The Hidden Life of Trees

July 25, 2016
This fascinating book will intrigue readers who love a walk through the woods. Wohlleben, who worked for the German forestry commission for 20 years and now manages a beech forest in Germany, has gathered research from scientists around the world examining how trees communicate and interact with one another. They do so using a variety of methods, including the secretion of scents and sound vibrations to warn neighboring plants of potential attacks by insects and hungry herbivores, drought, and other dangers. The book includes a note from forest scientist Suzanne Simard of the University of British Columbia, whose studies showed that entire forests can be connected by “using chemical signals sent through the fungal networks around their root tips” and led to the term “the wood-wide web.” Wohlleben anthropomorphizes his subject, using such terms as friendship and parenting, which serves to make the technical information relatable, and he backs up his ideas with information from scientists. He even tackles the question of whether trees are intelligent. He hopes the day will come “when the language of trees will eventually be deciphered.” Until then, Wohllenben’s book offers readers a vivid glimpse into their secret world.

Starred review from October 18, 2024

This title offers an elegant argument for woodland preservation, framed loosely through the life experiences of its author, Wohlleben. His childhood was filled with wonderment at his local forests, which led to a career in forestry while raising a family close to his well-loved woods. As he observed struggling sylvan ecosystems, he became a proponent of progressive forestry techniques, which preserve trees and promote ecological diversity. This framing gives a flexible structure to an intricate exposition of trees' biological complexity--their reproductive lives, interdependent growth patterns, and of course, the effects of humans, from the practices of lumber harvesting to the scourges of climate change. Trees have long memories and are resilient and adaptive to change for years but can only cope to a point. Adapting Wohlleben's prose memoir to graphic novel works brilliantly; richly colored vistas of seasonal scenery are accompanied by naturalist's notebook-like sketches of minute elements of fauna. In this observation of nature's ordinary miracles, Wohlleben, aided by graphic adaptors Bernard and Flao, pleads his conservation case convincingly, pointing to the wonder that already exists and is well worth safeguarding from further harm. VERDICT Rich with information and buzzing with conviction, this is a memorable and skillful graphic adaptation.--Emilia Packard

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 18, 2024
Trees are like people—they feel and connect, and deserve similar respect—argues conservationist Wohlleben in this earnest graphic primer on the science of forest communities. Skillfully adapted from Wohlleben’s original 2016 treatise by Bernard with watercolor-style art by Flao, the volume is organized by the seasons and combines biographical details and scientific research to explore the “majestic” and “mysterious” forests that humanity’s survival depends on. In Spring, Wohlleben describes the anatomy of trees, demonstrating how forests are advanced super organisms “like the intricate workings of a clock.” Summer finds him diving into trees’ reproductive cycles; Fall tackles parasites, bugs, and invasive species; and Winter underscores the importance of mitigating human interventions. Throughout, the ways that trees communicate with one another is highlighted, as well as how fragile this ecosystem is in the face of climate change. Flao’s brightly colored, loose-lined drawings include textbook-like spotlights on various organisms and profound moments from Wohlleben’s lifelong fascination with forests. In this colorful call to “keep trying to change things for the better,” Wohlleben’s passion for nature is contagious.