Citation
Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures
TL;DR
Fungi are Earth's primary decomposers and nutrient recyclers
Sheldrake's book provides broader context for understanding fungi as Earth's hidden infrastructure - connecting ecosystems, decomposing matter, and enabling plant life. The book explores mycorrhizal networks alongside other fungal phenomena, helping readers appreciate fungi's role in planetary systems.
For business applications, the book reinforces that infrastructure often remains invisible until failure. Fungal networks are overlooked despite enabling terrestrial plant life; similarly, organizational infrastructure (internet, logistics, energy) is taken for granted until disruption reveals dependencies.
Key Findings from Sheldrake (2020)
- Fungi are Earth's primary decomposers and nutrient recyclers
- Mycorrhizal networks predate and enabled land plant colonization
- Fungal infrastructure is largely invisible but essential for ecosystem function
- Networks exhibit emergent coordination without central control