In some tests, she hikes with electrodes attached to her head, and in others her cortisol (the human body’s main stress hormone) level is tested before and after a hike. Williams speaks with many researchers and participates in numerous experiments designed to determine what are the benefits of being out in nature, and exactly how much nature creates the optimum benefit for people. Williams finds that her blood pressure decreases by a few points after a walk in the woods. In a very real sense, we are divorcing ourselves from our genetic heritage, and these scientists theorize that we have a biological need to get back to the natural world. As of 2008, more than half the world’s population live in urban areas, and that percentage increases every day. Humans evolved in the savannas of Africa and are genetically predisposed to being out in nature, but are increasingly moving to cities. But are there deeper physical and psychological benefits to getting out of the house or office and spending time outdoors? That is the question Florence Williams, a contributing editor to Outside magazine, sets out to explore in The Nature Fix.Īs it turns out, many psychologists and neuroscientists are trying to answer that question. If you were asked why that is, you might respond that you love fresh air, the sounds of birds singing, or the smell of flowers.

She’ll make you want to take that hike.It would be a good bet that just about everyone reading this review loves to be out in nature. getAbstract recommends her compelling tale of how she came to understand how and why nature heals. She reports on research and projects worth revisiting, though the book lacks an index to help you get back to the information. Williams tells of her personal struggles to find health and harmony in today’s amped-up urban world. She cites government programs in Finland, Japan, Korea and Singapore. Outside magazine contributing editor Florence Williams’s message is that nature therapy – turning to nature to soothe and heal – needs public support to push government to fund programs and to urge the health care industry to endorse and underwrite the therapeutic benefits of being outdoors.

You don’t have to dump your digital devices you can find balance simply by getting outdoors. Nature touches your sense of awe and your awareness of being part of something bigger than your daily life. It lowers your stress level, improves your health, and boosts your creativity. Spending more time in nature is good for you in both direct and subtle ways. GetAbstract Summary: Get the key points from this book in 10 minutes.

The Nature Fix by Florence Williams