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  • The Inner Life of Animals

  • Love, Grief, and Compassion: Surprising Observations of a Hidden World
  • Written by: Peter Wohlleben
  • Narrated by: Mike Grady
  • Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (125 ratings)

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The Inner Life of Animals

Written by: Peter Wohlleben
Narrated by: Mike Grady
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Publisher's Summary

Through vivid stories of devoted pigs, two-timing magpies, and scheming roosters, The Inner Life of Animals weaves the latest scientific research into how animals interact with the world with Peter Wohlleben's personal experiences in forests and fields.

Horses feel shame, deer grieve, and goats discipline their kids. Ravens call their friends by name, rats regret bad choices, and butterflies choose the very best places for their children to grow up.

In this, his latest book, Peter Wohlleben follows the hugely successful The Hidden Life of Trees with insightful stories into the emotions, feelings, and intelligence of animals around us. Animals are different from us in ways that amaze us - and they are also much closer to us than we ever would have thought.

©2017 Peter Wohlleben, Ludwig Verlag, Jane Billinghurst, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson (P)2017 Novel Audio Inc.

What the critics say

"Like The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben's The Inner Life of Animals will rock your world. Surprising, humbling, and filled with delight, this book shows us that animals think, feel and know in much the same way as we do - and that their lives are, to them, as precious as ours are to us." (Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus)
"With the same charm and clarity that drew so many readers to The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben has produced another gem. I found delight on every page, thanks to the author's rare skill at blending scientific discoveries with his own wealth of insightful personal experiences. Read this book, and never again doubt that we share the Earth with other beings living rich and colorful lives." (Jonathan Balcombe, author of What a Fish Knows)
"Animal lovers everywhere will be enthralled by The Inner Life of Animals. Find out what squirrels, deer, and other animals really do out in the woods." (Temple Grandin)

What listeners say about The Inner Life of Animals

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Just an observation book

I enjoyed The Hidden Life of Trees and it spurred me to learn more. As a result I was hopeful for this book. This is NOT SCIENCE and should not be in science sections and actually goes against proven research in sections. I didn’t learn anything from this book. Of course animals feel pain and have emotions but he anthropomorphises the animals so much it’s ridiculous. He gets preachy about hunting as well. I liked the part about the Ravens and will find more books. Over all this book is personal observation and opinion.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So Awesome, Enjoy It

Excellent delivery of some great narrative for animal behaviour, communication and how we humans can coalesce with animals on Earth.

I’m choosing to use it as a call to action to remember that animals are here with us, not competing against us and we should respect each creature as it deserves. Perhaps you can consider that too.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not as good as hidden life of trees

Didn’t enjoy this as much as his book on trees. Starts off interesting but soon his anti hunting, leftist conservationist comes out and I found it distracting. Understandable that if the author is
Writing of communication etc
Amongst the animal kingdom he will need to draw comparisons with human - perhaps I am just ready for this yet.... would much rather hear about the hidden life of trees

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful story!

The narrator's read of this story brought me in. I felt warm and fuzzy after finishing the book. if you love animals this is a beautiful book to listen to.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Changed my mind on the life of an animal.

I'll never be the same.
I've always suspected that animals had feels.
I was raised in a home where they were thought to be dispensible. To cry over the loss of a pet was weakness and unnecessary. That was very wrong.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

lots of good points and Information

lots of good points and information but I kinda struggled to get into it at some parts. interesting information that you dont reaaaalllly think about

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Heart warming!

Loved this touching, brilliant, sweet, and informative book. So interesting and also we’ll written. Highly recommend!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love the book

I think I prefer to read the book now as I listened to the half of this book. Narration of the book didn’t work for me: can’t put a finger on what exactly is wrong except it made me feel tired rather quickly.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

More anecdotal than scientific

Book is based more on anecdotes and opinions and the arguments felt a bit rushed at times. The stories are still sweet, interesting, and worth reading however it doesn’t feel as thought through as The Secret Life of Trees.

I still think it is worth the read as it is interesting and important to think about life through different animals eyes.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

C'est vraiment bizarre

C'est pas le type de livre que je suis habitué à écouter.

Mais au moins j'apprends des choses.

Mais ça n'empêche pas que c'est vraiment bizarre.

Je ne sais pas si je vais aller jusqu'à la fin.

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