Journalist Ohlson (The Soil Will Save Us) pushes back against the Darwinian notion that “competition rules” in this vivid survey. Despite the popular notion that nature is a “vicious and never-ending battle of survival for meager resources,” Ohlson makes a solid case that the opposite is often true. She starts with the revolutionary findings of forest ecologist Suzanne Simard, which showed cooperation among trees that share nutrients via underground fungal networks.

The idea that evolution is driven by the survival of the fittest is so entrenched in the study of biology that research has largely focused on competition between species rather than co-operation. But, as Kristin Ohlson shows in this inspiring field-trip of a book, nature is full of ecosystems that thrive on harmony and balance rather than division and conflict. Read review

The Sydney Morning Herald

In the title of her latest work, Ohlson (The Soil Will Save Us, 2014) challenges Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest along with Tennyson’s observation that nature is “red in tooth and claw” as it battles for existence. She posits that perhaps we are missing the generosity and connections that exist in the natural world. Through a wealth of examples, she asserts that nature is far more cooperative than previously thought. She travels from British Colombia to Costa Rica to explore examples of cooperation in nature.

"The book’s astounding revelations of how trees communicate through chemical “sentences” or emit chemical “screams” that prompt other plants to produce substances that deter attacking pests only scratch the surface of what there is to learn about nature. Without understanding such intricate, delicate systems, intervening humans often disrupt and destroy ecosystems that, with patience, would renew themselves.

“Ohlson looks at nature through the lens of cooperation, from the intricate workings of one-celled creatures all the way to entire forests and cities (above and below ground). This deeply-reported and stunning book holds up a mirror to us humans, showing how we thrive when we embrace nature’s generous spirit.”

–Judith Schwartz, author of The Reindeer Chronicles and Other Inspiring Stories of Working with Nature to Heal the Earth

“Deftly weaving together science, social thought, and a remarkable cast of characters, Ohlson’s book uncovers the marvelous partnerships that make life possible, showing that cooperation, not competition, is the key to survival.”

–Liz Carlisle, author of Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming