To be honest, nothing in this book was really a surprise.

Williams carefully examines what modern scientific research has to say about the myriad ways nature positively changes us, how a lack of nature can harm us, and delivers a compelling argument that nature should be – and is – an essential need for us all.įor obvious reasons, this book struck a chord with me – someone who knows he needs his frequent nature fix. Within its pages, Florence Williams explores the many ways nature benefits us cognitively, psychologically, physically and physiologically, doing so through immersive visits into natural environments around the world and even more so through encounters with scientists who are studying these benefits. (Feb.OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS I’ve been slowly reading an absolutely brilliant book: The Nature Fix – Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. Agent: Molly Friedrich, Friedrich Agency. This powerful environmental call to arms proposes that for optimal well-being, regular doses of nature are not only recommended but required. She also reveals how city planners can successfully bring nature into the urban environment. Within the U.S., she finds programs using nature to help kids with ADHD and veterans with PTSD. Williams brings some intriguing observations to light in the forests of South Korea, for instance, she learns that time among the cypress trees reduces stress and lowers blood pressure. What are new, however, are current and ongoing studies by scientists (many of whom readers will encounter in these pages), who are using forests and natural landscapes as laboratories to learn more about how nature affects human health. The idea that the open air enhances creativity and outlook isn’t new Williams traces it as far back as Aristotle. soon, she found herself yearning for the mountains, and feeling disoriented and depressed. Her curiosity was piqued when she and her family moved from Boulder, Colo., to Washington, D.C. Outside magazine contributor Williams ( Breasts) writes frequently about the environment in this extensively researched book, her travels take her to Japan, Korea, Singapore, Scotland, and elsewhere in search of hard evidence that exposure to nature causes positive changes in the brain.

The nature fix book review