Entangled Life

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

By: Merlin Sheldrake

Narrated by: Merlin Sheldrake

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

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

A surprisingly fun read for a once mundane topic

The narration is excellent. The pace is good. if you are already familiar with mushroom stuff and the fungal systems, you will still learn a lot from this book. The author has simile devoted his life to this topic. covers both the psychological pharmacological and ancestral tie-ins with humanity.

An engaging exploration of fungi with a real fun guy 🤓

I work in the technology world and appreciated the quality and quality of network analogies the author wove throughout this text. This book is an invigorating trip in the best way. 10 out of 10 would recommend

Optimally composed piece of work.

However, I did hope it would be somewhat more informative, or in other words, in depth.

Fascinating Information that's Hard to Listen To

First off, I love this book. You should read it, not listen to it. The information contained is fascinating- I never knew how complex fungi are and how connected they are to us as humans. However, I just could not sit for longer than 20 minutes to listen to the book without either zoning out or feeling tired. Merlin is a fantastic writer, but he should have had someone with a more varied and less monotone voice read his book.

One of my favorite books of the year

Entangled Life is a fascinating hybrid of biology, poetry, and philosophy. And fortunately for Audible fans, author-mycologists Merlin Sheldrake has been blessed with a captivating speaking voice. I love this book so much I’m giving it away to others, who are also raving about it. Enjoy.

Totally fascinating

who would have thought fungus could be so deeply interesting and engaging. I came for the curiosity and left with some solid todos. I never would have expected that.

So lovely

I've read several books on mycology and this was by far one of my favorites. The author adores his subject, and presents his material both scientifically and passionately. As a bonus, the author has a fantastic narrating voice. I loved this book so much that I purchased a hard copy and I intend to listen to the entire audiobook again...

Love it, highly recommended

This is an amazing book. Highly recommended for mycophiles and anyone with an interest in biology or even botany. Good stuff.

Wow so informative

This was on of the most informative books I have ever read I am so grateful
I will re read this book for the rest of my life and truly orient many projects that which were already centralized around topics in this book
I am sooooo grateful this is just one of the best reads I’ve had re reading right now lol !!

Simply amazing. A Fascinating Book

An absolutely wonderful book from start to finish with an ultimately comforting and inspiring message