Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures

Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures

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  • Create Date:2021-05-08 03:19:59
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
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  • Author:Merlin Sheldrake
  • ISBN:052551032X
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Summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER - "Merlin Sheldrake's marvelous tour of these diverse and extraordinary life forms is eye-opening on why humans should consider fungi among the greatest of earth's marvels。 。 。 。 Wondrous。"--Time

A mind-bending journey into the hidden universe of fungi, "one of those rare books that can truly change the way you see the world around you" (Helen Macdonald, author of H Is for Hawk)。

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Time - BBC Science Focus - The Daily Mail - Geographical - The Times - The Telegraph - New Statesman - London Evening Standard - Science Friday

When we think of fungi, we likely think of mushrooms。 But mushrooms are only fruiting bodies, analogous to apples on a tree。 Most fungi live out of sight, yet make up a massively diverse kingdom of organisms that supports and sustains nearly all living systems。 Fungi provide a key to understanding the planet on which we live, and the ways we think, feel, and behave。

In Entangled Life, the brilliant young biologist Merlin Sheldrake shows us the world from a fungal point of view, providing an exhilarating change of perspective。 Sheldrake's vivid exploration takes us from yeast to psychedelics, to the fungi that range for miles underground and are the largest organisms on the planet, to those that link plants together in complex networks known as the "Wood Wide Web," to those that infiltrate and manipulate insect bodies with devastating precision。

Fungi throw our concepts of individuality and even intelligence into question。 They are metabolic masters, earth makers, and key players in most of life's processes。 They can change our minds, heal our bodies, and even help us remediate environmental disaster。 By examining fungi on their own terms, Sheldrake reveals how these extraordinary organisms--and our relationships with them--are changing our understanding of how life works。

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH BOOK AWARD - LONGLISTED FOR THE RATHBONES FOLIO PRIZE

"Entangled Life is a gorgeous book of literary nature writing in the tradition of [Robert] Macfarlane and John Fowles, ripe with insight and erudition。 。 。 。 Food for the soul。"--Eugenia Bone, Wall Street Journal

"[An] ebullient and ambitious exploration 。 。 。 This book may not be a psychedelic--and unlike Sheldrake, I haven't dared to consume my copy (yet)--but reading it left me not just moved but altered, eager to disseminate its message of what fungi can do。"--Jennifer Szalai, The New York Times

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Reviews

Ugnė

Kadangi fungus ir mushroom verčiama kaip grybai, o grybas mano supratimu turi kotą ir kepurėlę, sunku pasakyti, apie ką ši knyga。 Nes ji ir apie grybus (tuos, kur kepurėti), bet ir apie kerpes, mieles, informacijos sklaidą, parazitavimą ir užvaldymą。 Skaitydama dažnai pagalvodavau, kad mes dedamės esą labai gudrūs, tačiau iš tiesų daug dalykų dar nežinome ir labai nustebtume sužinoję。 Ir dabar geriau suprantu tuos, kurie bando paaiškinti, kad grybas kaip ir augalas, nu bet ne visai。Autorius yra Kadangi fungus ir mushroom verčiama kaip grybai, o grybas mano supratimu turi kotą ir kepurėlę, sunku pasakyti, apie ką ši knyga。 Nes ji ir apie grybus (tuos, kur kepurėti), bet ir apie kerpes, mieles, informacijos sklaidą, parazitavimą ir užvaldymą。 Skaitydama dažnai pagalvodavau, kad mes dedamės esą labai gudrūs, tačiau iš tiesų daug dalykų dar nežinome ir labai nustebtume sužinoję。 Ir dabar geriau suprantu tuos, kurie bando paaiškinti, kad grybas kaip ir augalas, nu bet ne visai。Autorius yra įdomus personažas, iš tų mokslininkų, kuriems reikia viską patirti patiems, todėl knygą nėra vien "Petras šiuo klausimu sakė ta, o Zosė - aną" rinkinys ir tikrai įtraukia。 。。。more

Patricia

The scope and depth of this book is dizzying and exhausting。 I wore myself out reading it because it was so fascinating, and so well written, that I could not put it down。 If you are interested in the history of science, the history of life on earth, the burgeoning field of mycology and all its applications in nature and the environment, this is a book you will love。 I also found Merlin Sheldrake, as a young man, enchanting in his philosophical rumination, personal reflections and zest for know The scope and depth of this book is dizzying and exhausting。 I wore myself out reading it because it was so fascinating, and so well written, that I could not put it down。 If you are interested in the history of science, the history of life on earth, the burgeoning field of mycology and all its applications in nature and the environment, this is a book you will love。 I also found Merlin Sheldrake, as a young man, enchanting in his philosophical rumination, personal reflections and zest for knowledge。。。。a thoroughly engaging young man, the scion of Rupert Sheldrake, another scientist of note。 I predict Merlin will have a very successful career as a science writer of lasting significance。 。。。more

CA

If you read any of my reviews, you'll know that I love a book read by the author! Melon has the perfect cadence to read a book, it's so soothing and meticulous。 Anyways, on to the actual book!I've always been interested in the connections between trees, which are usually called mycelium。。。 And that's all。 But they're so much more then that!! I've been reading about the connections trees have between each other, which sets the basic knowledge to deep dive into how the fungus in the soil is really If you read any of my reviews, you'll know that I love a book read by the author! Melon has the perfect cadence to read a book, it's so soothing and meticulous。 Anyways, on to the actual book!I've always been interested in the connections between trees, which are usually called mycelium。。。 And that's all。 But they're so much more then that!! I've been reading about the connections trees have between each other, which sets the basic knowledge to deep dive into how the fungus in the soil is really the superhero! This book has so much information that is fascinating。 It's the newest science facts up to 2020,which gives you the newest stats and information on what discoveries are happening。Final note is this is a great book to learn more about a very underrated organism, fungus! Get the audiobook, you won't be disappointed! 。。。more

Sreelakshmi

A very insightful book on a living thing that we often consider most insignificant。 The book gives a whole new perspective about fungi, their fellow variants and their vital functions to sustain this planet。 The book is a bit technical but it was very informative。 Lots of interesting facts and ideas by the author, that will definitely twist every neuron in your brain!

Ann

In Entangled Life, Sheldrake takes an engaging and playful approach to sharing his love: Fungi。 He truly weaves a tangled tale sharing much of his own adventure with this group of organisms。 He brings up to date information of the fungi and many of their relationships, including lichens, mycorrhizal forms, and yeast。 His turn of phrase wonderfully turns not only our human perspective on its head but also our claims to a botanical perspective。 The book is well worth reading on many levels。The boo In Entangled Life, Sheldrake takes an engaging and playful approach to sharing his love: Fungi。 He truly weaves a tangled tale sharing much of his own adventure with this group of organisms。 He brings up to date information of the fungi and many of their relationships, including lichens, mycorrhizal forms, and yeast。 His turn of phrase wonderfully turns not only our human perspective on its head but also our claims to a botanical perspective。 The book is well worth reading on many levels。The book contains a Prologue, 8 chapters with Sheldrake's own drawings made from Ink cap mushroom ink, an Epilogue, Acknowledgements, Notes, a Bibliography, and an Index。 。。。more

Jesse Field

A set of various and entangled anecdotes on science and spirituality that more or less argue for putting more attention on fungi, but also and perhaps more importantly the forms they embody, flexible and adaptive complex systems, sharing and consuming, wandering and filling in, launching alchemical processes in any and all environments。 Hence, the book is not just about mushrooms, but the philosophical hyperconcept Deleuze and Guattari call "the rhizome," with the implication that organic growth A set of various and entangled anecdotes on science and spirituality that more or less argue for putting more attention on fungi, but also and perhaps more importantly the forms they embody, flexible and adaptive complex systems, sharing and consuming, wandering and filling in, launching alchemical processes in any and all environments。 Hence, the book is not just about mushrooms, but the philosophical hyperconcept Deleuze and Guattari call "the rhizome," with the implication that organic growth in all directions at once can trump hierarchical organization。Sheldrake's essays are huge accomplishments in my eyes in that they balance these social and political implications with scientific speculation and aesthetic appreciation of what he, a trained specialist in the field, calls "mycorrhizal relationships。" We learn how much depends on "hyphae" : However, most fungi form networks of many cells known as hyphae (pronounced HY fee): fine tubular structures that branch, fuse, and tangle into the anarchic filigree of mycelium。 Mycelium describes the most common of fungal habits, better thought of not as a thing but as a process: an exploratory, irregular tendency。 Water and nutrients flow through ecosystems within mycelial networks。 The mycelium of some fungal species is electrically excitable and conducts waves of electrical activity along hyphae, analogous to the electrical impulses in animal nerve cells。From this basic structure emerge unending cool anecdotes to relate at your next party。 Oyster mushrooms poison, capture, and consume certain types of worms。 Slime molds can find their way out of Ikea。 Some fungi can "mycoremediate" radioactive nuclear waste。 Lichen could be from outer space。The social importance of all things rhyzomic is revealed over the course of the essays in exciting flashes, refreshingly free of maudlin political intensity, left- or right-leaning。 Altruism perplexes evolutionary theorists, but sharing evidently can benefit systems without harming individuals, and we see in mushrooms something like markets for apportioned nutrients like phosphorus。 Is there any true individual, within the form of the system? Yes: what look like nodes and channels in one system, zoomed in, are still more systems。 Taking LSD and psilocybin mushrooms reduces the individuating structures of the brain and sends us down a path dissolution of ego and self, which can be of great benefit to our mental health。 It all seems to build to a chapter that fairly demands we take up greater study of mushrooms to help overcome patterns of environmental degradation, mostly through re-thinking the decomposition of our structures and objects -- and even their composition in the first place。 "To use the world well, to be able to stop wasting it and our time in it, we need to relearn our being in it," writes Ursula K。 Le Guin in an epigraph Sheldrake cites。 Adam and I still await the fungi streets and plastics。 Here and there, niggling quibbles with the essays arise。 Above, does Sheldrake favor "leapfrogging" old-fashioned rational technology in developing economies? The implication seems yes, which I'm convinced would not work, but the question is also beyond Sheldrake's admittedly narrow vision of political economy。 On more scientific grounds, his brief profiles of the state of the science, from slime molds to mycoremediation to systems theory, are written from a bird's eye view, more as markers for further reading than any involved or full discussion。 Which is fine, and even a model for this sort of general-readership essay。 Finally, the personality of the author: the last chapter and more of the book reveals a rather eccentric young fellow, someone obsessed with Newton's apple trees and bowls of moonshine and singing songs with rotting books, and other mundane matters that feed a sense of what the Chinese call "personal cultivation。" Well, at least all seems harmless fun。 He's like the science equivalent of Benedict Cumberbatch -- a tall, goofy and English lad, yet magnet in his respectfully boyish approach to life。 。。。more

Kristýna Obrdlíková

Přesvědčivé a poutavě napsané。 Chci vědět víc。 :-)

DeadCollective

This book was a breath of fresh air to fields of research and further education I very much look forward to seeing spread。

Pam Hurd

The most fascinating nonfiction book I've read in years! The most fascinating nonfiction book I've read in years! 。。。more

Dylan

Five stars may be overly generous to this fairly slim book but I just can't come up with any reasonable criticisms。 Readable and informative in equal measures, it struck the right tone for me throughout。 Perhaps the only negative thing you could say is that the book lacks a strong central argument or narrative thread besides "fungi are so cool。" But fungi are, in fact, so cool。 Five stars may be overly generous to this fairly slim book but I just can't come up with any reasonable criticisms。 Readable and informative in equal measures, it struck the right tone for me throughout。 Perhaps the only negative thing you could say is that the book lacks a strong central argument or narrative thread besides "fungi are so cool。" But fungi are, in fact, so cool。 。。。more

Mescalitoeyes

Fascinating read

Rach Hyland

This book is obviously interesting just for its subject matter but i really enjoyed some of the imaginative descriptions and clear explanations。

Julia

This book was so interesting。 I feel like my mind has expanded (to be fair, I didn’t know much about fungi beyond that they sometimes make mushrooms and molds。。。。)。 I didn’t know that they got much more interesting but oh boy they do! There’s still so much unknown, but the research shared in this book and the possibilities set forth for future studies is really exciting。 It’s also fairly easy to read。 I say fairly because a sizable vocabulary is helpful but it it isn’t full of dense scientific j This book was so interesting。 I feel like my mind has expanded (to be fair, I didn’t know much about fungi beyond that they sometimes make mushrooms and molds。。。。)。 I didn’t know that they got much more interesting but oh boy they do! There’s still so much unknown, but the research shared in this book and the possibilities set forth for future studies is really exciting。 It’s also fairly easy to read。 I say fairly because a sizable vocabulary is helpful but it it isn’t full of dense scientific jargon, and is woven together with just enough narrative to keep it interesting。 In conclusions, I highly recommend。 。。。more

Spencer

some parts are a bit too hypothetical, but overall reasonably solid。 audiobook reading kinda flat。

Annikky

4+

Laura Hyatt

Mind bending

Graham

A delightful book written by an eloquent author。 A beautiful journey into all things Fungi。 I have learnt many new facts about amazing and varied mycelium 。 A fascinating read。 Highly recommended。

Dave Erickson

Fascinating readI enjoyed the emphasis in this book on how fungi are involved in so many aspects of the natural world as well as many industrial processes。 There is not a lot of taxonomy making the material very understandable without requiring a background in mycology。

S O'Keeffe

Sheldrake is a delightfully eccentric field-guide through the bizarre and fascinating world of Fungus。 He's as adept a writer as he is a mycologist, being able to make some dense and obtuse subject matter engaging and fun。 In some ways he raises more questions than answers, challenging his readers to reconsider our conceptions of intelligence, individuality and language as they relate to other forms of life。 This is a snappy introduction to some pressing topics in modern mycology, which left me Sheldrake is a delightfully eccentric field-guide through the bizarre and fascinating world of Fungus。 He's as adept a writer as he is a mycologist, being able to make some dense and obtuse subject matter engaging and fun。 In some ways he raises more questions than answers, challenging his readers to reconsider our conceptions of intelligence, individuality and language as they relate to other forms of life。 This is a snappy introduction to some pressing topics in modern mycology, which left me with a desire to pursue other books on the subject, as well as experiment with some of the more magical mushrooms that the book covers。 。。。more

Cara Dobrev

Fascinating and rich, after reading this book I find myself marveling at the fungi in my garden and daydreaming about a third act as a mycologist。

Cole Nesselson

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Life forms are a process, not things。 Use network-based organisms to best design urban transportation networks。 Dynamic filament of protein-microtubule o more efficiently transport resources throughout network。 vs。 cords and rhizomorphs which are fluid filled spaces in hyphae。 these conduct flow even faster。 We are systems through which matter passes。 Use up to 50-80atm of pressure to force themselves into food。 Use fungus as a large environmental sensor that can process info。。 about the soil, w Life forms are a process, not things。 Use network-based organisms to best design urban transportation networks。 Dynamic filament of protein-microtubule o more efficiently transport resources throughout network。 vs。 cords and rhizomorphs which are fluid filled spaces in hyphae。 these conduct flow even faster。 We are systems through which matter passes。 Use up to 50-80atm of pressure to force themselves into food。 Use fungus as a large environmental sensor that can process info。。 about the soil, water, and polution in an ecosystem。 hyphal tips direct growth and one organism has billions。How do distant parts communicate quickly?1。 Pressure differential2。electricity(action potentialsleaf cutter ants cultivate fungus by feeding them leaf。 Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants。 only 6% of fungus has been discovered 。Psychedelics: trick ourselves out of expectation-so we fall back on our senses。 Expectation uses much less energy to interpret the world through these preconceptions。 Phsarum polysephalum-slime molds that fin quickest way to escape。 we are ecosystems of microbes。 Biology to ecology; the study of relationships between living organisms。 We emerge from a complex tangle of relationships。 Prototaxites are enormous fungi and were the largest living structures on land for 40 million years。fungal networks prevent erosion。 metabolism=chemical transformation-use enzymes to breakdown tough material。 Some discharge can exceed speeds of 60 mph。 5o megatons of spore each year。 Hyphae make mycelium(mycelium describes the ability of fungi to network。) 2 ways for hyphae to become a mycelial network。 1。 branch 2。 fuse-anastomosis。-have to attract one another for sexual pooling of genetic material。 Use pheromones to attract mates。 fungi manipulate roots of nearby plants with hormones。 fungi are interdisciplinary。Lichens are multiple living organisms in one-dynamic system rather than a list of interacting components。 All life forms are symbiotic organisms-"there have never been individuals, we are all lichens"LSD and psilocybin dissolve the self。 Ophiocordyceps unilateralis or "zombie fungi"Richard Evan Schultz-ergot fungi-stoned ape hypothesis- psilocybin caused language revolution during 9000 BCE。neuromicrobiology- mind-manipulating organisms。Panspermia-question of if planets are islands? Can life travel through space on celestial bodies?Horizontal gene(Joshua Lederberg) transfer-transfer in bacteria-not passed down(vertical)genomes aren't closed systems that evolve without foreign disruption。lichena re extremely resistant to radiation。 photosynthesis was a result of combining bacteria witha eukaryotic cell。 -endosymbiosisLichens are worth more than the sum of their parts。 Intelligence="to choose between"-the degree to which an organism is cognisant-Brains are just one such network-neurons network and flexibly reorder themselves。 Duel hypothesis-the evo。 tree converges as well-lichens are algae and fungus, where fungus aid in weathering by breaking up rock and freeing the minerals that the algae needs to perform photosynthesis。 -this is how the inanimate mineral mass in rocks enters the metabolic cycles of the living。psylocynbin reduces activity in certain parts of the brain- the default mode network is deactivated -this network is like a school teacher that keeps the classroom from misbehaving and becoming chaotic。 Increased cerebral connectivity that opens the patients mind to new ways of thinking 。 LSD and psy。 act on symtoms of the mind via the mind whereas other drugs bypass the mind。 The experience is the cure-not the drug。 the psilocybin gene moved around intact-horizontally -advantageous 。 90% of plants depend on fungi。 Hyphae are 50x finer than plant roots。 Fungi allowed plants to develop on land before they had developed root systems。 myco=fungi rhizal=rootsmycorhizal relationships mines minerals (phosphorus, calcium, silica) for the plants use-price of phosphorus governed by supply and demand。 fungus buy low and sell high。 Involution-tendency for organisms to involve one another-live alongside one anotherchemical fertilizer disrupts mychorhizal associationcurrent agricultural crisis-efficiency is declining。 3 trillion trees with 60% of total mass of every living organism-300 gigtons of carbon。 Cellulose is the most common polymer- lignin is stronger and more complex。-chemical structure is too irregular for enzymes but white rot can handle it。 use nonspecifc enymes called peroxidases。 carboniferous period-tree's couldn't decompose so carbon kept being sucked out of atmosphere。 mycoremediation-use fungi to consume human waste。 network science is inescapable。 well connected hubs make it possible to traverse network in few steps The more links the easier it is to link to you-snowball effect。 mychorrhizal networks carry a lot of political baggage。 form of socialism。 (more comlex mutualism-parasistism) continuum。 w/o the individual capitalism malfuntions。 Are we humanizing plants or vegetalizing oursleves-snthropomorhpism。 Alcohol Dehydrogenase ADH4 developed to allow humans to eat semi rotten, fermented fruit on the forest floor。 Allows alchol not to poison us。 Resources: Mycologos, mycotopia。net。 injection port method。 。。。more

Eric

A mindblowing introduction to the fungi kingdom, a neglected part of the tree of life wrongly relegated for so long to study by botanists。

Abby Jackson-Gain

Some of the information was review for me as someone with a biology degree and already done a fair amount of reading about mycelial networks and the "wood wide web" so I read it pretty slow and took a break in the middle when I was craving some fiction。 But even with that, there was still a lot of new exciting information for me and Merlin's voice as an author makes reading the book a very whimsical experience。 He takes you on a personal and sensory journey through the world of fungi。 His deep e Some of the information was review for me as someone with a biology degree and already done a fair amount of reading about mycelial networks and the "wood wide web" so I read it pretty slow and took a break in the middle when I was craving some fiction。 But even with that, there was still a lot of new exciting information for me and Merlin's voice as an author makes reading the book a very whimsical experience。 He takes you on a personal and sensory journey through the world of fungi。 His deep enthusiasm and desire to experience and become intimate with fungi is contagious and leaves me wanting to start brewing, fermenting, and eating mushrooms myself。 Also a gives me some hope for the future as it becomes clear that fungus really do have the power to change the world。 。。。more

Erin I

Absolutely fascinating! Sheldrake blew my natural sciences-oriented mind and influenced me on a spiritual level。 Most engaging nonfiction writing I've encountered after Stephen Hawking's Brief Answers to the Big Questions。I am shocked at how neglected a science the study of the fungal branch of the phylogenetic tree presently is, especially considering its potential to solve a number of the crises that threaten humanity today。 I especially enjoyed discussion of mycorrhizial networks, lichens, an Absolutely fascinating! Sheldrake blew my natural sciences-oriented mind and influenced me on a spiritual level。 Most engaging nonfiction writing I've encountered after Stephen Hawking's Brief Answers to the Big Questions。I am shocked at how neglected a science the study of the fungal branch of the phylogenetic tree presently is, especially considering its potential to solve a number of the crises that threaten humanity today。 I especially enjoyed discussion of mycorrhizial networks, lichens, and mycoremediation。"Whether one calls slime molds, fungi, and plants “intelligent” depends on one’s point of view。 Classical scientific definitions of intelligence use humans as a yardstick by which all other species are measured。 According to these anthropocentric definitions, humans are always at the top of the intelligence rankings, followed by animals that look like us (chimpanzees, bonobos, etc。), followed again by other “higher” animals, and onward and downward in a league table—a great chain of intelligence drawn up by the ancient Greeks, which persists one way or another to this day。 Because these organisms don’t look like us or outwardly behave like us—or have brains—they have traditionally been allocated a position somewhere at the bottom of the scale。 Too often, they are thought of as the inert backdrop to animal life。 Yet many are capable of sophisticated behaviors that prompt us to think in new ways about what it means for organisms to “solve problems,” “communicate,” “make decisions,” “learn,” and “remember。” As we do so, some of the vexed hierarchies that underpin modern thought start to soften。 As they soften, our ruinous attitudes toward the more-than-human world may start to change。" 。。。more

Tim Butzen-Cahill

Brilliant!

Elizabeth Chadsey

A bit of a throwback to some parts of The Hidden Life of Trees, I find this stuff soooo interesting。 Also, who knew Beatrix Potter was a mycologist?

Gautam Bhatia

This was such a gorgeous piece of work - longer thoughts to come。

Esmé Boom

If I could give this book ten stars, I would。 Quite possibly my favourite book of the last five years (Ten? Twenty? All of my years?), Entangled Life has the potential to turn your worldview upside down。 Sheldrake is the perfect guide into the world of fungi: funny, eloquent, kind, refreshing。 I think possibly also a great guide for much needed 21st century thought: holistic, nuanced, hopeful。 His metaphors shine, his erudition is all around without it ever becoming pretentious, his jokes and re If I could give this book ten stars, I would。 Quite possibly my favourite book of the last five years (Ten? Twenty? All of my years?), Entangled Life has the potential to turn your worldview upside down。 Sheldrake is the perfect guide into the world of fungi: funny, eloquent, kind, refreshing。 I think possibly also a great guide for much needed 21st century thought: holistic, nuanced, hopeful。 His metaphors shine, his erudition is all around without it ever becoming pretentious, his jokes and reflections are laugh-out-loud funny, his joy and curiosity just leap of the page, and I must confess to crying a little reading the acknowledgements。 Who else cites Prince (`Who's pimping who?`) for a chapter on truffles and their scent? And then goes on to cite Haraway and Le Guin and many more? I hardly ever read non-fiction。 I am sold on the fantastical and the literary most of the time。 This will undoubtedly change after reading Entangled Life。 This book has broadened my horizons in so many ways。 Can't wait to gift it to everyone and their mothers for many birthdays to come。 。。。more

Jamie Batts

Fascinating! Loved it!!

David

Amazingly engaging and informative book。 Science communicator superstar of the future。