Entangled Life

How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures

Hardcover, 368 pages

English language

Published Sept. 3, 2020 by The Bodley Head.

ISBN:
978-1-84792-519-0
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4 stars (45 reviews)

11 editions

Review of 'Verwobenes Leben' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Fungi are so fascinating - their biological properties are beyond weird ("different"), they can be found virtually anywhere, and have influenced humans and their civilizations in so many ways.
The author and I share this fascination, but unfortunately this book wasn't a hit for me.

Ironically, I didn't find enough information about fungi in it. There is a lot of stuff being described, but I found myself much less interested in the million stories around them -- and even less in the clearly hallucinogen-induced madness of some other passages.

What bugged me: Many of the properties of fungi that the author describes are incredible - but not unique. Other (micro-) organisms are able to do the same or very similar things, but are not mentioned. I think this is a misrepresentation of facts, and should have no place in a science non-fiction book like this one.

Admittedly, as a microbiologist, …

Review of 'Entangled Life' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Would’ve been 5 stars, it’s funny, interesting, informative and all that stuff.

But the odd sentence he comes out with just sounds like nonsense, there are quite a few leading statements that can’t be proven or disproven. Which leaves a sour taste in my…eyes?

Fascinating subject

3 stars

I buy the Royal Society book prize shortlist each year and this was the book I was most looking forward to. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected given the subject is quite fascinating. It felt like there was a bit too much author and not enough fungus. However the dense endnotes more than made up for it. A very cool subject and really a good introduction. I could have used a bit more technical content though. I

Entangled Writing

3 stars

On the whole, I found Merlin's book an okay read. I have listened to him talk on various podcasts, and it was interesting to visit the source of his thoughts. I feel it is a confession of a mycophilic, heavily spun from reference material, doctoral studies, and associates in the field. It was more like a thesis than a text on field research. But, and there is a big but, I can't fault Sheldrake's bringing all this material together in one text, peppered by his boyish enthusiasm. It is lovely to indulge in someone's own passion, regardless of how they present it.

Sometimes, I felt the adulation for psilocybin to be laboured and at times pontifical. I think if one is going to dip into social science, there might the other side of the coin mentioned when psilocybin has caused psychosis, or done nothing at all in the way of …

Great introduction to fungus!

4 stars

It was really enlightening to learn about the incredible impact that fungus has on all parts of the world.

I was especially intrigued at how plant roots and mycelium work together. It was also very surprising to hear about the impressive effects that truffles have on humans. I hadn't known that they had such an effect on people.

Listen to the Audiobook

5 stars

Sheldrake's exploration of mycology and all things adjacent goaded me into numerous little experiments-- mushroom growing, starting up the cider press again, looking for fungus in new places in relation to the trees. The book is full of tangents and somewhat out-there philosophy-- much like the kinds of conversations one would have with an old friend while you're tripping. I think what really delivered this book in its fullness was the voice of Sheldrake. He knows best how to annunciate his prose and make it digestible to a novice audience. That smooth british voice makes me question my sexuality. Highly recommended to anyone who thinks nature is neat

Review of 'Entangled Life' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I would never have thought that a book about fungi could be a page-turner, I honestly couldn’t put it down. It is just a phenomenal, truly remarkable book.

For most of us fungus is a drug, a pizza topping, or perhaps an infection. For Merlin Sheldrake, a biologist who worked on underground fungal networks in tropical forests in Panama, fungus is an entire kingdom of life as diverse as plants and animals. Fungi are indeed the largest and oldest group of living organisms. 

 Well-researched and beautifully written.   Essential reading. 


Review of 'Entangled Life' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I feel forlorn. There I was, two-thirds in, savoring every page, when suddenly: Epilogue. (The rest are endnotes. They look tantalizing, but I wish I'd known about them up front). Anyhow, I was enjoying it so so much and was not ready for it to end. I hope you'll be better prepared.

If you've been following the exciting work on mycorrhizal systems; if you loved Fantastic Fungi; if relationships (among humans and all living creatures) fascinate you -- you will likely enjoy this book. If you ever ponder the illusion of Self, or marvel at our Earth -- you will learn from this book and love the process.

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