Entangled Life Summary

Summary of Entangled Life Book by Merlin Sheldrake

Name: Entangled Life
Rating: 4.8 (6703 reviews)
Author: Merlin Sheldrake

4.8 . 6703 reviews

Short summary

Thousands of years of evolution have made animals our friends, and vegetables, fruits, and flowers grow in our yards and homes. And it seems that only fungi do not give out their secrets. We know that we can eat some species, and others can kill us; we also know that some mushrooms can cause hallucinations. But fungi lead a secret and fascinating life, the veil of which is just beginning to open. Biologist Merlin Sheldrake was fascinated by fungi from an early age. He created his bestseller Entangled Life to open up the wonderful world of mushrooms. You will find out how much fungi have already done for the planet and what benefit they can still bring. You will be surprised by the power and potential of these humble captains, who control the huge ships of ecosystems. ”I wanted to let these organisms lure me out of my well-worn patterns of thought, to imagine the possibilities they face, to let them press against the limits of my understanding, to give myself permission to be amazed — and confused — by their entangled lives.” ~ Merlin Sheldrake

17 min

9 key points

9 insights

Try Headway app

Table of content

Summary of Entangled Life
About the author
What is Entangled Life about?
Who should read Entangled Life
Topics in Entangled Life

first key point

New facts about our mysterious neighbors

Listen the first key point

00:00

Fungi are quiet, mysterious, but influential companions in almost every aspect of our lives. For more than a billion years, they have been supporting the vital activity of plants, cleaning the environment from pollution, becoming components of medicines and food, and affecting animals and humans. Although their influence is so extensive, they live a secret life, and more than 90% of their species have not been studied yet.

The mushroom kingdom is ancient and remarkable. Without the activity of fungi, there would be no plants, which they helped emerge from the water 500 million years ago; they still support 90% of terrestrial plants by providing them with nutrients.

Fungi exist imperceptibly in almost every place on Earth — on the seabed, in deserts, in the north, and in our bodies. In fact, even the most extreme environments can be suitable for fungi to survive. They reproduce by spores, and many fungi create new ways to thrive, making themselves attractive to humans and animals to carry their “seeds” all over the world.

Human life is also surprisingly intertwined with fungi; we have learned to cooperate with mushrooms. For example, in 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered that a specific mold produced penicillin, which became the first antibiotic and saved many lives. In 2017, researchers rebuilt the diet of Neanderthals and found that an ancient man with a toothache consumed penicillin-producing mold. Perhaps, people realized its medicinal properties long before the official discovery.

Scientists have studied and described only 6% of all types of fungi. And while humans are getting closer to the mysteries of mushrooms, the latter continue to support life on Earth, combining plants into a large-scale ecosystem, the so-called “wood wide web.”

Despite their nearness, fungi are so mystifying, their possibilities so ‘other.’ ~ Merlin Sheldrake

Merlin Sheldrake admitted that the mushrooms changed his mind every time he encountered them. The plant and animal kingdoms receive attention from scientists, while fungi play the role of “gray cardinals” — powerful, full of potential, but secretive. In this summary, you will read about the extraordinary abilities and benefits of fungi, learn more about the connections between living things and reconsider your views on the exciting power of wildlife.

The Fungi web, which hides under the soil, silently and attentively supports the existence of flora while remaining in the shade.

second key point

The expensive and rare delicacy from the ground and how to find it

We hardly ever thought of fungi as intelligent beings, and, even for scientists, the study of mushrooms is undefined. However, behind the seemingly inconspicuous shell of fungi lies the ability to solve problems and learn.

Continue reading with Headway app

Full summary is waiting for you in the app

third key point

Everything is connected — underground webs prove it

fourth key point

The story of the brave fungi journey into space and how it will help people

fifth key point

The psilocybin effect is like the Cheshire cat smile: it remains when all else is gone

sixth key point

Silent partners: how the union of plants and fungi changed the world

seventh key point

Reciprocal exchange: what happens in the world's largest network

eighth key point

How mushrooms help our ecology — independently and with the help of people

ninth key point

Conclusion

Buy full book on Amazon Continue the summary

What is Entangled Life about?

"Entangled Life" explores the fascinating and often overlooked world of fungi, revealing their profound impact on our planet and our lives. From their intricate networks that connect plants and trees to their ability to break down pollutants and even alter our consciousness, Merlin Sheldrake takes readers on a captivating journey into the hidden realms of these remarkable organisms. This thought-provoking book sheds light on the immense power of fungi to shape our futures and transform our understanding of the natural world.

Who should read Entangled Life

Biologists and scientists interested in the intricate world of fungi.
Nature enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the fungal kingdom.
Environmentalists and sustainability advocates exploring the vital role of fungi.

Topics in Entangled Life

Biology Nature Ecology Sustainability Environmentalism Science Microbiology Botany Natural History Evolution

Enjoy summarized nonfiction bestsellers

Grasp the book’s key ideas in less than 15 minutes

Get started

Get new knowledge easily

Let’s check how many titles you can finish in a month with Headway! Tell us how much time you’d like to spend on reading:

2 min/day

5 min/day

10 min/day

15 min/day

20 min/day

30 min/day

45 min/day

4 titles/month

10 titles/month

20 titles/month

30 titles/month

40 titles/month

60 titles/month

90 titles/month

4 titles/month

10 titles/month

20 titles/month

30 titles/month

40 titles/month

60 titles/month

90 titles/month

Join 30+ million learners around the world

60K5 reviews on App Store and Google Play

Everything you need to be motivate, to learn & to self improves is all here. I actually do appreciate the reminders because otherwise this wouldn’t work for me. Thank you

sandypantalones

Headway is the answer! No longer accumulating books I never read. With Headway, I initially chose the areas important to me such as productivity, time management, etc., and each day I'm provided several book summaries from which I devote 20 minutes or more each day reading. All of this on my phone! My life has improved with Headway. Truly my most useful app.

Carol Slinker

An excellent concept, executed well. Headway can help you retain what you've read while introducing you to the essential core of new information. It's an easier way to stay inspired, and to be reminded of the mental tools you've learned

Fuse Henry

In today’s world, we rarely have time. Between our jobs, our families are social obligations, when do we have time to grow and develop ourselves? Headway is an excellent app that gives you that time it gives you those little snippets of information that you need to direct your focus in on your life. Headway gives you a chance to find out the meat of a book that you might want to purchase and read or listen to in-depth without wasting a lot of time trying to figure out is this book for me? I highly recommend the app.

sleepy sprite

The selections are on point and the summaries are excellent! I listen while I walk my pup 🐶 and have in turn, ordered a few selections! REALLY loving the app, it’s layout, daily selections and features!

JuicyBaby328

I've gotten multiple books out of the library with the intent to read them, but always have a hard time finding the time. This app has helped me finally be able to get to them. Summarized, yes, and thank goodness too! Just short enough I can finish one on my way picking kids up from school/practice, or while I'm cooking dinner. I can't wait to listen to them over the summer when we visit the beach!

Jillian Emmert

It amazed me! There is the possibility to highlight the most important points of each book and instantly translate unfamiliar vocabulary. With the ability to review the searched words. It's a great way to learn more about English as well. The price is great.

Fiamma

I’m enjoying what I’m learning on headway.each summary comes with quotes at the end which you can save to help you remember key points. You can listen or read, I’ve found that reading puts me to sleep before I can finish but the listening feature keeps me engaged and I can finish in a brief amount of time if not one session.

Epic waters

The app it’s so easy to use. I use it while driving or cooking and is great. I love the fact that the chapters are short, so you can finish them quickly. Very knowledgeable.

kathytaveras

The best app for self development.It helps to keep pace with your reading and also suggests the kind of reading material you might like.It is fun as you can switch from reading to listening and vice-versa as per your convenience .Just get started and partake of the treasure of knowledge at your fingertips .I feel lucky to have spotted the app.It has helped me become self-disciplined and much better informed.The audio track is excellent.

anita yadav

Exactly what I need! I always have booklist to read, but can't committed enough to finish/start bc of too much pages. Headway is really helpful and concise with their summary. What I love the most is that the essence of the book is well crafted, so I don't only read the key points, but also there's the story and how personality of the author still well shown through the summary. Well done!

Feninda Amalia

This is outstanding best app ever and honestly whoever came up with is my app is an absolute genius kudos my gratitude definitely goes out and I’m only on my first week free trial and I’m certainly going to purchase this app annually. Now that I have it, I can’t even imagine living without it.

Darlin NIKKIDOLL0923

Have questions?

Asking the right questions brings you closer to achieving your goals

Can I test out Headway before purchasing it for my team?Payment

Sure, we will gladly give you access to our app for a certain period if you are interested in purchasing a corporate subscription for your team. Please fill out the form on the website or email partners@makeheadway.com. We will get back to you soon.

What should I do if some of my employees already have your Premium subscription?Payment

Can I increase or decrease the number of subscriptions on my corporate subscription once it’s started?Payment

What are the benefits of books summary?

Do you find yourself staring at your computer for long minutes, unaware of time slipping by? Do you enter a room and suddenly cannot remember why you stepped in the first place? Is it a herculean task for you to sit through ten pages of a book without reaching for your phone? If yes, your focus needs some work and fast.

Actually, yours is not a unique situation. Many adults like you have issues concentrating on a given task. However, in this fast-paced world of ours, you can’t afford to be not focused at all times. Thankfully, this article comes to your rescue! With the tips and tricks from Hyperfocus by Chris Bailey, you will get in the top percent of folks who have mastered the art of concentration.