ACPL Online Book Club discussion

Do you think that Wohlleben over anthropomorphizes trees in his book—that he makes them, perhaps, too human? Or is that question in and of itself a reflection of our own anthropocentric attitudes that hinder any acceptance of other forms of "being."
Question issued by Litlovers

Of course he does. It serves the purpose of making it easier for the reader to relate to the subject matter. I find it a bit difficult to believe a tree feels pain in the same way animals do when its bark is ripped off or it is invaded by parasites. If they did they’d react quickly, but I don’t find it hard to believe they developed a way to react to threats. He also tries to give the trees human feelings like love, but also shows how selfish trees can be, survival of the fittest is at work among trees too. Their efforts to “help” their young seem more like evolutionary coping mechanisms than like emotions.