Reviewer Peter Dabbene Interviews Peter Wohlleben, Author of The Hidden Life of Trees
“The science of biology is just realizing that it has only explored the tip of the iceberg, and that one surprise after another is opening up in the field of plants. This is just crying out for more books. Would you like a small example? It has just been discovered that plants can see properly, ie, sharp images. This is basic university research, even if it sounds like fantasy.’’ —Peter Wohlleben
By definition, nature writers care a great deal about the environment, but one of the overlooked benefits of their books is the new legions of readers they inspire to become more environmentally conscious. That, in turn, means more people supporting climate-related legislation, more funding for research, more land protected from development, and generally more enthusiasm for all the other ways we can benefit this planet. Here’s the takeaway: for humanity to finally reach a tipping point and seriously commit to addressing climate change, we need to get more nature and environmental books in the hands of more readers.
The author of a dozen-plus books on trees, animals, and sustainable living with millions of readers, Peter Wohlleben is doing his part to help create more environmentalists and we’re thrilled today to spotlight his latest: a graphic novel adaptation of The Hidden Life of Trees, which recently earned a starred review from Peter Dabbene.
With gift giving on everyone’s minds, check out these five gems from our Comics and Graphic Novels spread in the November/December issue (PDF). Your free digital subscription to Foreword will guarantee that 2025 will be rich in reviews of independently published new books.
Peter forester was happy to take a few questions from Peter reviewer.
The Hidden Life of Trees is an incredible book—thank you for giving the reading public this graphic novel version! One of the things that’s absolutely striking about it is the revelation that trees have an extensive network of partners they communicate with, like myecelium. Is this as recent of a discovery as it seems, despite the fact that humans have lived with trees for milennia? How did we not know about this earlier?
The fact that trees communicate has been known since the 1970s. Even earlier, in 1880, Charles Darwin described in his penultimate book that there is a plant brain located in the tips of the roots. Modern research confirms this, as does underground communication, some of which is actually carried out via the fungal network (the wood-wide-web, discovered in the 1990s). Plants have long been regarded as automatically functioning biorobots and have therefore hardly been researched, hence the surprise that they can do as much as animals, just differently.
In the graphic novel, you offer elements of memoir as background and introduction to your work with trees, and it serves as an excellent “port of entry” for readers who wouldn’t seek out a traditional science book. Were you ever reluctant to share personal details in print, or did you always see that aspect of the book as essential to your goals? What’s it like being an eco-celebrity?
Oh, I’m certainly not an eco-celebrity—that’s just the trees. But seriously: I think that credibility also includes showing that my path has by no means always been a straight line, at most in relation to my early desire to protect the environment. And I think it’s important to show how I deal with this desire in my everyday life.
As someone who can’t pick out an elm tree from a chestnut, I can’t think of a book better suited to graphic novel adaptation than The Hidden Life of Trees: seeing images of trees and forests are universal, whereas terminology and deeper understanding are not. Aside from the graphic novel version, you’ve also published an illustrated edition of the book. Can you compare and contrast the two projects?
In relation to the text, the illustrated version is pure “the hidden life of trees,” enriched with matching photos, ie, a typical coffee table book.
The graphic novel, on the other hand, interweaves “the hidden life of trees” with my personal life story, which is also a story of forest conservation. In addition, there is a wealth of further information about the creatures of the forest and, not to forget, truly wonderful artistic drawings, each of which would be worth framing.
Your efforts to promote environmentally sound forestry are admirable. Do you think more countries will adopt such policies in the future, or will short term incentives push back such initiatives? Can you share any recent success stories?
I am firmly convinced that we will achieve positive changes. Think of the Montreal Agreement of December 2022, in which the countries of the world promised to protect 30 percent of the ocean and 30 percent of the land by 2030. Sure, it won’t work everywhere so quickly, but the path has been taken. In addition, the new “Socio-ecological Forest Management” course at Eberswalde University of Applied Sciences, which I initiated, started in September—the first of its kind in the world. So forestry will also change. Even Jane Goodall visited me at the end of October to see the university and talk to the first students.
Fred Bernard and Benjamin Flao, the writer and artist who adapted The Hidden Life of Trees to graphic novel format, did an amazing job. How involved were you with the adaptation? How did you know Benjamin could handle the extensive drawing duties, with all the scientific detail required, while still keeping the book’s engaging narrative flow?
We worked closely together, with Fred and Benjamin doing the main work. I met them both in Paris and was immediately convinced that this was the ideal team to realize the project. Both are rock stars of the graphic novel scene and I’m honored to be friends with both of them.
With your story now available in several formats, it’s bound to find a wider audience, but there is a large segment of the public that, unfortunately, doesn’t read regularly. Have you done any work in television or movies? Are either of those media that you are looking to utilize in the future?
Yes, I also take care of other media. In addition to social media, I also have a radio show, a podcast, a YouTube channel and The Hidden Life of Trees is also available as a documentary, which was even shown in Canadian cinemas. The film won the Rob Stewart Eco-Warrior Award in Vancouver in 2020.
You’ve written several other traditional print books, including The Inner Life of Animals and The Secret Wisdom of Nature. I’d love to see graphic novel adaptations of both, are there any plans to make that happen? What are some of your next planned projects?
I can’t reveal that yet, but there are some wonderful projects being prepared behind the scenes. Apart from that, I’m not running out of ideas: The science of biology is just realizing that it has only explored the tip of the iceberg, and that one surprise after another is opening up in the field of plants. This is just crying out for more books. Would you like a small example? It has just been discovered that plants can see properly, ie, sharp images. This is basic university research, even if it sounds like fantasy. So it remains exciting.
Peter Dabbene
