic reviews

‘Marvellous’ John Banville, Irish Times
‘The Hidden Life of Trees is a wonderful, provocative book that draws together half a century of much-neglected and misunderstood plant science and frames it within field observations by an acute and empathetic forester.’ New Statesman
‘Shafts of light and mossy greens fill The Hidden Life of Trees. The reader does not leave the forest, and this aura intensifies the awareness of intricate natural life that the book has to offer. So much is happening in this one place. The colours, airs and sounds are all connected. They give us contact with the invisible world we now know to be there.' Guardian
‘The matter-of-fact Mr. Wohlleben has delighted readers and talk-show audiences alike with the news long known to biologists that trees in the forest are social beings.’ The New York Times
‘Peter Wohlleben’s The Hidden Life of Trees breaks entirely new ground … [Wohlleben] has listened to trees and decoded their language. Now he speaks for them.’ Thomas Pakenham, New York Review of Books
‘A declaration of love and an engrossing primer on trees, brimming with facts and an unashamed awe for nature.’ Washington Post
‘A magical book about fixtures that we walk by every day and take for granted … The Hidden Life of Trees may be the most important environmental book of the year.’ San Francisco Chronicle
All stars
Most relevant
I really enjoyed this book, you can really see how the patterns found in nature mirror or own lives

very interesting read

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I've listened to this book probably 10 times. I play it at 0.75 speed before I go to bed, and its like sleep medicine. Basically can't sleep without it anymore.
Pros: Great feelgood, moderately interesting content. Read in the most soothing voice I've ever heard.
Cons: Imperial units are very annoying. Heavy Anthropomorphism. Scores low on scientific credibility for me, but a great audiobook anyhow. :)

Perfect for falling asleep

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This was a lovely listen, and I learned a lot of things I never knew about the interconnected nature of a forest. When he began referring to trees "parenting" offspring I skoffed at first, but his clear follow up explanation shows it's quite an accurate description. I have a renewed appreciation for the woodland I see every day.

The only thing I found off-putting was the use of imperial measurements. It seems very strange for a book by a European author, with an English narrator, and presenting scientific information, not to use the global scientific standard metric units. I can only assume that this English translation was made to cater to an American audience, as presumably the German original uses metric. It would have been so simple to include both units, as many other books and videos do.

Is there a metric edition?

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I really enjoyed this book and loved the way the author described the relationships trees have with each other as almost human. There is a lot of fascinating information about thees, that I knew nothing about. I have listened to it twice now and am waiting a while to do so again. I felt warm inside during this wonderful book. It's like entering another world.. one you have had all around you but never realised. I have always loved trees but I now know them so much better and am in awe of their intelligence. One of my all time favourite books which I am always recommending to friends.

Wonderful life enhancing experience

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, its fascinating and heartening....(and slightly disheartening)

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Hidden Life of Trees?

all of it interested

Any additional comments?

a fascinating insight into the unknown, (previously) and complimented by the lovely soothing voice of a narrator who's flow of upbeat melodic positivity reflected the theme at hand......

beautiful beautiful book

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