The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Fall For and What They Teach Us

The Hidden Life of Trees was written by Peter Wohlleben, a German forester, and the English translation was published in 2016. The subtitle of the English edition is 'What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from a Secret World.'

The book describes how trees communicate and share resources through underground mycorrhizal fungal networks that connect root systems, popularly called the 'Wood Wide Web.' These networks allow trees to exchange nutrients, send distress signals, and even support neighboring trees of different species.

The book is grounded in established ecological research on mycorrhizal networks and forest communication, though Wohlleben sometimes uses anthropomorphic language that has drawn mild criticism from some scientists. The core scientific concepts are well-supported by peer-reviewed studies in forest ecology.

No—Peter Wohlleben is a forester who writes about trees and forest ecosystems, while Paul Stamets is a mycologist best known for 'Mycelium Running,' which focuses specifically on fungi. Both authors cover mycorrhizal networks but from different expert perspectives.