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The Nature Principle: Human Restoration And The End Of Nature-Deficit Disorder (2011)

by Richard Louv(Favorite Author)

3.75 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1565125819 (ISBN13: 9781565125810)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Algonquin Books

review 1: This book can be summarized by this sentence: "The more high-tech we become, the more nature we need."The rest of the book is an examination of why and how and corollaries. A discussion of theoretical, anecdotal and empirical research about the restorative power of nature for humans (physical, psychological, spiritual). There are lots of fun and innovative ideas both at the individual and the cultural level. And he makes sure to emphasize that business and nature interests need not be inimical, but can work well together. Some of the fascinating ideas are urban agriculture, high-rise vertical farms and various urban nature clubs.By happenstance I also read a fiction book, "Sixth Extinction" by Rollins at the same time. There were many intersections in id... moreeas.
review 2: There are two kinds of journalists: reporters and storytellers. Richard Louv falls into the first category. This book is a pragmatic exploration of how we can interact better with nature in the 21st century - something many of us are craving to find time for. There is no shortage of information here, Louv starts with an examination of all the positive health (physical and mental) benefits that may arise from increasing our exposure to nature, and then moves into all the practical ways we can interact better with the natural world. Unfortunately, the book reads like a massive literature review in the beginning, and then moves into what feels like an unending series of newspaper articles at the end. In many ways it feels like I was reading the Huffington Post Green section the entire time. The overarching theme is loosely tied together, no topics are explored at any real depth, and the stories and anecdotes are rarely engaging. There were a handful of resources and ideas that I found fascinating - about urban gardening and "sense of place" thinking - but considering the vast amount of ideas touched on it was bound to happen. Of course, I had to Google search to learn more about them. Last year I read Feral by George Monbiot, a book with a similar focus on nature and the profound effect it can have on our psyche. Monbiot explored the concept of re-wilding and other practices related to conservation, but he interwove the discussion with his own powerful stories of immersing himself in nature. His personal stories were told in a way that create wonder, build imagination, and a craving to enter the natural world for the reader. That is what is missing here. Louv has either gone too practical in his approach or is incapable of conveying that sense of wonder. less

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