The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from A Secret World: 1 (The Mysteries of Nature, 1) Hardcover – Illustrated, 29 Sept. 2016

Excellent book based on careful academic research. The author (a state employed forester) found that managing a forest by medieval methods actually made it more productive - modern forest management methods are less effective and may have a detrimental long term impact. Full of interesting information with references to the pertinent academic papers, yet simultaneously easy to read.

A novel and accessible anthropomorphic lens on forests and trees.Truly astounding scientific discoveries laid out in clear chapters. Highly recommended!

This book blends the author’s insights gained from a professional lifetime managing a publibly-owned commercial / amenity forest with the astounding results of recent scientific investigation to produce a compelling narrative that will fundamentally alter how you see and experience woodland. It is presented in a highly readable way and deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in natural history. A little is lost in the translation of the author’s rather whimsical prose style, but in every other regard this is a “must read”.

Brilliant Book

I have to say this is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. I am biased, trees have been a big part of my life but on almost every page there is new fact which has surprised or intrigued me.It is interesting how this book has divided opinion with some people thinking much of it to be unsubstantiated and promoting ideas which are rubbish or crazyFirstly there are a lot of scientific and research papers quoted to back up statements in the book - so don't quite go along with those who complain it doesn't. Yes the author does have some quite interesting and radical views on trees and how we should view this form of life. Personally I welcomed this and it is the main reason I bought the book. There is much we don't know about trees and I suspect there will be much more we do learn in the near future. We base all our understanding and judgement of life on the fact that a central brain and nervous system must be a higher form of life than one without - because that is what we know. It does not mean other forms of life could not be just as sophisticated in a different way. You don't have to agree with the author but I found his ideas refreshing and thought provoking.If you want a boring book full of how to identify trees from leaves and bark then don't buy this. If you want a book that is going to try and make you think in a different way about the very different but fascinating life forms we share this planet with and encounter every day - then read it.

I enjoyed this book very much - it certainly gives you a a different perspective on how trees grow and interact with each other and the environment.It's written in an engaging and accessible style, and structured so that you can dip in and out easily - the contents and index pages are very helpful in this respect. I actually read a couple of later chapters first as the titles sounded interesting, before returning to the beginning again. I also liked the way that page numbers are shown on the upper edges of the pages rather than at the bottom (apart from the first page in each chapter). There are a handful of good line drawings but I did feel that it was too sparsely illustrated; it's just a very minor criticism, though, as the text is the primary reason you'll buy this book - there are plenty of other books that illustrate trees in great detail. The physical quality of the book is very good, too - nice binding and paper, and a font that I found easy on the eye.As a companion to this book I also bought Understanding Roots: Discover How to Make Your Garden Flourish as I've always wondered what goes on underground - this gives a wonderful insight into the world of roots and was well worth buying too.

An excellent and inspiring read. Well worth the effort. The ideas and concepts discussed are simply worth the effort to read.