Das geheime Band zwischen Mensch und Natur

by Peter Wohlleben

Wie sehr sind wir überhaupt noch mit der Natur verbunden? Peter Wohlleben ist überzeugt: Das Band zwischen Mensch und Natur ist bis heute stark und intakt, auch wenn wir uns dessen nicht immer bewusst sind: Unser Blutdruck normalisiert sich in der Umgebung von Bäumen, die Farbe Grün beruhigt uns, der Wald schärft unsere Sinne, er lehrt uns zu riechen, hören, fühlen und zu sehen. Umgekehrt reagieren aber auch Pflanzen positiv auf menschliche Berührung. Anhand neuester wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse und seiner eigenen jahrzehntelangen Beobachtungen öffnet uns Peter Wohlleben die Augen für das verborgene Zusammenspiel von Mensch und Natur. Er entführt uns in einen wunderbaren Kosmos, in dem der Mensch nicht als überlegenes Wesen erscheint, sondern als ein Teil der Natur wie jede Pflanze, jedes Tier. Und er macht uns bewusst, dass es in unserem ureigenen Interesse ist, dieses wertvolle Gut zu bewahren.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Audiobook, Environment, Ecology, Biology

240 pages, Hardcover

First published August 12, 2019

About the author

Peter Wohlleben is a German forester and author who writes on ecological themes in popular language.

Reviews

[Jenna ❤ ❀ ❤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Peter Wohlleben's The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World and was thrilled to see he'd written another book about trees. Unfortunately, this one is no where near as good as the first. A lot of repetition and silly stuff, like suggestions for enjoying being out in nature: touching trees and moss, paying attention to the sounds and smells, etc.

The author clearly loves trees and I appreciate his passion and his desire to share that with others. This book just didn't do it for me though.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know all the health benefits of walking in a forest, or that it had a name, forest bathing. You can get a prescription in Japan from your doctor for it in Japan. Ha, available without a script in the US.

Interesting stuff, pea plants can hear water! Wha'! "The more you know, the more you realize you don't know." Somebody smarter than me said that. What with translations, corruptions, and all. It may or may not be Aristotle.

[Smitchy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is no-where near as readable or as interesting as Peter Wohlleben's first book The Hidden Life of Trees. While the concepts are interesting, Wohlleben's waffling style was too meandering for my taste and some of the theories just too far out there.

Drawing on new scientific discoveries, and with a good bit of philosophy as well, he looks at the idea of plant consciousness, the physiological impacts nature has on people, and the harm and good we can cause with our interventions, attitudes and connection to nature.

Some of these ideas are pretty out there: I admit I struggled to wrap my head around some of them. But they are certainly interesting and if you enjoyed The Hidden Life of Trees then there will be plenty in this book to keep you interested.

Naturally, given that Wohlleben is German, most of the information about trees and forests imparted here has a Northern Hemisphere / deciduous forest bent. I found myself wondering how much things applied to Australian bush, or if the same type of studies mentioned are being done over here too. I often had the same thought when reading Hidden Life of Trees too - do these same things apply to an evergreen, drought and fire tempered, eucalypt bushland?

While I am of the opinion that forests / bushland / etc. are vital for us and can indeed affect our emotional and physical health and are equally vital for the state of the planet in general a lot of what is presented here is more about philosophy than facts.
Nothing wrong with philosophy if that is what you want. I just wasn't expecting it and didn't enjoy it. And I'm kind of sad that I didn't because I was really excited about this one.

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book gave me a lot to think about and I learned a lot but it was so Eurocentric it was awful. Maybe it was written for Europeans, but then it needs to be more clear in the title or description. I am speechless that a book that has “ancient” in the title never once mentions indigenous relationships to the forest and the trees, except once to talk about how the author worked with a tribe in Canada. Okay, even if targeted for Europeans, who have truly extinguished the indigenous voice of their lands. The author has the gall to ask, are westerners the only ones who feel the call back to nature? And. And. He writes this: “In Germany…the indigenous population (that is to say, all of us) is restoring a hint of the original forest.” So I reject the forest of his ideas, but take pearls of wisdom as a tree, and thank him for that. But can’t recommend it. If you are confused as to why the above are atrocious, I am happy to explain more, so message me!

We are, as we always have been, part of a larger community. We are equipped with outstanding sensory organs, which allow us to understand and make the most of the environment where we belong. These senses also make us aware of other species, with all their sensory capabilities, and thus strengthen our sense of empathy and consideration for them. The ancient tie that binds us to nature is not and never has been severed. We have just ignored it for a while. And when we feel that we belong fully and completely to nature, conservation measures can be seen in a completely different light.

Many people no longer notice these wonders. Not because our senses have atrophied—they all still work just fine, as the many different examples in this book will show you—but rather because of a strange philosophical and scientific worldview that erects unnecessary barriers between us and our fellow life-forms. Over here we have people, and over there we have nature.

We are not just protecting nature somewhere out there or giving things up simply to prevent the extinction of apparently unimportant beetles or species of birds. On the contrary, with every step we take to help conserve the ecosystem that is the Earth, we are at the same time protecting ourselves and our quality of life, simply because we are a fully functioning part of the whole. Environmental conservation is and must be—literally and in the best sense of the word—about just one thing: self-care.

The realization that we are still a part of this wonderful system and that we function according to the same rules as all other species is, thank goodness, gradually making headway. And it’s only when it comes to the fore that conservation can be effective—that is to say, when we realize that what we are conserving is not just other forms of life but, first and foremost, ourselves.

If we are to believe the multitude of reports that compare the amazing skills of animals with our own, as a species we don’t have much to offer other than brain power. And so, the bond between people and nature appears to be ruptured beyond repair, and all there is left for us to do is to peer enviously at the amazing abilities animals possess. We couldn’t be more wrong. We are completely capable of engaging effectively with the world in which we live. It wasn’t so long ago that our ancestors had to fight their way through forests, registering the presence of every possible danger or potential prey quickly enough to act. And because the blueprint for making humans has not changed since then, we can console ourselves with the thought that all our senses are still intact. The only thing missing is a bit of practice—and here we can catch up.

In Germany, if you cut down a tree without a permit, you can be slapped with a fine of up to €50,000 (which is about US$55,000 at today’s exchange rate),88 and many cities in North America have tree ordinances. You might argue that cities have tree protection ordinances and rural areas don’t. But that’s the point. Cities and the councils that represent them believe trees are so important that they fight for each and every one of them. Even if in practice it’s often the municipal authorities themselves that hack away at trees and bring up safety concerns—when it comes down to it, cities pay more attention. (less)

And what about that first argument about renewable resources? Things look somewhat grim here, also because the demand for wood products worldwide has grown so much that it cannot be satisfied through sustainable forestry practices. One ancient forest after another is being cut down and replaced with barren monocultures of eucalyptus or pine. Our laudable intent to save the environment from drowning under a flood of plastic by using paper instead is unfortunately fueling destruction of a different kind.

In the early years, my young audiences were still well informed and engaged, but by the early 2000s, their knowledge and enthusiasm had definitely waned. It is only recently that the idea of environmental protection has once again become meaningful, and this time it seems to me it has much more staying power. One theme stands out above all the others: climate change.

Let’s first consider vision and ask a seemingly simple question: Why do we see trees in color? We know we feel relaxed when we look at green trees. A shady green view even improves our health. But why do we see the color green in the first place? After all, this is not a skill other mammals share with us….Having both green and blue cones is still not enough, however, to be able to see the color green. To do that, you also need to have cones that are sensitive to red light—as humans and many other primates do. And so, even though the color green calms our minds and promotes healing processes in us, it plays no role in the lives of most mammals.

But why, among mammals, have we humans developed this ability? Researchers suspect it has less to do with the color green and more to do with the color red. For example, many fruits found among the leaves of trees and bushes are red when ripe. We are not the only ones with our sights set on these. Many birds also have their eyes on them, and birds see red even better than we do. Plants have reacted to the situation: fruit that is eaten by mammals tends to be greenish-red when ripe, whereas fruit favored by birds is bright red. It makes sense, then, that we can see red, but why is it that we find green so beautiful? In fact, why do we notice it at all? Our ancestors probably didn’t notice blue at all or, if they did, they considered it unimportant.

Lazarus Geiger, a nineteenth-century German linguist, discovered that in many ancient languages there is no word for blue. Homer, an ancient Greek writer about whom we know very little, probably lived about eight hundred years before the birth of Christ. He described the color of the ocean as “wine-dark,” and texts from later centuries categorized blue as a shade of green. It was only with the development of and trade in blue fabric that the concept of “blue” was born. Since then, we have separated it out as a color in its own right and been consciously aware of it.

SO, DO WE see some colors only because there is a cultural reason to do so? Or, to put it another way, can we see blue only because we have a word to describe it? Clues that the ability to see color is closely tied to culture also exist in countries where European languages are spoken. People whose mother tongue is Russian recognize different shades of blue far more quickly than non-Russian speakers.

When I look out my office window at the clearing around the forest lodge where my wife, Miriam, and I live, I see infinite variations on the color green. The blue-gray green of the lichens on the old birch tree; the yellowish green of the wintery grasses; the vibrant blue-green of the needles on the branches of the tall Douglas-firs; the warm, yellow-gray green film of algae growing on the bark of young beech trees—all of that is green to me.

Even if the ability to see green is determined by genetics rather than culture, that does not necessarily mean seeing green triggers a similar reaction in all of us. There is a lot of research that shows green, especially when we look at trees, affects our state of mind. But might our reaction be determined by the historical era and culture in which we live? To answer this question, we would need more comparative studies, for instance, with people such as the Inuit, who rarely see green, or the Tuareg, who live in the Sahara, where the color you are most likely to encounter is some shade of brown. I am not currently aware of any such studies.

I want to point out that our perceptual skills are as strong as they ever were. Our senses are not inferior to those of animals, they are simply—as with all species—perfectly adapted to our needs. And this makes humans absolutely normal. We are, as we always have been, part of a larger community. We are equipped with outstanding sensory organs, which allow us to understand and make the most of the environment where we belong. These senses also make us aware of other species, with all their sensory capabilities, and thus strengthen our sense of empathy and consideration for them. The ancient tie that binds us to nature is not and never has been severed. We have just ignored it for a while. And when we feel that we belong fully and completely to nature, conservation measures can be seen in a completely different light.

Gruters tested sixteen subjects sitting in a completely darkened room. This allowed them to concentrate on colored LED lights that they were to track visually. Amazingly, the first thing that moved was not the subjects’ eyes but their eardrums, which oriented toward the points of light. It took just 10 milliseconds for the subjects’ eyes to follow.9 You could, therefore, say that the eyes and the ears were directed to an object at about the same time. What’s important here is not the time lag but the fact that we line up our auditory apparatus at all, an alignment that had never been noticed before. Even more surprising is that the test subjects’ ears were oriented not to a sound but to an object they wanted to observe at with their eyes. Gruters’ studies clearly show that we still have a thing or two to learn when it comes to our physical capabilities and, above all, that even our supposedly feeble and fixed ears can surprise us at any time with what they can do.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first book by this author. Quite an interesting audiobook but not a new favorite. Love trees and such but never really thought about learning about them further.

[Camelia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read several books by the German author Peter Wohlleben, a conservationist and a fellow nature lover. My favourite is of course The Hidden Life of Trees. This book, The Heartbeat of Trees, is more chatty.

What I find new and interesting (to me):

– “Clues that the ability to see colours is closely tied to culture also exist in countries where European languages are spoken. People whose mother tongue is Russian recognise different shades of blue far more quickly than non-russian speakers, because Russian makes a clear distinction between dark blue and light blue.”

– Our hearing is worse than dogs’ but we are not all hopeless. Dogs have larger ear muscles so can pick up smaller volume sounds. Even our sense of smell is not as bad. We can pick up some smells better than dogs, such as fruits (dogs not interested in fruits). Because our gut can “smell” (have olfactory receptors), artificial compounds of scented candles, perfumes and other scented products can cause intestinal discomfort.

– Earthworms are not always angels of the forests. North America lost its earthworms in the last glacial period and trees have adapted to a world without earthworms. So, in North America, earthworms are invasive species. They damage forests and endanger many plant species.

– Tree huggers (myself included), Peter Wohlleben has bad news for you: trees can not feel your touch, definitely not through their barks. When you touch the leaves of a tomato plant and the plant stem grows stronger, it is not because she feels your love, but because she thinks you are wind therefore she needs to grow a stronger stem to fight against the windy weather. Sorry, grape vines can not distinguish classical music from rock music. You are just noise to be ignored. Possible reasons: we, as animals, are too fast for a tree; as a species, we have only existed for the 0.01% of time when trees have been existing, so, it is highly unlikely trees “know” who you are. Is there any sound that trees can hear? Yes, the munching sound of a caterpillar on its leaves. Some plant roots can “hear” the sound of water nearby and grow towards it.

I disagree with the author on following:

– It is still too early to say if the widespread nearsightedness in modern times is an evolutionary adaptation. It’s perhaps an adaptation to our environment but not a work of evolution.

– I am startled by the author’s assessment of the possible influence by mobile phone use on brain function. There have been many conspiracy theories out there on this matter. One must be extra careful when making such a claim, especially if one’s job is scientific communication.

Whether plants can “see”, “smell” or “feel pain”, it depends on the definition of these terms. Since scientists and philosophers still haven’t agreed upon what consciousness is, it is true one can not rule out the possibility.

Nature books are my comfort food. This book is no exception. However, in our era of climate change and mass extinction, one can not avoid depression and despair when it comes to nature conservation. I agree that “...many nature lovers harbour a deep desire not to be the one in charge of this planet.” But at least I can say this to Mr. Wohlleben: No, your book is not placed on the fiction shelf in my local bookstore, nor in Barnes & Noble. They are placed in the “science” section and many readers find them helpful.

[Jolanta (knygupė)]

2.5*

Kaip ironiška - autorius šioje knygoje kviečia mus saugoti medžius...
Pabirų minčių, temų, užrašų, pasikartojimų kratinys. Miške vaikščioti, žinokit, labai sveika, reikia mokytis iš vaikų džiaugtis akimirka ir nebijoti išsipurvinti miške. Reikia liesti medžius ir samanas, žinokit, labai faina. Dar parėkauti miške sveika, žinokit. Ir kuo mažiau vartoti iš medienos gaminamų daiktų, cha. Damn, kaip man pagailo tų medžių nukirstų dėl šios knygos. Tuolab, jog ir autoriui ta mintis kilo. Galėjo juk simboliškai ją išleisti tik elektroniniu pavidalu ir dar dykai.
Negaliu šios knygos visai prastai vertinti iš pagarbos tiems paaukotiems tokiam "didžiam" tikslui medžiams. Na, ir gal kam ji pravers, gal privers susimąstyti.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrible title, excellent book. So many incredible facts. Highly recommend if you find non-fiction biology fascinating. I am re-reading this before returning it to the library; I liked it that much. I did the audio, which helped.

Some cool things: when birds have parasites, they stand on an ant hill so the ants eat the parasites off its feathers. One type of tree that was planted in a non-native land, adapted By making the smell of humans to attract mosquitos who would then act like a bee would since there weren’t bees. Tylenol is a synthetic substance that naturally comes from willow bark. You could just chew the bark! If you pet your tomato plant, it will grow a thicker stem bc it will think it’s windy.

[Dragonlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with the latest scientific findings yet never dry or boring, Wohllenben presents a warm invitation to take a stroll among those giants of the plant world, trees. Cutting edge research is revealing there is considerably more to the plant world and trees in particular than most of us appreciate these days. At a time when the natural world is mainly thought of in terms of what income it can generate, there is a deep seated need to reconnect to that natural world. We humans tend to forget that we are actually a part of nature, not just a participant in the big world of commerce or a captive of the internet. Wohllenben demonstrates how time in the forest is beneficial not just for the mind but for the body as well. Something as simple as a walk in the woods, whether it’s a “natural” woodland or a manicured city park, can lower our blood pressure and that’s just for starters. He encourages us to see the woods as children do, exploring the different textures, shapes, tastes and smells.

Wohllenben also examines the considerable shortcomings of the forest management industry worldwide and puts forward a better, more sustainable, climate friendly way. Overall, the basic message is that we cannot continue to separate ourselves from the natural world because like all life on this planet, we are a part of it and should act accordingly. While some readers might be tempted to think of Wohllenben as merely another tree-hugger, his years of experience as a forest manager and teacher mean this book is properly grounded in scientific observations. Anyone looking to expand their appreciation of the natural world and the wonders of the forest should add this to their library.

[Andrew H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sequel to The Hidden Life of Trees and like many a sequel it feels like a dilution of what came before. There are moments of real surprise -- a vine that mimics trees by producing matching leaves and might have "eyes" -- but the book is loosely structured and some chapters read like mini essays or bits of journalism, for example, the chapter on learning from children. There are also noticeable repeats as if the book is being cobbled together. Wohlleben is a talented writer and advocate of ecology. Having said that, he writes himself into a corner: he does not like the term "esoteric" or writing of a Romantic bias. The Romantics were moved by the Spirit of Nature. Wohllenben wants the reader to be moved by the spirit of science. Unfortunately, as he has to admit, trying to experience communion with trees, in scientific terms, does not result in much of a dialogue! His writing strives for emotion but is often matter-of-fact. It is if he wants to claim mystery (ancient tree worship) but cannot do that because science denies mystery. The best parts are when he recounts shared experiences, a joint walk to see an almost extinct lichen. But even here, he lacks the language to convey an emotional response. All in all, this is a book that does not add up.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Wohlleben is a tree nut. I mean that in the best possible way. He begins his book with an invitation. "I invite you to join me in the forest..." And then he proceeds to explain why it is so essential that we follow him there. Do trees feel pain? Are trees capable of remembering the past and then using those memories to make good choices in the future? Can trees respond to an embrace from the proverbial tree-hugger? And does that hug afford more benefit to the hugger or to the huggee? It all comes down to electro-magnetic fields and other mysterious forces. (Mysterious to me, anyway. Electricity is like magic in my mind - even though I have no idea how either one of them work, I am super happy that they both do.)
Wohlleben's point is that we must find a way to commune with the forest in order to understand its importance to the balance of nature. He is a tree nut because he believes our survival as a species is intertwined with these majestic "kings of the plant world."

[Josephine Ensign · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this book, Wohlleben writes the way he talks and it's as if he just dictated short talks and had them typed up into a book. What he writes about is important but how he writes about it is off-putting—with at least four mentions of "my bestseller books."

[Nessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ein sehr gut geschriebenes und leicht verständliches Sachbuch, das für mich viele neue Informationen bereit hielt. Gibt einem mal wieder zu denken, was der Mensch der Natur antut

[YvonneN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seitdem ich Peter Wohlleben vor Jahren in einer Talkshow sah, wollte ich immer mal eines seiner Bücher lesen. Ich mochte die Art, wie er anhand wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnisse und seiner eigenen Erfahrungen über die erstaunlichen Phänomene der Natur berichtet. Erst in diesem Jahr wurde ihm für seine emotionale und unkonventionelle Wissensvermittlung die Bayerische Naturschutzmedaille verliehen. Und doch ist das erst kürzlich erschienene Buch „Das Geheime Band zwischen Mensch und Natur“ das erste Buch, das ich von ihm las und von dem ich an dieser Stelle verraten kann, dass es nicht mein letztes sein wird.

„Wir sind keine degenerierten Wesen, die nur mithilfe der modernen Technik noch in der Lage sind, langfristig zu überleben. Lassen Sie sich auf der Reise in die Wälder überraschen, wie gut Ihre Sinne funktionieren! So gibt es zum Beispiel Gerüche, die Sie besser wahrnehmen können als Hunde. Daneben werden wir auf elektrische Phänomene an Bäumen stoßen, die Spinnenhaare zu Berge stehen lassen. Im Grünen gibt es eine gut bestückte Apotheke, aus der sich nicht nur alle Tiere, sondern auch Sie sich bedienen können. Darüber hinaus umweht Sie ein Kommunikationscocktail, der Ihren Kreislauf und Ihr Immunsystem stärkt.“ (S. 7/8)

Als Förster und Naturschützer entdeckt Peter Wohlleben verblüffende Gemeinsamkeiten zwischen Mensch und Natur – ein uraltes Band, das bis heute intakt ist, auch wenn wir uns dessen nicht immer bewusst sind. So profitiert unser Immunsystem bei einem Waldspaziergang nachweislich von pflanzlichen Antibiotika, die Bäume zu ihrem eigenen Schutz vor Angreifern ausdünsten. Unser Blutdruck normalisiert sich in der Umgebung von Bäumen, die Farbe Grün beruhigt uns, der Wald schärft unsere Sinne, er lehrt uns zu riechen, hören, fühlen und zu sehen. Peter Wohlleben öffnet die Augen für das verborgene Zusammenspiel von Mensch und Natur. Er entführt uns in einen wunderbaren Kosmos, in dem der Mensch nicht als überlegenes Wesen erscheint, sondern als ein Teil der Natur wie jede Pflanze, jedes Tier.

Aber Peter Wohlleben macht auch bewusst, dass es in unserem ureigenen Interesse ist, die Natur zu bewahren. Er studierte Forstwirtschaft und war über zwanzig Jahre lang Beamter der Landesforstverwaltung. Heute hält er Vorträge und Seminare, schreibt Bücher zu Themen rund um den Wald und den Naturschutz und leitet eine Waldakademie in der Eifel. Er setzt sich weltweit für die Rückkehr der Urwälder ein, denn die angeschlagene Natur kann sich am besten heilen, wenn man ihr den Raum dazu lässt. Aber auch mit den derzeit in den Schlagzeilen stehenden Wäldern beschäftigt er sich und gewährt interessante Einblicke. Es ist viel Stoff zum Nachdenken in dem Buch vorhanden, aber es setzt auch ganz klar das Signal, dass es für den Schutz der Natur nicht zu spät ist – nie zu spät sein kann, weil wir als Menschen viel zu stark mit ihr verbunden sind.

So erzeugt das Buch neben der Schärfung des Bewusstseins für die Probleme des Waldes und der Waldbewirtschaftung gleichzeitig eine lebendige Atmosphäre, in der man Erstaunliches über die Natur entdecken kann und die gleichzeitig Lust darauf macht, sich auf der Stelle in den nächsten Wald zu begeben um diesen mit all seinen Sinnen und dem frisch erworbenen Wissen neu zu erfahren. Ein Buch, das nachwirkt.

[Stephanie McGuirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This presents so many mind-blowing theories about trees/plants with compelling supporting evidence! As a fellow tree-hugger, I love how he explores "wacky" questions such as, "is there any way for us to communicate with trees?"

Toward the end, the book focuses mainly on conservation practices. Of course, this is incredibly imporant...but also monotonous and depressing. He details many stories of failed preservation attempts and describes clear-cut areas that he has visited. I didn't get as much out of this latter part of the book. But still, a very enlightening read.

[Ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a load of waffle. I loved The Hidden Life of Trees, but this just seemed so scattered and like he was just validating popular thought instead of using research and his knowledge as a forester to discuss different topics.

[bob walenski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and LOVED Wohlleben's "The Hidden Life of Trees" I expected a lot and wanted more of his perceptions and understanding of trees. "The Heartbeat of Trees" presented more insights into how trees 'work' at the center of life on this planet. Wohlleben works hard to connect us to trees and forests, and his love for them is palpable and inspiring. "Heartbeat" was informative and increased my basic knowledge about trees individually and in particular, grouped together 'old growth' forests.

Wohlleben made me realize two very important issues when it comes to trees. We have been taught and conditioned to think of Man as the top chain of life, animals next and plants, including trees, as third, and somehow less. In reality it needs to be more of three parallel groups, equally important and of value, and interwoven into the larger fabric of life/nature/existence. Man is not so much superior to other life forms as he is interdependent. We're NOT taught that at all, and the arrogance of man to control and manipulate nature...for his convenience and profit....is part of the basic sickness that is threatening us all as the health of the planet deteriorates.

The second realization is how complex and difficult ecological balance and the protection of forests has become. Global warming has naturally added a severe threat, but industrialization and all of the variables of pollution, overuse and overpopulation keep changing the rules and the outcomes. We consume forests and need wood products to function, and sadly economic greed too often motivates thoughtless decisions and actions that do more harm than good. Even well intentioned groups and scientists have a daunting problem trying to 'help' forests and not ensure their destruction. Wohlleben's suggests a clear solution: we need to leave the forests we have left alone......for long periods of time. It takes about 500 years for a plantation forest to mature and develop and recycle itself into an old growth, healthy forest.

Naturally I wanted this book to be a happy frolic in the woods, "forest bathing" for physical and emotional health. The book is mostly positive, but as a scientist, Wohlleben is also realistic and not at all convinced man will do the right things. Money and the profits from the forest industry, controlled by corporations that certainly pay lip service to sustaining their industries, seems to be the main problem. What they say is not always correct, and what they do is not always for the common good, but for selfish purposes.

So don't expect a happy, feel good read, although parts of this are quite uplifting and hopeful. I learned more about the trees themselves from Wohlleben's other book, "The Hidden Life of Trees". This book is more centered on forests and preservation and how we can and need to reconnect with them, as individuals through our senses and as society as through sincere planned global solutions.
I recommend BOTH books ...... i am already a 'tree hugger' maybe it will encourage you to become one as well.

[Jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and devoured it a lot faster than I expected. Note, that I have not read "The Hidden Life of Trees"

This book is heavily referring to the German forests, which arguably made the entire book more interesting to me. I can definitely see how non-Germans or non-Europeans would be less interested in the book due to that. There are some references to the Americas, but those were rather minimal.

His writing style on the one hand is pleasant to read, but for a book that is seemingly supposed to be very scientific, his choice of words is sometimes questionable.
Some philosophical questions are presented as if they were facts, and the heavy focus on the West (mostly Europe) disregarded other cultures - especially those that are way more in touch with nature than we (Europeans) are.

I truly don't think this was done with malicious intent and simply because I believe Peter hasn't had the chance to explore other cultures and their connection to nature that much. (As somewhat shown by his first encounter with the Kwiakah Band)
Meaning, that his only or main reference point is the one near to him, which he then sometimes clumsily applies to the rest of the world.

That aside though, I cannot and won't deny that this book has sparked a deep desire for me to protect our forests and explore nature more often and with more intention. There's a lot for me to think about and a lot to research on.

[John Woakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as The Hidden Life of Trees or maybe I know more about old-growth forests now. I was a little disappointed with this book, perhaps my expectations were too high.

[Vero]

Iedereen zou dit boek moeten lezen

[Tudor Crețu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omul asta nu face decat sa iubesti si mai mult natura si padurile, superb scrisa <3 Peter Wohlleben

[Yaprak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ağaçların Gizli Yaşamı kitabıyla tanınan doğa koruyucusu Peter Wohlleben'ın Ormanın Kalbi eseri de tıpkı diğer kitabı gibi merak ve keyifle okunabilen bir kitap. Otuz bir başlıktan oluşan kitapta, ''Ağaçların kalp atışı'' ''Ormanların dili'' ''Solucanlar seyahate çıktığında'' gibi ilginç ve bir o kadar dikkat çekici bölüm bulunuyor. Wohlleben, konuya biraz ilgi duyan çoğu kişinin bildiği şeyleri basit ve anlaşılabilir bir dille anlatıyor. Akademik, kaynakça ve detaylarla boğulmuş bir anlatımdan uzak, samimi bir dille, kendi hislerini ve anılarını da katarak anlatıyor. Dolayısıyla okurken sizi yormuyor. Konuya dair biraz okuma yapan kişileri çok şaşırtacak bilgiler sunmuyor olabilir açıkçası, kabul ediyorum. Fakat belirli aralıklarla bölüm bölüm okumanın pek keyifli olduğunu düşünüyorum.

Zeytinlikleri acımasızca kesilen, ormanını, ağacını, hayvanını korumak zorunda kaldığımız bu ülkede bu kitabın varlığının önemli olduğunu düşünüyorum. Önümüz yılbaşı malum, doğayı seven, ağaçları tanımayı kendine dert edinmiş eşiniz, dostunuz varsa bence bu kitabı hediye edebilirsiniz. İnsanda kitapta da bahsedilen orman banyosunu yapmak, bir ağacın gövdesine dokunma isteği yaratıyor. Hiç olmazsa sizi duyacağını tahmin ettiğiniz ev bitkilerinize farklı bir gözle bakabilir, yapraklarını okşarken ona harika olduğunu söyleyebilirsiniz. :)

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Wohlleben has the ability to share science and the environment to a wide audience, to people who perhaps would never spend so long focusing on trees. As a committed nature lover and environmental reader and advocate I find his way of sharing facts and his passion for trees and their abilities to be refreshing and enjoyable and thought provoking.

Trees are definitely sentient beings, I have always known this in my heart and through this title and his other titles I know it for sure.

One small detail however with this title, I read this as an audio book, a favourite way of reading for me usually but the narrator was someone I never quite adjusted too. I have previously read a number of this authors titles in paper book format and am very aware of his Germanic background and the fact he writes in German and the books are translated, so being confronted with an extremely classy British accent just never felt right in my head. For the first time I became acutely aware of the power of the right narrator for an audio book. I actually had to stop reading the audio book and returned to it only after I found I could not quickly borrow the paper book from the library. A small complaint but it really impacted upon the way I absorbed the content.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 - This wasn’t bad, but I felt like I couldn’t entirely trust his research. There was an anecdote near the beginning about a study that found that children got bad vision from not playing outdoors enough and that you could improve your vision by going outside more. That sounded wholly unlikely to me, so made me listen to the rest of the book somewhat suspiciously. And there were a lot of things like that — that just sounded off, unlikely. That said, I’m not so invested that I’m going to go fact check him, so I’m basing that on vibes and common sense.
Content-wise, there was a lot of stuff at the beginning that was about people and animals, not trees, which confused me. Once he got to the trees, it was one of those books where you can pull out memorable factoids (hopefully true … unsure) for conversations. Which I like.

[Jeremy Clemente · Rating 2 out of 5]

took a looooong break in the middle of reading this book because i got a little bored. and it is a little boring. it’s full of great information and really tenderly and thoughtfully written— i think Wohlleben is the most dedicated free lover out there and he has so many important takes. i learned a lot i hadn’t heard before, even being someone who follows environmental science and activism, and that was valuable, but i think i like my environmentalism with a little more of a vitriolic bent

[Bruna (bruandthebooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Grace Conroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book tried to do too much and then nothing was fleshed out fully enough… but i loved the ideas in it!

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but in all honesty, I ended up hating it. I initially thought I would give this a 2 star review, but considering how desperately I wanted this book to be over, I lowered my rating. I really wish I had made the decision to DNF, rather than power through.
It’s challenging to decipher exactly why I disliked this book so much, but I think it comes down to the writing style. While some components of this book were interesting, the writing itself was just a compilation of disorganized ramblings. The author made a lot of relevant points, but there wasn’t a lot of detail or depth. This whole book seemed very superficial/surface level.
Overall, I found this book quite boring. I would often catch my mind drifting elsewhere while reading it. I find the topic of forests and trees interesting, but this book was not engaging at all. I was really hoping for a beautiful, atmospheric nature book that I could learn from. Instead, I was stuck with this disappointing fluff.
At least this book is a short read!

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how to rate this exactly. I listened to this one, and it has tons of valuable information but the reality of clear cutting and climate change is so grim that I admittedly did not pay attention as much as I could have.

[Jeanne Fellin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very interesting. Especially the idea of the heartbeat of a tree helping the transpiration process.
I can't walk in a forest often enough.