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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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About this listen

How do trees live? Do they feel pain or have awareness of their surroundings? Research is now suggesting trees are capable of much more than we have ever known.

In The Hidden Life of Trees, forester Peter Wohlleben puts groundbreaking scientific discoveries into a language everyone can relate to.

In The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben shares his deep love of woods and forests and explains the amazing processes of life, death and regeneration he has observed in the woodland and the amazing scientific processes behind the wonders, of which we are blissfully unaware.

Much like human families, tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them and support them as they grow, sharing nutrients with those who are sick or struggling and creating an ecosystem that mitigates the impact of extremes of heat and cold for the whole group. As a result of such interactions, trees in a family or community are protected and can live to be very old. In contrast, solitary trees, like street kids, have a tough time of it and in most cases die much earlier than those in a group.

Drawing on groundbreaking new discoveries, Wohlleben presents the science behind the secret and previously unknown lives of trees and their communication abilities; he describes how these discoveries have informed his own practices in the forest around him. As he says, a happy forest is a healthy forest, and he believes that ecofriendly practices not only are economically sustainable but also benefit the health of our planet and the mental and physical health of all who live on Earth.

After a walk through the woods with Wohlleben, you'll never look at trees the same way again.

©2015, 2016 Ludwig Verlag, Munich, part of the Random House GmbH publishing group. Jane Billinghurst. Tim Flannery. “Note from a Forest Scientist” by Dr. Suzanne Simard. (P)2016 HarperCollins Publishers
Botany & Plants Ecosystems & Habitats Thought-Provoking Discovery Animal Communication Plant Biology
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Critic reviews

"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)

What listeners say about The Hidden Life of Trees

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Wonderful

This book has completely changed my view of trees. They are now old friends, not bits of wood sticking out of the ground for felling. Thank you.

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Beautiful, inspiring and thought provoking

A truly wonderful book. If you want to look at trees and forests with completely fresh eyes and be blown away then this is the book for you The narration by Mike Grady is wonderful - he has a very warm and soothing voice that I could listen to for hours. Highly recommended

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Simply The Best!!!!!

Absolutely loving it!!! I keep going back to listen!!! BRILLIANT narration!! Amazing information!!! Love it!

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A story everyone should know

I loved the story this book has to tell. And the perspective at which the trees are looked at, and plants in general. It is well known that plants are living beings like animals. But they are often objectified and their feelings, lifestyles and rights ignored. I recommend this book to everyone.

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Amazing! Truly unputtadownable! #unputtadownable

Brilliant, thought provokingly brilliant, remarkable narrative of forest and tree life and everything else.
Narrator brilliant. Listening again right now.
Regards Justin P. Hardman

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Brilliant and insightful!!

Beautifully told story about the ecology of trees and forests biased towards europe. Scientific research told in an accessible way, which sheds a new light on the importance of ancient and undisturbed areas of nature. As most dominant species live for over 500 years, the author is clear how we cannot see the impacts of modern forestry on our trees.

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lovely

I loved this book. I am now obsessed with trees. the narrator has a very soothing bedtime voice as well.

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Soothing book.

Soothing narration is included in this audio book that easily sends you to sleep and tells you good tips for looking after a tree or why trees to such things like why tree roots creep into drains.The hidden life of trees also tells you why you shouldn’t take one tree who lived in the forest into the town.

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A great story of the life of trees.

I great story connecting the life of trees. I really enjoyed it from start to finish. Well worth a read.

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Suddenly the forrest came to life

If only my biology lessons had been this interesting. Suddenly the forrests came to life in a way I did not expect. A beautiful, important and thoroughly enjoyable book. Wonderfully narrated. Don’t hesitate; listen to it!

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