The Eight Master Lessons of Nature
What Nature Teaches Us About Living Well in the World
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
A riveting manifesto for the millions of people who long to forge a more vital, meaningful connection to the natural world to live a better, more fulfilling life
Looking around at the world today—a world of skyscrapers, super highways, melting ice caps, and rampant deforestation—it is easy to feel that humanity has actively severed its ties with nature. It’s no wonder that we are starving to rediscover a connection with the natural world.
With new insights into the inner workings of nature's wonders, Gary Ferguson presents a fascinating exploration into how many of the most remarkable aspects of nature are hardwired into our very DNA. What emerges is a dazzling web of connections that holds powerful clues about how to better navigate our daily lives.
Through cutting-edge data and research, drawing on science, psychology, history, and philosophy, The Eight Master Lessons of Nature will leave readers with a feeling of hope, excitement, and joy. It is a dazzling statement about the powers of physical, mental, and spiritual wellness that come from reclaiming our relationship with Mother Nature. Lessons about mystery, loss, the fine art of rising again, how animals make us smarter, and how the planet’s elders make us better at life are unforgettable and transformative.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this expansive survey, nature writer Ferguson (Walking Down the Wild) argues that nature's "harmony, balance, and rhythm" can teach humans how to live peaceful, vital lives. Ferguson's eight assertions each speak to the powerful connections he sees between the natural and human worlds, each beginning with his lushly delivered observations of nature: "With the wheatgrass and bluestem paper dry, with many trees themselves at moisture levels lower than kiln-dried lumber, the land began to burn." He then illustrates how the observations have been used to guide life and asks readers to do the same. For instance, "dark night... sky shot full of stars... realms of wonder" can help readers foster a healthy sense of mystery by pondering the emptiness of deep space. Also, a "tumbling mountainside bedecked with the most glorious carpets of wildflowers" can help readers learn to thrive among diversity. Though organized as a series of loose lessons, the book lacks any real directives (lesson six, for example, is "We Live on a Planet with Energy Beyond Measure"), instead relying on Ferguson's broad view of human history that each person is connected by universal myths and the innate feeling that "nature calls to each of us." While nature lovers will enjoy this, self-help readers looking for concrete advice will be disappointed.
