Who is the author of The Inner Life of Animals?

The author of The Inner Life of Animals is Peter Wohlleben.

Nature & the Environment

The Inner Life of Animals Book Summary - The Inner Life of Animals Book explained in key points

Listen to the Intro

00:00

The Inner Life of Animals summary

Name: The Inner Life of Animals
Rating: 4.4 (63 reviews)
Author: Peter Wohlleben

Peter Wohlleben

Love, Grief, and Compassion – Surprising Observations of a Hidden World

4.4 (63 ratings)

24 mins

Brief summary

'The Inner Life of Animals' by Peter Wohlleben explores the emotional and social lives of animals. It draws on scientific research and first-hand observations to reveal their complex inner worlds, challenging traditional views of animal behavior.

Topics

Animals

Table of Contents

The Inner Life of Animals
Summary of 11 key ideas

Audio & text in the Blinkist app

Key idea 1 of 11

What’s in it for me? Discover the inner life of animals.

Anyone who’s ever caught his dog stealing a snack from the kitchen would guess that dogs are capable of feeling shame. Those big round eyes full of regret, that “oops . . . Sorry” look – it feels unmistakable.

Examples like this seem to indicate that animals can experience complex emotions.

But what does shame feel like for them? Perhaps it feels the same as it does for us humans. And what other sorts of emotions do they feel? Can a horse be sad? Can birds exhibit mendacity? These are the kind of questions addressed in the following blinks. You’ll discover just what makes animals tick as Peter Wohlleben explains using scientific studies as well as his own experience.

Also, in these blinks, you’ll find out

the contents of laboratory rats’ dreams;
why the author’s rooster is a sly fox; and
why no one does any research on water bears.

Though we shouldn’t anthropomorphize animals, evolution suggests they have similar emotions.

Have you imagined what it would be like to read an animal’s mind? Well, by the end of this book-in-blinks you might have an idea. But we’ve got to begin with some basics. There are some pitfalls to avoid when it comes to discussing animals and emotions.

For starters, it’s all too easy for us humans to anthropomorphize animals, that is, project human-like qualities onto them that they don’t possess.

Take the squirrel. It has those big eyes and that bushy tail. Seems harmless enough. But that cuteness is distracting. Squirrels are pretty ruthless predators, quite content to gobble up nestling baby birds. That’s not to say that squirrels are “bad,” in the moral sense, either. It’s just the way they’ve been programmed. They behave this way to survive.

Just because squirrels provoke an emotional response in us, it doesn’t mean that we have a deep insight into their nature. In fact, it tells us more about us than the animals.

There’s no doubt humans are different from animals. However, from an evolutionary perspective, there’s a strong argument to be made that emotionally we do share some similarities.

After all, humans and animals do have some common ancestors. And this biological bequest forms our emotions. We certainly have much in common with other mammals, especially regarding brain and nervous system structures.

These similarities in brain structures would suggest that we share similar feelings with other animals, especially if we're closely related. And with good reason. Emotions are primarily handled in the relatively old parts of our brains, namely those sections that are alike in all animals.

For instance, when they give birth, both nanny-goats and human mothers produce large quantities of the neurotransmitter oxytocin – a hormone that bonds the mother to her offspring.

So, there seem to be some differences and some similarities between humans and animals when it comes to emotional consciousness. But why exactly is that?

An animal’s worth is dependent upon its practical use for humankind.

There’s no escaping it – we just can’t help judging animals through the lens of human experience.

We’ve been distinguishing between “useful" and “harmful” animals for millennia, even if these aren’t the most helpful classifications at times.

Some animals display their emotions openly, while others are a little harder to figure out.

It’s easy to sense the inner workings of some species, as we’ve been exposed to them a great deal over the course of human history.

Sometimes we can guess what more familiar species are trying to communicate. It’s pretty direct. When a dog bares its teeth, for instance, we know that caution is best advised.

Animal behavior is motivated by instinct, feelings and consciousness – just like human behavior.

People who don’t give a fig for animal rights like to argue that animals’ emotions are inferior to our own, that they’re simply products of chemistry and instinct. They’re wrong.

When you think about it, human emotions, like those of animals, are just as much the result of body chemistry.

Affection between humans and animals is complex, and misunderstandings abound.

Humans feel. Animals feel. Sometimes they even have feelings for one another.

However, we’ll never really know if animals are capable of loving humans as we love them.

Animals feel fear and pain just as we do. Surely that’s an argument for animal rights.

Now let’s think about the inner lives of animals, particularly whether it’s possible for animals to feel fear or pain.

There’s a lot of evidence to show that animals are pretty similar to us in this regard.

Some animals recognize their own names and display signs of self-awareness.

Do you think that maybe emotions wouldn't be such a big deal if animals weren’t as conscious of them as humans? No easy way out there. Animals, it turns out, are also self-aware.

Some animals give each other names. Some can even recognize the names that humans give them. These are indications of self-awareness.

Social animals, just like humans, have social emotions.

The way a species lives also affects the sorts of emotions it can feel. Simply put, some emotions can only be identified when a given species lives together in groups.

Shame, for instance, can only really exist among animals that live in herds or packs.

Animals can behave altruistically or deceitfully and seem to know the benefits of both.

Evolutionary advantages are hard to come by, but for animals that live together, behaving sociably brings some benefits. It’s altruism by another name, and it’s pretty widespread.

Take the vampire bats of South America. When a bat returns to the cave after a successful hunting trip, it’ll regurgitate some food and share with those who have been less lucky in the skies. But it only helps those who have shown generosity to it before. It proves that kindness really does pay off.

All animals sleep, and we think that some of them dream, too.

One feeling that we certainly do share with animals is tiredness. And they need sleep just as much we do, even if the positions they sometimes nap in can get a bit weird.

Chickens sleep standing on a perch. They don’t fall off because their claws grip the perch automatically and without any extra effort. Their leg muscles, which might be expected to move if they were dreaming, are just switched off. This means they can sleep soundly the whole night through with their heads tucked under their wings.

Animals have souls, and they can often sense their deaths coming.

One elusive question remains. Do animals have souls? The author is convinced that they do.

But before we get there, let’s establish what we mean by “soul.” One dictionary defines a soul as “the principle of life, feeling, thought and action in humans.”

Want to see all full key ideas from The Inner Life of Animals?

Key ideas in The Inner Life of Animals

More knowledge in less time

Read or listen

Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.

Find your next read

Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.

Shortcasts ^New

We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

What is The Inner Life of Animals about?

In The Inner Life of Animals (2017) Peter Wohlleben discusses the latest research on animal feelings and emotion. He draws insights from multiple studies as well as from his personal experiences of the woodland where he has lived and worked for decades. The book argues that animals’ inner lives are really not so different from our own.

The Inner Life of Animals Review

The Inner Life of Animals (2016) by Peter Wohlleben delves into the remarkable world of animal emotions and intelligence, shedding light on their inner experiences. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:

Replete with fascinating anecdotes and scientific studies, it unveils the hidden depths of animal cognition, challenging our assumptions about the minds of non-human creatures.
The book illuminates the surprising similarities between humans and animals, showcasing their emotional lives and social connections, which are often overlooked.
By revealing the complexity and richness of animal experiences, it prompts readers to develop a greater appreciation and compassion for all creatures, fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world.

Who should read The Inner Life of Animals?

Everyone who owns a pet
Anyone interested in psychology and neurology
Animal rights activists who could use some new arguments

About the Author

Peter Wohlleben is a German forester and the New York Times-bestselling author of the renowned The Hidden Life of Trees. He spent many years working as a civil servant in the forestry commission. He now works in his own woodland where he tries to apply alternative and more environmentally friendly forestry methods.

Categories with The Inner Life of Animals

Nature & the Environment

Book summaries like The Inner Life of Animals

It's OK That You're Not OK

Megan Devine

Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand

What Animals Think and Feel

24 min

4.6

Option B

Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant

Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy

The Art of Risking Everything

15 min

4.1

The Hidden Life of Trees

Peter Wohlleben

What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World

21 min

4.7

How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci

Michael J. Gelb

Seven Steps to Genius Every Day

How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole

A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI

21 min

4.3

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts

Gabor Maté

Close Encounters with Addiction

19 min

4.5

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Friedrich Nietzsche

The Classic That Will Challenge Everything You Know

Collected works from the supreme theorist of the conscious

The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know

22 min

4.6

Optimal

Daniel Goleman & Cary Cherniss

How to Sustain Personal and Organizational Excellence Every Day

The Story of Ideas That Fly

11 min

4.1

How to Win Friends & Influence People

Dale Carnegie

Basic rules for how to make a good first impression

18 min

4.6

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Marie Kondo

The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

Six Steps to Unlock Your True Motivation, Harness Your Willpower, and Get Out of Your Own Way

16 min

4.0

Foragers, Farmers, and Fossil Fuels

Ian Morris

How Human Values Evolve

22 min

4.0

The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership

Jim Dethmer

A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success

Manage Your Time Like a Lazy Genius

The Tactics, Routines and Habits of Billionaires, Icons and World-Class Performers

Find Joy and Meaning in Your Job Despite Challenges and Setbacks

17 min

4.5

How Economics Explains the World

Andrew Leigh

A Short History of Humanity

20 min

4.0

100 Ways to Change Your Life

Liz Moody

The Science of Leveling Up Health, Happiness, Relationships and Success

Simple Principles for an Extraordinary Life

15 min

3.9

Living Buddha, Living Christ

Thich Nhat Hanh

Explore the common ground of Christianity and Buddhism

25 min

4.2

Easy Money

Ben McKenzie with Jacob Silverman

Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud

19 min

3.6

A Brief History of Time

Stephen Hawking

From the Big Bang to Black Holes

27 min

4.5

Getting Past Your Past

Francine Shapiro

Take Control of Your Life with Self-Help Techniques from EMDR Therapy

Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

23 min

4.3

Red Flags, Green Flags

Ali Fenwick

Modern Psychology for Everyday Drama

The 15 Most Powerful Principles for Wealth, Health, and Happiness

Discover your inner parent and your inner child

Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

A Violent Satire on Modern Capitalism and Corporate Greed

19 min

4.3

The Greatness Mindset

Lewis Howes

Unlock the Power of Your Mind and Live Your Best Life Today

16 min

4.4

The Right Side of History

Ben Shapiro

How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great

20 min

3.9

The Gifts of Imperfection

Brené Brown

Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed To Be and Embrace Who You Are

22 min

4.6

Bedtime Biography: Isaac Newton

James Gleick

Learn the truth behind the legend

30 min

4.6

The Power of Giving Away Power

Matthew Barzun

How the Best Leaders Learn to Let Go

Fortune Favors the Brave

18 min

4.3

When Things Fall Apart

Pema Chödrön

Heart Advice For Difficult Times

The Secret to Achieving More with Less

Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery

A master class in strategic thinking

One of the most important philosophical texts ever written

A Story of Courage, Community, and War

19 min

4.6

'Til Stress Do Us Part

Elizabeth Earnshaw

How to Heal the #1 Issue in Our Relationships

20 min

4.2

The Language Instinct

Steven Pinker

How the Mind Creates Language

23 min

4.0

People ❤️ Blinkist

Sven O.

It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

Thi Viet Quynh N.

Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

Jonathan A.

Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

Renee D.

Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.