Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The LIght Eaters by Zoe Schlanger!

I absolutely loved this book. It was resonate, interesting, inspiring, intricate, powerful and just really unique. Highly recommended.

An exploration of plants and Schlanger details how she became a plant person and what she and others are learning and continually learn about the adaptations of plants and understanding plant intelligence.

It is a short, focused titles that opens up debate about plant "consciousness" or intelligence and what we know, what we think we know, and all the things we still don't know. A fascinating curiosity that is straightforward and not ridiculously filled with jargon. This is for a casual reader of nature books like myself and fit well into expanding my understanding of plants and appreciating the work that goes into figuring out how to figure out plants.

Zoë Schlanger's book "The Light Eaters" explores the fascinating world of plant intelligence and behavior, captivating readers with recent scientific discoveries in botany.

This is excellent if you love nonfiction books that share stories rather than report facts.
I prefer to hear the takeaways and conclusions rather than the nitty-gritty details of how we got there.

I would have liked a summary of the takeaways at the end of each chapter.

The book takes readers through various locales, from Chilean forests to Pacific Northwest rainforests, as Schlanger meets with researchers and examines their findings. She describes numerous experiments and interactions with scientists, presenting a thorough introduction to current plant science for general readers.

Key highlights of the book include:

1. Exploration of complex plant behaviors, such as:
- A Chilean vine that mimics leaves of nearby plants to hide from herbivores
- Roots forming symbiotic relationships with fungi to communicate with neighboring plants
- Plants detecting genetic relatives and adjusting nutrient competition accordingly.

2. Discussion of plant intelligence and consciousness, with Schlanger defining intelligence as "the ability to learn from one's surroundings and make decisions that best support one's life."

3. Examination of how plants communicate, defend themselves, and remember, challenging widely held assumptions about plant capabilities.

4. Consider botanists and biologists' skepticism towards studying plant intelligence.

5. Reflection on the fundamental role plants played in making animal life possible by transforming Earth's atmosphere.

The author's is passionate about the subject. This popular science book will change how you view plants.

Schlanger is an award-winning science writer with extensive experience reporting on environmental issues.

Schlanger occasionally overreaches in her attempts to anthropomorphize plants or draw parallels between plants and human behavior. The book's final chapter acknowledges this limitation and cautions against excessive anthropomorphization.

Overall, "The Light Eaters" is an informative and thought-provoking exploration of plant life that challenges readers to reconsider their understanding of plants and their place in the natural world.

You may have so much compassion for plants that you may end up only eating animals from now on. ;-)

The Light Eaters takes you on a journey with the author through the fascinating world of plant intelligence. The style of writing could almost be fiction, as you explore the natural world through the author's eyes, meeting scientists and learning alongside him. He also makes a clear distinction between fact and theory, describing the wonders of this abundant life in rich detail in a way that will delight readers. This book is highly recommended for anyone who loves science or is even just a little curious about the hidden world around us, and a worthy addition to any library.

As an avid gardener and amateur naturalist, I’ve long been fascinated by plants. Watching a plant go from seed through its entire life cycle always seems like pure magic. So when I heard about Zoe’s new book, I leapt at the chance to read it. Boy, am I glad I did.

It’s easy to get intimidated by science-related books, so I appreciated how easy it was to read this book. I was immediately drawn in by the introduction and eager to learn more. The chapters are well organized around a higher concept and then detailed using the latest studies by scientists worldwide. More than that, though, in plain language, Zoe tells us what the research means in an engaging way that helped me really understand it.

I can say with confidence that I’ll never look at a plant the same way again, and I have a greater appreciation for them overall. What complex organisms they are! The way they can communicate with each other, recognize kin, and pass on knowledge to future generations is nothing short of incredible. 

Beyond just the plant knowledge, Zoe also highlights how the field of plant science is evolving. How some of the new research has not been well received, as it sounds more like sociology than biology, and I find that also fascinating. How some scientists are starting to realize that Darwinism doesn’t explain all of evolution and we need some new theories. We obviously have a long way to go in our knowledge of the natural world, and all of this has profound implications for humans in understanding our place in it.

A must-read for anyone interested in nature, The Light Eaters will change the way you look at plants.

Exhausted and disheartened with reporting on the ongoing climate crisis, journalist Zoë Schlanger turns her focus to the fascinating world of plants. In poetic and accessible language, she deep dives into cutting-edge plant science, and attempts to answer ongoing questions around plant intelligence. Reading this book feels like entering a whole new world of verdant green – although it may make readers side-eye their spider plant. The Light Eaters is excellent science writing that inspires awe and curiosity.

Recent discoveries in the plant world have revealed remarkable abilities like communication, memory, and shape-shifting camouflage. This book delves into the cutting-edge research and debates surrounding plant intelligence, highlighting their vital role in our ecosystem, and the ethical implications of their complex capabilities.

Part autobiography, part philosophy, and part science, this book is beautifully and lovingly written. Though I was expecting a stronger focus on research, the book is informative and surprising.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.