A Washington, D.C. journalist, writer, and globetrotter, reviews in great detail the needs of Homo sapiens to connect with the natural world for our individual and collective mental and physical health. She takes trips with urban planners, social scientists, and neuroscientists with fancy tracking equipment conducting an abundance of studies documenting the beneficial effects of time spent outdoors, alone or with friends and reviews their findings, rather uncritically at times. Many of the researchers seem to have forgone conclusions and design studies that will confirm their biases, although most of the conclusions seem logical and commonsensical.
In Chapter Two, ethereal distinctions and oversimplification of functions of parts of our intricately interconnected brains by neuroscientists in Moab, Utah, become confusing, as though the human brain works as a group of isolated islands. Salivary levels of cortisol is extensively used as a surrogate marker for stress, the latter not well defined, and undoubtedly some of the studies unjustifiably equate association with causation and attach too much significance to minor differences that may not even be statistically significant.
Having stated my concerns about some of the science above, the subject is a neglected one and the writing is interesting. I even accept the conclusion that most of us modern urbanites get far too little exposure to raw nature, especially our young children with their developing brains. The solutions suggested are also sensible guides to more relaxed, happier lives.
Chapter Four (of 12) is a particularly thoughtful analysis of the devastation wrought by modern noise pollution. The discussion of the very outdoorsy city of Singapore made me long for a trip to it, although it is not, as stated, the world’s only city state. (What about Vatican City?) Learning that Jackson Pollock paintings and natural forests contain mathematical repeating patterns called fractals is fascinating, new to me, and difficult to understand. There is a reason that older prisons and mental institutions were surrounded by gardens and farmland that inmates worked on to their benefit. We have unfortunately largely substituted less effective pharmaceutical treatment for the ‘nature fix’.
As someone who became an urbanite after a childhood in which most of my waking hours were spent in school or outdoors (or in outdoor schooling), I probably inadvertently benefited from that exposure which is now sadly lacking for most children. It may be only my daily walks, often in forests, that now keeps me semi-sane. I recently discovered that my iPhone keeps track of my steps, distances, and speed, but as an old Luddite, I am no fan of constant technical tracking of all body functions, which seem to somehow detract from the pure joy of the activity. I don’t like the idea of some Apple tech geek guiding and recording my exercises. I only check the number of steps (13,377 today, a bit more than my average) after donning pyjamas, and sometimes leave my phone at home.
City planners and health advisors should take the message from this book seriously. For the rest of the public it is still a thoughtful pleasant read.
The Passionate Reader 