The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben *** (of 4)

Peter Wohlleben is either way ahead of his time or a flake. His hypothesis from page one forward is that trees are like people, except when they are superior: they live longer and are stronger than humans, for instance. He makes his case by translating recent scientific discoveries about tree ecology and biochemistry into human analogies like smell, fear, pain, compassion, and anxiety.

So, for example, an acacia forest being nibbled by giraffes will release chemicals into the atmosphere that downwind acacias recognize. The receiving acacias produce chemicals in their leaves that make them less tasty to other giraffes. Wohlleben calls that speech and smell.

Older trees in German forests can share nutrients with younger trees. It is an easy enough experiment to run. Traceable radioactive isotopes introduced into old trees appear in the stems and foliage of younger trees after they have traveled down the trunk, through an interconnected root system, and upward into the new stem. Wohlleben believes that is mothering.

For readers prone toward the spiritualization of nature, The Hidden Life of Trees will be quite affirming. Chapter after chapter describes trees and forests that demonstrate love and personal respect. I, however, found the persistent anthropomorphizing unnecessary, treacly adulteration of scientific research. Then again I did not think animals were incredibly sentient until I had my world turned upside down by The Soul of an Octopus.