The Nature Principle : Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age

The immediacy of Richard Louv's message in __Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder__ galvanized an international movement to reconnect children with nature. Now, in __The Nature Principle,__ Louv reaches even further with a powerful call to action for the rest of us.Our society, says Louv, has developed such an outsized faith in technology that we have yet to fully realize or even adequately study how human capacities are enhanced through the power of nature. Supported by groundbreaking research, anecdotal evidence, and compelling personal stories, Louv shows us how tapping into the restorative powers of the natural world can boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more sustainable businesses, communities, and economies; and ultimately strengthen human bonds. As he says in his introduction, __The Nature Principle__ is "about the power of living in nature—not __with__ it, but... Supported By Groundbreaking Research, Anecdotal Evidence, And Compelling Personal Stories, Louv Shows How Tapping Into The Restorative Powers Of The Natural World Can Boost Mental Acuity And Creativity; Promote Health And Wellness; Build Smarter And More Sustainable Businesses, Communities, And Economies; And Ultimately Strengthen Human Bonds. Introduction: Nature-deficit Disorder For Adults -- Pt. 1: Nature Neurons: Intelligence, Creativity, And The Hybrid Mind. Singing For Bears ; The Hybrid Mind -- Pt. 2: Vitamin N: Tapping The Power Of The Natural World For Our Physical, Emotional, And Family Fitness. The Garden ; Fountains Of Life ; Re-naturing The Psyche ; The Deep Green High ; The Nature Prescription -- Pt. 3: Near Is The New Far: Knowing Who You Are By Knowing Where You Are. Searching For Your One True Place ; The Incredible Experience Of Being Where You Are ; Welcome To The Neighborhood ; The Purposeful Place ; The Bonding -- Pt. 4: Creating Everyday Eden: High-tech/high-nature Design Where We Live, Work, And Play. The Nature Principle At Home ; Stop, Look Up, And Listen ; Nature Neurons Go To Work ; Living In A Restorative City ; Little Suburb On The Prairie -- Pt. 5: The High-performance Human: Making A Living, A Life, And A Future. Vitamin N For The Soul ; All Rivers Run To The Future ; The Right To A Walk In The Woods ; Where Mountains Once Were And Rivers Will Be. Richard Louv. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The immediacy of Richard Louv's message in Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder galvanized an international movement to reconnect children with nature. Now, in The Nature Principle, Louv reaches even further with a powerful call to action for the rest of us. Our society, says Louv, has developed such an outsized faith in technology that we have yet to fully realize or even adequately study how human capacities are enhanced through the power of nature. Supported by groundbreaking research, anecdotal evidence, and compelling personal stories, Louv shows us how tapping into the restorative powers of the natural world can boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more sustainable businesses, communities, and economies; and ultimately strengthen human bonds. As he says in his introduction, The Nature Principle is "about the power of living in nature?not with it, but in it. We are entering the most creative period in history. The twenty-first century will be the century of human restoration in the natural world." Richard Louv makes a convincing case that through a nature-balanced existence?driven by sound economic, social, and environmental solutions?the human race can and will thrive. This timely, inspiring, and important work will give readers renewed hope while challenging them to rethink the way we live "In this book the author argues that a strong connection to nature is essential for human health. Supported by research, anecdotal evidence, and personal stories, the author shows how tapping into the restorative powers of the natural world can boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more sustainable businesses, communities, and economies; and ultimately strengthen human bonds. He outlines seven precepts he calls the "Nature Principle", which include balancing technology excess with time in nature; a mind/body/nature connection, which he calls "vitamin N," that enhances physical and mental health; expanding our sense of community to include all living things; and purposefully developing a spiritual, psychological, physical attachment to a region and its natural history. The book presents examples of these precepts, from studies of how exposure to a common soil bacteria increases production of serotonin in the brain to designing shopping malls inspired by termite mounds."--Publisher For many of us, thinking about the future conjures up images of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road: a post-apocalyptic dystopia stripped of nature. Richard Louv, author of the landmark bestseller Last Child in the Woods, urges us to change our vision of the future, suggesting that if we reconceive environmentalism and sustainability, they will evolve into a larger movement that will touch every part of society.

This New Nature Movement taps into the restorative powers of the natural world to boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more sustainable businesses, communities, and economies; and ultimately strengthen human bonds. Supported by groundbreaking research, anecdotal evidence, and compelling personal stories, Louv offers renewed optimism while challenging us to rethink the way we live.

For many of us, thinking about the future conjures up images of Cormac McCarthy's The Road : a post-apocalyptic dystopia stripped of nature. Richard Louv, author of the landmark bestseller Last Child in the Woods , urges us to change our vision of the future, suggesting that if we reconceive environmentalism and sustainability, they will evolve into a larger movement that will touch every part of society. This New Nature Movement taps into the restorative powers of the natural world to boost mental acuity and creativity; promote health and wellness; build smarter and more sustainable businesses, communities, and economies; and ultimately strengthen human bonds. Supported by groundbreaking research, anecdotal evidence, and compelling personal stories, Louv offers renewed optimism while challenging us to rethink the way we live.