The Inner Life of Animals

Outline

The Inner Life of Animals (2016) explores the surprising emotional and mental lives of animals. Peter Wohlleben draws on scientific research and his long experience as a forester to show how animals may feel fear, grief, joy, and even gratitude, and how many species communicate and make decisions. The book encourages readers to see animals with new respect and to rethink how we treat them.

• Animals may experience real emotions, including fear, grief, joy and even gratitude, rather than acting on instinct alone.
• Wohlleben combines scientific research with his long experience as a forester to support what he says about animal minds.
• Many animal species communicate with one another and make decisions, which suggests richer mental lives than people usually assume.
• Seeing animals as feeling creatures invites us to treat them with more respect and to reconsider how we treat them.

Peter Wohlleben is a German forester and author who has spent decades working in and caring for forests. He is known for sharing scientific insights about nature in a warm and accessible way. His books include The Hidden Life of Trees, The Inner Life of Animals, and The Secret Wisdom of Nature, which have been translated into many languages.