This is one of those books so packed with vital insights that I know I missed many of them on the first read through. I certainly plan to come back to this book many times over to reference specific parts, reread inspirational stories, and share them through my personal and work life. That said, reading Richard Louv’s “The Nature Principle” straight through was perhaps to my detriment. While I did enjoy each sub-section of this book, there is so much ground covered that I regret not spending more time to process each section. I knew this would be the case approximately a third of the way into the book, so it immediately went on my “Reread” list.

This is Louv’s follow-up book to his earlier and more popular “Last Child in the Woods” about the importance nature plays in a young person’s growth and mental and physical health. “The Nature Principle” builds on that concept, extending the critical importance of nature to adults as well as children. Louv very much emphasizes that we do not need to go somewhere exotic to find a relationship with nature, nor should we focus on living “with” nature. Rather, humans and nature are one and the same. Finding nature where we live now and endeavoring to live “in” it has innumerable benefits that Louv meticulously outlines in this book. I would certainly encourage everyone, from outdoorsmen to dedicated indoorsmen, to read this book. I believe you will gain a new perspective on nature and how to interact in such a way that brings it into your life rather than expels all traces of it. You may even be inspired, as I was, to bring my writing outdoors where I can be more in touch with my creativity.

Perhaps to give you advance insight into what you might do after reading this book, I’ll share with you what this book inspired me to do: Reread the book, read more of Louv’s books, write and sketch outdoors with a pencil and notebook, open my window in the morning rather than turn on the light, plan monthly “unplug” cabin trips with my significant other, look up rather than down when I walk, dress for the weather so I’m not afraid to go outside in the snow or rain, create a dedicated and comfortable seating area on my deck so it is easier to spend time there, (when I eventually have kids) go on “expeditions” to local state parks and natural areas, visit more regularly the “special place” I had in nature from my childhood, and more…

Something I will take away from this book is to slow down and be quiet. Nature is just outside our windows, but we are too often sucked into screens that we don’t take the time to look out, look up, and enjoy the natural beauty. This is not a book only for the backpacker or the hiker or the gardener. It is a book for all of us, for everyone who has a window or a door to the outside. Reading this book will inspire you to open that door, leave your phone inside, and explore.

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Created Mar 05, 2019 at 8:37am • Submit your own review...