The Secret Life of Plants: A Fascinating Account of the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Relations Between Plants and Man

Written by Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird

Narrated by D. Michael Hope

""Once in a while you find a book that stuns you. Its scope leaves you breathless. This is such a book."" — John White, San Francisco Chronicle

Explore the inner world of plants and its fascinating relation to mankind, as uncovered by the latest discoveries of science. In this truly revolutionary and beloved work, drawn from remarkable research, Peter Tompkins and Christopher Bird cast light on the rich psychic universe of plants. 

The Secret Life of Plants explores plants' response to human care and nurturing, their ability to communicate with man, plants' surprising reaction to music, their lie-detection abilities, their creative powers, and much more. Tompkins and Bird's classic book affirms the depth of humanity's relationship with nature and adds special urgency to the cause of protecting the environment that nourishes us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Apr 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9780062980625

Peter Tompkins

Peter Tompkins was an American journalist, World War II spy, and bestselling author. His best known and most influential books include The Secret Life of Plants, Secrets of the Great Pyramid, and Mysteries of the Mexican Pyramids. He is the father of author Ptolemy Tompkins.

Reviews for The Secret Life of Plants

[Adrianna Fedorowicz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amazing knowledge however written in a very academic style which made the audiobook seem heavy sometimes to listen to. Nonetheless, I am glad I made it to the end. I will never look at the plants the same slightly indifferent way

[Rod1969 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Book published in 1973. It can be read considering two different perspectives. If you take it as a popular science book... then it disappoints. It has extremely laughable ideas. Plants that can add..? Aerial photographs to kill pests in cornfields, with nothing more than the photographs themselves..? Connected to pseudo-machines that use indeterminate type waves..? Plants for extrasensory communication...? To "feel" the presence of dead beings or extraterrestrial beings...? The truth is, if some of its supposed discoveries were updated, they would have backing and could be thought of as something truly revolutionary (being very naive and a believer in such esoteric ideas), but no. In the chapter The Children of the Earth, it takes on a more modern view regarding the use of land and the microorganisms that compose it. They use the word humus and the idea of using biological components. I found this chapter very aligned with current ideas of more organic agriculture. In fact, there is a documentary on the German channel DW about the use and cultivation of humus. But. Ayyy..! In the next chapter The Irradiation of Life, it returns to esoteric ideas of divination..! The other way to look at it is as a science fiction book. In that way, it is much more enjoyable..! (Translated from Spanish)

[sonorandreamer-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While there is some good information in this book, for the most part this book gives plant people a bad name. Yes, plants communicate, but why harm plants while studying this?

If you love plants, this book will likely make you cringe hearing about the cruel scientific experiments on plants. And if you don't love plants, this book may make you think that all of us who love plants are a bit crazy.

[Alesz2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book explains how plants and vegetables in general communicate using different types of sensors and adapt to their environments, fighting with all kinds of tools so that their seeds are the ones that produce the next generations. When it was written, it revolutionized science and the general public, as it was believed to be impossible for "little weeds" to possess such tools. In my opinion, it is one of the books that broaden understanding and is essential to read. (Translated from Spanish)

[blake.rosser · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Most interesting for its overview of the history of botany, and especially of the Indian scientist Bose. The New Age-y experiments it describes are impressive but pretty incredible. Overall it feels disingenuous in the way it presents these pseudoscientific experiments.

[sally0annelambert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I based a research paper on this in the late 70s and it was summarily dismissed. That influenced my path in life, and taught me that there are oppositions to be met in academia, which tend to be fought in a wussy indirect sort of way, just by ignoring or criticizing other stuff. I will always be grateful to these authors for giving some scientific data to a subject that would otherwise be very hard to even face and consider.

Time to ask the plants their opinions of the GM thing.