The Nature Principle

The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age – Richard Louv

In his influential book Last Child in the Woods, journalist Richard Louv coined the term nature-deficit disorder to describe the costs of children’s growing disconnection from the natural world. In The Nature Principle: Reconnecting with Life in a Virtual Age, he extends his argument to adults, families, communities and society as a whole.

Louv argues that the more high-tech our lives become, the more nature we need. He draws on research suggesting that time spent in natural environments can improve physical and mental health, reduce stress, enhance creativity and concentration, and strengthen relationships. He calls the balance between technology and nature the hybrid mind, in which people make use of digital tools while staying grounded in direct experience of the natural world.

The book explores many ways people can reconnect with nature in their daily lives. Louv discusses designing homes, workplaces and cities that incorporate nature, the growing field of nature therapy and green exercise, urban gardening and wildlife habitats in cities, nature-based education, and businesses that integrate nature into their operations. He also considers how reconnecting with nature can inspire a sense of place, community and environmental stewardship, and proposes a vision of a future in which people live more fully engaged with the natural world.

Optimistic, engaging and full of stories and practical ideas, the book offers a hopeful counterpoint to concerns about technology and urbanization.

The Nature Principle will appeal to parents, educators, urban planners, health professionals and anyone who wants to bring more nature into their lives. Some research cited has since been expanded.