A Book Recommendation: The Hidden Life of Trees

I recently stumbled upon a novel titled The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World by Peter Wohlleben. Peter is a German forester who deeply acknowledges and accepts nature. As such, this book speaks about the little intricacies and beauties about trees that are unseens by the untrained eye. The book covers the life cycle of the forest, trees, and what it takes to be a tree in a forest community through anthropomorphism. The author takes on a tone that is more palatable to the general public which is why the book has received some criticism from biologists and other scientists. I think that because it is meant for the general public, the writings should not be taken too literally, rather it should be taken introspectively. One of the main focuses of the book is the emphasis on how plants communicate and interact with each other through chemical reactions and by utilising the resources around them. The communication occurs through signals sent through the tree root fungal networks and plant hormone signalling. This book also discusses the water transportation system within a community of trees, and the ageing processes of trees, including the factors that affect the ageing process. It’s an interesting book that i would definitely recommend to my family and friends