Book Review: Nature and the Mind

The recent book Nature and the mind: The science of how nature improves cognitive, physical, and social well-being by Marc Berman does not really require a review since the title is already basically a 3 paragraph synopsis of the book, but I will provide one anyway as there is a wealth of information in this book. The author studies environmental neuroscience, a term he came up with. Trained as an environmental psychologist, his research looks at how our environments impact our behavior. Berman does an excellent job describing the interplay between nature and nurture in an approachable manner, and explaining in detail the impact of the environment.

Image credit: Simon and Schuster

The key focus of the book, in a finding that is likely surprising to exactly no one, is that our collective attention spans have been decreasing. Berman explains how time in nature, or even viewing nature, can help to restore our attention spans if the natural environment feels comfortable and safe. Berman covers his own research along with other key studies in this field such as improvements in attention, quality of life, and relationships for people being treated for cancer; improved attention after short walks in nature; and even improved life expectancy. Berman also describes the impact this can have on societies where places with access to green space result in fewer crimes and less aggression. One of the most fascinating sections is where he ties the research together with a path forward, a focus on neighborhood urban planning, adding and reclaiming green spaces.

The book is lacking a bit in the stories and application, heavy on the research he has conducted. This is a great summary if you are into the science of this. I certainly am, and he did a masterful job of weaving together key research in this area. But the book somewhat reads like a simplified series of journal articles with some background information. This is by no means a bad thing, scientists in general need to do a better job of explaining their research in a way that non-academics can understand and this is a valuable resource for people seeking to change their behaviors in order to improve overall well-being.