Hold on tight, because I am about to present a book review of Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake—a wild, mind-blowing into the secret lives of fungi. This book is a fascination journey into a world of fungi that feels stranger than science fiction and more interconnected than the internet. As I read, I found myself constantly amazed, wondering how I had gone so long without knowing about this hidden world beneath my feet.
Forget everything you thought you knew about mushrooms, they’re more than just ingredients on your pizza. These organisms are nature’s greatest networkers, recyclers, and, yes, even manipulators. Reading Entangled Life, I couldn’t help but imagine fungi as nature’s secret masterminds, breaking down and rebuilding everything in their path. Sheldrake reveals fungi as the ultimate recyclers, turning deadwood into rich soil and breathing new life into decaying matter. But it doesn’t stop there—he introduces us to the idea that fungi might be nature’s original internet, creating underground networks that allow trees to “talk” to one another. And just when you think you’ve wrapped your head around that, he goes into the darker side—fungi that can control insects, turning them into mindless zombies. It’s as fascinating as it is unsettling.
You can feel Sheldrake’s obsession that’s contagious and pulls you in completely in every page of Entangled Life. His passion is palpable, and it’s hard not to be swept up by it. He explores the fungal world with the curiosity of a detective and the artistry of a poet, guiding us as if we’re on a personal expedition. I found myself drawn into Sheldrake’s excitement that feels infectious. From the depths of ancient forests to cutting-edge labs, he weaves together personal anecdotes, groundbreaking science, and the beauty of fungal life. The book challenged my preconceived notions of intelligence and even what it means to be alive, a feelings that I hadn’t expected after reading this book.
By the end of Entangled Life, I couldn’t help but see the world differently, more connected and infinitely stranger. Sheldrake ask us to understand fungi and reconsider our place in this interwoven web of life. It’s an exhilarating reminder that we’re not as alone or in control as we might think. And honestly, I’m left convinced that fungi are some of the coolest, most underrated organisms on the planet.
Summary
Fungi are like nature’s ultimate problem-solvers, thriving in every nook and cranny of the planet. They’ve evolved incredible skills, from breaking down the toughest materials to forming vast, interconnected networks underground. Here’s a closer look at some of their fascinating abilities:
- Master Metabolizers
- Fungi can live almost anywhere because they have a superpower: they break down all kinds of substances using powerful enzymes. This unique ability helps them thrive in places other organisms can’t.
- Spore Spreaders
- Fungi use spores to travel, sending these microscopic seeds into the air to find new places to grow. It’s a clever strategy that ensures their survival and spread.
Truffles: Nature’s Chemical Communicators
Truffles, the prized underground fungi, are more than a gourmet delight; they’re “chemical wizards”. Unlike us, truffles don’t have noses, yet they communicate through smells in ways we can barely imagine. Their mycelial networks act like one big nose, detecting and responding to chemicals all around them.
- How Truffles Talk
- Truffles release chemicals to attract animals, signaling their readiness to be eaten. One key molecule, dimethyl sulfide, is what makes truffles irresistible, at least to some species.
- Freshness is Key
- Truffles are at their aromatic peak only for a short time after being harvested. Their smell fades fast because it’s driven by active, living cells. That’s why truffles must be served fresh; drying them simply won’t work.
- Truffle Mycelium
- The mycelial networks of truffles expand by branching and fusing, creating complex webs. These networks don’t just grow—they actively seek out and attract other mycelium, forming connections that are essential for their survival.
Lichens: Little Biospheres
Lichens are like tiny worlds, combining fungi with algae or bacteria in perfect harmony. These unique partnerships allow lichens to do what neither partner could do alone—like mining minerals from rocks or surviving in some of the harshest environments on Earth.
- Rock Breakers
- Lichens break down rocks in two ways: they physically force their way in as they grow, and they release acids that dissolve the rock, creating the first soils in new ecosystems.
- Extremophiles
- Lichens can withstand extreme conditions, including dehydration and cosmic radiation, thanks to thick protective layers and unique chemicals that act as sunscreens. They’re even known to survive in outer space.
- Symbiotic Reproduction
- Lichens can reproduce as a whole, carrying all partners together to new locations, or send out spores that need to find compatible partners afresh to start again.
Mind-Altering Fungi
Some fungi produce molecules like psilocybin and LSD, which have found their way into human rituals, medicines, and spiritual practices.
- Psychedelic Effects
- Psilocybin, found in magic mushrooms, alters brain activity, quieting areas linked to our ego and everyday worries. This “unconstrained style of cognition” has shown promise in treating severe depression, addiction, and existential distress.
- A New Understanding of Mind
- These mind-altering fungi don’t just affect symptoms—they shift perceptions, highlighting a unique way they work directly with our consciousness.
Zombie Fungi: Master Manipulators
Then there are the “zombie fungi,” like Ophiocordyceps, which hijack the bodies and minds of insects to complete their life cycles. These fungi are precision puppeteers, forcing ants to leave their nests, climb plants, and clamp down in a “death grip” at the perfect spot for the fungus to sprout and spread its spores.
- Hijacking Behavior
- The fungus secretes chemicals that manipulate the insect’s nervous system, compelling it to perform the fungus’s bidding without even needing to invade its brain directly.
Mycorrhizal Networks: The Hidden Wood Wide Web
Mycorrhizal fungi form intricate networks with plant roots, creating a vast underground communication and nutrient exchange system often called the “Wood Wide Web.”
- Nutrient Exchange
- These fungi help plants absorb crucial nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and water, enhancing their growth and resilience to stress.
- Chemical Signals
- Mycorrhizal fungi and plants constantly communicate, exchanging chemical signals that help them adjust and thrive together. This symbiosis is essential for healthy ecosystems, affecting everything from crop yields to plant resistance against pests.
Fungi have been around for millions of years, surviving even the planet’s worst extinction events. They’re not just passive players; they actively shape their environments, finding opportunities in the messes we make. From gourmet kitchens to cleaning up polluted sites, fungi are true survivors and quiet heroes of our natural world.
Author: Merlin Sheldrake
Publication date: 12 May 2020
Number of pages: 352 pages
