Overview

For centuries, poets and philosophers extolled the benefits of a walk in the woods: Beethoven drew inspiration from rocks and trees; Wordsworth composed while walking over the heath; Nikola Tesla conceived the electric motor while visiting a park. From forest paths in Korea to islands in Finland to eucalyptus groves in California, Florence Williams investigates the science at the confluence of environment, mood, health and creativity. Delving into new research, she uncovers the powers of the natural world to improve health, promote reflection and innovation, and strengthen our relationships. As our lives shift indoors, these ideas—and the answers they yield—are more urgent than ever.

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Reviews

[The Nature Fix] has much to offer to anyone interested in human health, from city planners and health practitioners to educators, scientists... and anyone concerned with their own well-being. -- Esther Jackson, Public Services Librarian at the New York Botanic Garden The Nature Fix is a beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyable exposition of a major principle of human life now supported by evidence in biology, psychology, and medicine. -- Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University I'm no tree hugger, but The Nature Fix made me want to run outside and embrace the nearest oak. Not for the tree's sake but mine. Florence Williams makes a compelling, and elegant, case that nature is not only beautiful but also good for us. If Thoreau were steeped in modern neuroscience and possessed an endearingly self-deprecating sense of humor, the result would be the book you hold in your hands. -- Eric Weiner, New York Times best-selling author of The Geography of Genius Florence Williams, keen observer, deft writer, creates a fascinating mosaic here. What are the costs-to us!-of humanity's increasing disconnection from nature? What are the likely benefits-to us!-of retaining that threatened connection?...Large. -- David Quammen, New York Times best-selling author of Spillover ...Engaging... -- San Francisco Chronicle ...Fascinating... -- New York Times Books Review Williams's findings are eminently reassuring, and perversely specific. -- Atlantic The Nature Fix offers a cross-continental rumination on nature's feel-good effects in a world that's increasingly concrete-centric. -- Portland Monthly [A] lively exploration of what modern research has to say about the myriad health benefits of the great outdoors. . . Ms. Williams resists the tendency of so much nature writing towards easy epiphanies, adopting a tone that is, instead, pleasingly puckish. . . [She] puzzles out the pros and cons, concluding, on balance, that there's a good case for connecting with nature to extend both the quantity and quality of life. . . -- Danny Heitman - Wall Street Journal

[A] powerful environmental call to arms. -- Publishers Weekly A thoughtful, refreshing book with a simple but powerful message. -- Kirkus Reviews A veteran journalist, Williams flexes her conditioned reporting muscles. . . . Her fast-paced book takes readers across three continents as she trails all kinds of experts, from phycologists to foresters. -- Earth Island Journal Williams is an elegant yet witty writer, and she makes a terrific guide. -- Success Magazine Chock-full of insights about the health benefits of spending time in nature. (It turns out that lying on the beach is good for you.) -- Rohan Silva - Guardian [Williams] makes a compelling argument for time outdoors. She takes a refreshing approach, including `forest bathing' (the Japanese custom of a sensory walk in the woods); ecotherapy in Scotland; and how nature can produce the same effects as mind-altering drugs. Thought-provoking and excellent. -- BBC Wildlife [A] scientific tour de Mother Earth. . . . The Nature Fix offers a cross-continental rumination on nature's feel-good effects in a world that's increasingly concrete-centric. -- Portland Monthly Williams's findings are eminently reassuring. -- Atlantic Engaging. -- San Francisco Chronicle [A] lively exploration of what modern research has to say about the myriad health benefits of the great outdoors. . . Ms. Williams resists the tendency of so much nature writing towards easy epiphanies, adopting a tone that is, instead, pleasingly puckish. . . [She] puzzles out the pros and cons, concluding, on balance, that there's a good case for connecting with nature to extend both the quantity and quality of life. . . -- Danny Heitman - Wall Street Journal [Williams] presents the benefits of spending time outdoors . . . entertainingly but with enough scientific detail to satisfy the expert. -- New York Times Book Review

... impassioned and thorough exploration of nature's impact on our bodies, psyches and creativity... -- The Irish Examiner ... the author makes a compelling argument for time outdoors. She takes a refreshing approach, including 'forest bathing' (the Japanese custom of a sensory walk in the woods); ecotherapy in Scotland; and how nature can produce the same effects as mind-altering drugs. Thought-provoking and excellent. -- BBC Wildlife Magazine The Nature Fix by Florence Williams is an ideal holiday pick too, chock-full of insights about the health benefits of spending time in nature. -- Rohan Silva, Summer Reads 2017 - The Guardian A beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyable exposition of a major principle of human life now supported by evidence in biology, psychology, and medicine. -- Edward O. Wilson

Author Information

A contributing editor at Outside magazine, Florence Williams is the author of Breasts, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and The Nature Fix. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic, and many other outlets. She lives in Washington, DC.

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