The blurb for the Light Eaters is excellent. It really gives a full synopsis of the book, and enables you to see the dilemma facing scientists when they are attempting to describe the function of certain plant characteristics without using terms that to many scientists are reserved entirely for human biology. Brain, for example. Touch. Communication. Memory. Warning other plants.

Schlanger’s background in climate science journalism means she can tackle complex subjects in highly descriptive language. Sometime I found her style too ornate, especially when describing habitats, but she would move on to explain the findings of her botanists’ subjects in great detail, and mostly understandably, if I put my brain to work. But she had a habit of making some really banal statements just after your brain had been locked into thinking mode. It was also apparent, especially in the chapters based on chemistry and electricity, that the botanists were having the same trouble as each other, following the same patterns of research, and risking their careers. It felt repetitive.

Eventually I felt Schlanger fell into her own trap, dismissing ‘accepted’ parallels in other sciences, when she could have asked if they too had been constrained by language in their findings. This is a very deep book, which I eventually got bored with. I might dip into it again.

Every now and then I stumble upon a non-fiction marvel that takes my breath away. The Light Eaters was exactly that type of book. Approachable for non-botanists, full of amazing, mind boggling possibilities, it opened up the world of plant life in a new direction for me.

It makes sense that plants would have intelligence and communication skills beyond our understanding. Just because they may be fixed to the ground does not mean they are without some type of agency and ability to defend themselves or protect their kin. I absolutely loved The Light Eaters and the way Zoe Schlanger expressed awe at each discovery or the research underway.
It seems revolutionary to harness the ability of food crops to call upon insects to reduce plant-pests instead of relying on pesticides, which weaken plants and is so devastating to the natural world. This goes well beyond the mycorrhizal network, possibly hand-in-hand with it? My mind is blown! And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

I hope you, too, will enjoy this incredible peak into the secret world of plants with The Light Eaters. It makes me wish I had devoted my time to learning about botany in this age of wonders.

This book has much interesting content, and there are extensive footnotes and references to published scientific papers. It covers the history and nature of science regarding views on plants, as well as specifics about botany. The author provides details of diverse plant communities and the dangers of monoculture. And many examples are cited that refute the Cartesian idea that only humans have 'souls' or consciousness. Plants are described as aware of their surroundings, able to respond flexibly and to communicate simple messages to each other. Whether this means they are as conscious as various animals depends on your definition of that state. But the conclusion Schlanger seems to arrive at is 'if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then….'

Unfortunately, my enjoyment of the book was marred by its journalistic style. There are frequent anecdotes about the author and the scientists she meets, but I don't care whether the latter were bearded or white-haired; I am not interested in the author's childhood, or what she's wearing on an expedition., However, other readers might like this type of writing.

An absolutely fascinating look at the intelligence of plants. The book is written in a very approachable way - the science and information within can be easily read by anyone who is interested.
Schlanger's curiosity seeps off the page and encourages you to keep reading, to find the answers to her questions. I appreciated the balanced view we got too - this topic is still being researched and hotly debated within the scientific circles, and I found this to be a really fantastic overview of the current status.

If I were to describe The Light Eaters in an image, it would be its cover. You can safely expect to read what the cover evokes in you; a curious, persuasive and informative read about plants, their intelligence, importance and their rights to exist and thrive (to put in bizarre words).
The prologue was one of the best that I have read in a while. As in the example with giraffes and acacia leaves, it was fascinating to read different theories. Despite being an eARC, the references were linked, and it was extremely handy to click on the hyperlinks and review the references.
I love plants, but it is not only my love for them that made me request this book. Everyone would take plenty of value from learning about plants.
Schlanger’s writing and and research raises the bar for other science writers.

A fascinating look at the intelligence of the plant world all around us.This book is so well written so informative completely opened my eyes.Zoe Schlanger is an author I will be following.#netgalley #
4th estate.

I feel like a blindfold has been lifted. A beautiful revelatory book that filled me with fascination and hope.
Plants that can hear, disregard binaries and communicate across species. Plants that can see, that have evolved to mirror bats’ sonar back to them to entice the bat to pollinate its flowers, Proof that electricity flows through plants like a nervous system.
You’ll never look at a plant in the same way again! I couldn’t put it down.

A very exciting, captivating book. Stunning, honestly. The Lighteaters by Zoe Schlanger is a marvellous read that had me in awe with the wonderful wildlife that is still much worth reading about. Yes, climatecrisis is real, but this author tells us a story of what is all around us despite that: plants. And they have ways to communicate and even experience their surroundings like you won't believe it. Well, I do believe it, us humans are no way in charge of this globe, some of us just think they are :)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

Un livre très intéressant dans lequel j'ai appris énormément ! Les recherches de ces dernières années sont absolument fascinantes.
La question de la conscience des plantes mais aussi de leur système de défense (voire d'attaque ?) est discutée, les expériences expliquées. Robin Wall Kimmerer et Merlin Sheldrake sont deux auteurs cités qui sont extrêmement intéressants également et qui montrent que ce livre s'appuie également sur des sources fiables. Je recommande ++!

Upon reading The Light Eaters I was immediately put in mind of the books of Johann Hari, and this is no criticism. These books follow a well worn template which works; first the author introduces their interest in the topic, they dig into it and then embark on a whistle stop tour around the world speaking to pioneers straining the field in unorthodox and unexpected directions.

Thus it is with The Light Eaters and each chapter in the book is underpinned by the hot topic of the moment, that of plant intelligence. I confess that, although I am clueless apropos biology, this is a hugely fascinating area which combines hard science with ethics and philosophy and the debate can be argued (fiercely) in either direction.

This book does not argue strongly for either viewpoint and, in fairness to Schlanger, presents a balance view and does not stray into clickbait language to impress her point.

This is an eminently readable popular science book which pays good service to this burgeoning field

Having read An Immense World by Ed Yong, I've become fascinated with the idea that the world is experienced so differently by different species and The Light Eaters really built on this fascination in the botanical sphere. We're all so interconnected on this planet, it's wonderful to discover the links between species and how we all rely on each other. How plants grow and adapt to their environment, interacting with fungi, insects and animals... wow.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mind-expanding exploration of plant sensing and intelligence and highly recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in the natural world.

The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger is a fascinating exploration of a "new" science - the field of plant intelligence and sentience. I use the term "new" as although the topic has been investigated for decades, it fell out of favour both in terms of research and funding.
This book made me look at plants in a different way as I learned about the ingenious techniques they have developed , from alerting near by plants to the presence of the insects that eat them to actively protecting "family members" and not competing with them for resources. It is fascinating to read about plants evolving the ability to mimic other species of plant or the ability to manipulate insects into pollinating them . There is so much we have yet to learn but this book gave an excellent overview and really piqued my interest in the topic. Clearly the book is very thoroughly researched and there are extensive footnotes , but I was really impressed by the author's skill in rendering the information in an entertaining way that was very accessible for the reader.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.