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Wilmette Reads - Entangled Life Book Discussion

Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake

Join us to discuss one of our Wilmette Reads titles, Entangled Life.

Please join us for a special book discussion led by Matthew Nelsen, Research Scientist at The Field Museum of Natural History. 

When we think of fungi, we probably think of mushrooms. But mushrooms are only fruiting bodies, analogous to apples on a tree. Most fungi live out of sight, yet make up a massively diverse kingdom of organisms that support and sustain nearly all living systems. The more we learn about fungi, the less makes sense without them. 

Sheldrake’s mind-bending journey into this hidden world ranges from yeast to psychedelics, to the fungi that sprawl for miles underground and are the largest organisms on the planet, to those that make all plant life possible, to those that infiltrate and manipulate insect bodies with devastating precision.

Fungi throw our concepts of individuality and even intelligence into question. They can change our minds, heal our bodies, and even help us remediate environmental disaster. By examining fungi on their own terms, Sheldrake reveals how these extraordinary organisms – and our relationships with them – are changing our understanding of how life works. (From the publisher)

Matthew Nelsen is a Research Scientist at The Field Museum of Natural History (Negaunee Integrative Research Center) and Lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His interests lie in elucidating the evolutionary origins and diversification of symbiotic associations, clarifying the roles traits have played in shaping lineage diversification, and understanding the roles fungi have played in the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems.  

Copies of the book can be found here. Ebook and audiobook copies are available through Digital Library of Illinois or the Libby App.

For those who would like to purchase a copy of Entangled Life, please support our local independent bookstore, The Book Stall.

This program is part of our 2025 Wilmette Reads community reading series. Learn more about how you can take part, including sign-up information, this year’s swag, and a full list of our associated programs. 

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