Awakening to Nature : Renewing Your Life by Connecting with the Natural World - Softcover

Cook,Charles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0809223996 ISBN 13: 9780809223992

Publisher: McGraw-Hill, 2001

Synopsis

Today most people spend the bulk of their day indoors, plugged into technology but completely disconnected from nature. Reestablishing a connection with the natural realm isn't just a question of wanting to do it, it's knowing how to do it. Awakening to Nature is practical primer for those who've lost touch with nature. It offers a variety of simple, sensible ways to maintain a fulfilling relationship with the natural world on a daily basis, without giving up the conveniences of modern life.

About this title

About the Author

Charles Cook, a respected authority on outdoor activities and communing with nature, is the author of several highly praised outdoor books, including The Essential Guide to Hiking in the United States.

From the Back Cover

Who among us hasn't yearned to take a breath of fresh mountain air while sitting at the computer or wished to hike through wild, grassy fields while trudging to work? Who hasn't wanted to abandon the rat race and flee stuffy urban and suburban spaces for the wilder, greener, more peaceful places of nature? Because our lives have become so stressful and hectic, and because we spend so much time in artificial spaces, our innate need to connect with nature must be fulfilled in order to maintain harmony, balance, and peacefulness.

In this truly refreshing book, outdoor expert Charles Cook shares his love and enthusiasm for nature and shows us how to tap into the natural antidotes of the world around us, whether in the city or the country. Nature can cure many of the imbalances, absurdities, and insanities of life--offering limitless opportunities for relaxation and solitude, contact with countless other living organisms, the exploration of lovely scenery, and as much exercise as we want. Awakening to Nature is the beginning of our journey into this natural world.

Inside are hundreds of ideas, thoughts, and suggestions intended to assist and inspire us to cultivate a more meaningful relationship with nature. We learn about our roots in nature and look critically as some ways our culture and civilization have gone astray. We discover the world of our senses, the importance of getting outside, nature-related options close to home, and more meditative ways of being in nature. We also learn how to make more room in our lives for nature, invite nature into our indoor spaces, and live more naturally, allowing us to better relate to the land and find our place and purpose in the larger universe.

Reviews

Cook (The Essential Guide to Hiking in the United States) here offers numerous ideas for the novice on getting to know nature. Arguing that modern society suffers from emotional and mental deprivation as a result of its alienation from nature, he suggests ways to get back in touch with flora, fauna, diverse habitats, and other aspects of the environment. Although many of the author's suggestions are obvious (visit a park or zoo, walk in the rain, bring nature inside with plants), readers already acquainted with nature will find useful ideas in such chapters as "Harmonizing with Nature" and "Embracing Unbridled Life," in which he discusses the interconnectedness of life and the rewards of accepting and celebrating natural processes. He advocates simpler, less consumer-oriented lifestyles, reminiscent of E.F. Schumacher in Small Is Beautiful (Hartley & Marks, 1999), pointing out that, ultimately, affluent lifestyles are environmentally unsustainable. A list of suggested readings and resources would have been useful. Recommended for all collections on environmental issues and outdoor activities. Maureen J. Delaney-Lehman, Lake Superior State Univ. Lib., Sault Ste. Marie, MI
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Seasons change. A fly is caught in the spider's web. A woolly caterpillar is transformed into a brilliant butterfly. Every day we witness the cycles of nature. Yet modern humans--locked in their windowless offices, eyes never leaving their computer screen, cell phone glued to their ear--endanger their connection with nature as they grow increasingly disconnected from the nonhuman world. The time and energy required to lead successful lives are often spent at the expense of the psychological, emotional, and spiritual benefits reaped from a meaningful relationship with nature. Such is Cook's premise in this guide to bringing communion with nature back into daily life. With a reassuring mix of passion and practicality, Cook presents such simple suggestions as taking a walk during the lunch hour or hanging a bird feeder outside a window. Cook's solutions to the challenges of techno-driven modern life are simple and easy to accomplish; from there, readers can just let nature take its course. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: McGraw-Hill
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0809223996
• ISBN 13: 9780809223992
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288