Are plants intelligent? Can they solve problems, communicate, and navigate their surroundings? Or are they passive, incapable of independent action or social behavior? Philosophers and scientists have pondered these questions since ancient Greece, most often concluding that plants are unthinking and inert: they are too silent, too sedentary — just too different from us. Yet discoveries over the … the past fifty years have challenged these ideas, shedding new light on the extraordinary capabilities and complex interior lives of plants.
In Brilliant Green, Stefano Mancuso, a leading scientist and founder of the field of plant neurobiology, presents a new paradigm in our understanding of the vegetal world. Combining a historical perspective with the latest in plant science, Mancuso argues that, due to cultural prejudices and human arrogance, we continue to underestimate plants. In fact, they process information, sleep, remember, and signal to one another — showing that, far from passive machines, plants are intelligent and aware. Through a survey of plant capabilities from sight and touch to communication, Mancuso challenges our notion of intelligence, presenting a vision of plant life that is more sophisticated than most imagine.
Plants have much to teach us, from network building to innovations in robotics and man-made materials — but only if we understand more about how they live. Part botany lesson, part manifesto, Brilliant Green is an engaging and passionate examination of the inner workings of the plant kingdom.
Financial support for the translation of this book has been provided by SEPS: Segretariato Europeo Per Le Pubblicazioni Scientifiche.
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It is well written and very convincing. There was plenty of scientific evidence presented and in particular I liked how things were tracked back to the inspiration that Charles Darwin and his son pursued for the true love of plants research after his fame fame for Origin of Species overshadowed their plant endeavors such as the Root Brain (so cool). I’m reading the Darwin books now. Thank you.
Wasn’t sure why my other favorite book The Secret Life of Plants” was not discussed one way or the other.
A fantastic at the world of plants and all the ways they have developed to procure everything they need while remaining rooted in place.
Very interesting and informative.
Long on supposition, short on hard science but an interesting subject well presented.
Interesting read.
An excellent discussion of plants and their senses and intelligence. Explores the way plants communicate both within their own domain and with other species of plants and animals.
This book really makes you take a new look at plants. It is really food for thought.
It wa interesting but the author spent a lot of time trying to convince me that I was thinking wrong about plants more than just giving me the facts about plant intelligent. It’s an easy read but the constant harping on not understanding plants right got a little tedious.
Accurate information