Entangled Life

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

By: Merlin Sheldrake

Narrated by: Merlin Sheldrake

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A “brilliant [and] entrancing” (The Guardian) journey into the hidden lives of fungi—the great connectors of the living world—and their astonishing and intimate roles in human life, with the power to heal our bodies, expand our minds, and help us address our most urgent environmental problems.

“Grand and dizzying in how thoroughly it recalibrates our understanding of the natural world.”—Ed Yong, author of An Immense World

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR—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 the first edition of this mind-bending book, Sheldrake introduced us to this mysterious but massively diverse kingdom of life. This exquisitely designed volume, abridged from the original, features more than one hundred full-color images that bring the spectacular variety, strangeness, and beauty of fungi to life as never before.

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.

Winner of the Wainwright Prize, the Royal Society Science Book Prize, and the Guild of Food Writers Award • Shortlisted for the British Book Award • Longlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize

©2020 Merlin Sheldrake (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Sheldrake is admirably humble, knowing that there is much more to be discovered about the fungal web all around us. He has a slightly husky, convincingly precise voice, and his mental and physical involvement in his subject is brought out by his thoughtful, amused narration and allusive, often almost poetic cast of mind.”—Christina Hardyment, The Times, Audiobook of the Week

“I fell in love with this book. Merlin is a scientist with the imagination of a poet and a beautiful writer. . . . This is a book that, by virtue of the power of its writing, shifts your sense of the human. . . . It will inspire a generation to enter mycology.”—Michael Pollan (Bay Area Book Festival, 2020)

“Fungi are everywhere, and Merlin Sheldrake is an ideal guide to their mysteries. He’s passionate, deeply knowledgeable, and a wonderful writer.”—Elizabeth Kolbert, author of The Sixth Extinction

Intriguing book, poor narration by author

A fascinating book about fungi. The author constantly finds way to shift your anthropocentric perspective. Unfortunately the author, Merlin Sheldrake, is not a professional reader and has a monotone voice that detracts from the experience rather than, as a good narrator does, adds to it. I still recommend the book, as it is so unusual and informative.

Incredible

This is one you'll listen to over and over again. Then you will try endlessly to figure out how to get Merlin's beautiful voice to narrate your dreams.

Incredible

Everyone should read or listen to this book. Absolutely fantastic. And very well read by the author.

This is thoroughly enjoyable in every way.

Merlin excites the senses and leads you down a luscious intellectual journey. Inviting the reader to learn and question everything you know about the connections that surround us and diving deep into how mycorrhizal fungi have so much to teach us.

long live mushrooms, and their king merlin

this is such a beautiful view into the life down below. and sheldrakes voice really lends itself to thr mysticism of his studies. <33

Full of fascinating information

A comprehensive and stylishly written account of the world of fungi, including the surprising ongoing work to apply fungus technology to current problems

Appreciate complexity!

Sheldrake exposes the reader to the complex interactions of fungi, bacteria, plants and animals. He uses science to explain complex relationships that have evolved cooperatively and mutually through billions of years. Presented in a delightful storybook manner, leaving me in awe of this convolution called life. Thank you🙏

utterly fascinating

filled to the brim with interesting stories and fascinating details on fungi and fungal networks.

Amazing!

This is an incredible book that draws parallels between nature and all of life! This is a must-read for anyone, especially if you have or seek a deeper connection with nature.

wonderful!

not only is this an amazing book but Merlin does a wonderful job of reading it.