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Entangled Life

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

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Entangled Life

Written by: Merlin Sheldrake
Narrated by: Merlin Sheldrake
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About this listen

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
Nature & Ecology Royalty Thought-Provoking Genetics Ecosystem
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What the critics say

“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

What listeners say about Entangled Life

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Captivatingly written and beautifully read

This was a surprisingly enjoyable and engaging read. The author’s voice is so warm and pleasant. I was immediately taken by his affectionate enthusiasm for the magical world of fungi.

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Science/Nature Magic

This book changed the way I see the world. I haven’t stopped telling anyone who will listen about fungi and this book. One of my favourite things I’ve ever listened to. The author has a very gentle, calming voice with a lovely English accent. Great to listen to and learn while out walking the dog in nature, it makes you look at everything around you differently. Love love love!

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Mind altering

An extraordinarily beautiful book. The authors voice soothes and casts a spell as you listen to stories from what seems like other worlds. Recommend strongly.

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An excellent journey into the mycelium

A wonderful well executed and passionate journey into the world of the wood wide wed and fungi.

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Just Fantastic!

Merlin Sheldrake is fantastic in his capacity to educate, entertain and engage. Well done Merlin!

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Loved the epilogue

This book is so poetic. It is to be savored over multiple days, instead of at one stretch. I found myself musing on its contents at night. I was happy that he referenced Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass, which has a similar meditative feel to it. And the epilogue stands on its own as a beautiful short essay.

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Great novel!

Amazing! I need more. Thank you, Mr. Sheldrake, for recording your book. I have a physical copy, too.

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A True Fairy Tale!

Inspired and Inspiring! I'll be meditating to this again and again....Merlin reading his own words, is soothing, as well as projecting/weaving the concepts and stories with elegance👌 What a Gem!!!

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SHERLOCK OF THE FUNGI WORLD!

Definitely entangled my brain into the unlimited possibilities of the Fungi kingdom! Brilliant piece of writing and so grateful that he narrated it himself. Merlin is a true gift!

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fantastic

Highly recommended reading or listening. I will likely buy the book as well. Very well done on all fronts.

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1 person found this helpful