BY JOSH GROSS
The type of nature I’d like to connect with right now. Image found on Pixabay.
When you think about nature, does it feel like something “out there,” or more like a close friend?
This might seem like an odd question, but as Dr. Les Higgins explains in his new book – Connect with Nature – maintaining a close relationship with the natural world is, “One of the best things you can do for yourself, others, and planet Earth.”
However, Higgins doesn’t just preach to you about holding hands and wearing flowers. He lists practical steps for how anyone can embark on a nature-connectedness journey, and cites a combination of hard science and personal stories to describe why you might want to do so.
Synopsis
Connect with Nature has two main parts. The first provides suggestions on how you can connect with nature, whereas the second describes the benefits of becoming a nature-connected person.
Because I’m a rebel, I’m going to discuss the second half first.
Part 2
In Connect with Nature, Higgins describes many benefits of connecting with nature – some of which scientists have demonstrated experimentally. These include:
- Better mental health: both in ‘normal’ circumstances and following traumatic events,
- Realizing that occasionally, you actually can trust people,
- Improved physical fitness,
- Increased support for conservation.
Now that I’m sure I’ve convinced you of the power of connecting with nature, I expect that you’re burning with the desire to learn how to do so.
Unfortunately, I won’t tell you, because it’s winter and nature keeps hurting me. You’ll have to look to Dr. Higgins for those answers, who lives in sunny Australia.
A group of children walking to school in Cleveland, Ohio during February. Image found on Connect with Nature with suggestions on how you can do just that. He begins by describing his own nature-connectedness journey, which began with simple bushwalking but eventually resulted in him leading expeditions in the Himalayas.
While some readers may interpret Higgins’ story as yet another reason to never go on a walk, I imagine that his intentions were to show that you don’t have to be as tough as James Hendry to grow closer to nature.
James Hendry realizing that I just took his name in vain. Doesn’t he look a lot like The Rock? Entertainment Weekly sure thought so.
Many activities, from gardening to looking at nature photographs to camping, can help you become more nature-connected.
Higgins actually recommends gradualism: starting with relatively easy activities and then moving on to more complicated ones when you’re ready. This means that you don’t have to do anything crazy: you can wait a full week after your first bushwalk to go to the Himalayas.
Review
I found Connect with Nature to be an excellent read; it was well-written and thoroughly-researched, but not dense.
Furthermore, I was impressed by how well Higgins knew his stuff. He’s clearly passionate about nature-connectedness, and keeps up with the latest research on the topic.
If you’re a student or anyone else interested in the science of nature connectedness, Connect with Nature will help you identify great sources to follow up with.
The cover of Connect with Nature by Dr. Les Higgins.
But most significantly, I appreciated the personal stories of people who benefitted from becoming more nature-connected. An author can list all the peer-reviewed studies that they wish, but this doesn’t always have the same impact as hearing the stories of actual people – including Hollywood actress Reese Witherspoon.
This mix of sources – scientific and personal – is one of Connect with Nature’s greatest strengths.
I highly recommend you read Dr. Higgins’ Connect with Nature. Whether you want to become more nature-connected yourself, or you simply want to learn about the science of nature-connectedness, I’m sure you’ll find value in this book.
P.S.
Be sure to visit Dr. Higgin’s website regularly! He plans to use it as a companion to the book, where he’ll post additional information about connecting with nature, so that you can keep learning about this crucial subject.
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