Rating: 5 out of 5

I loved this book. I’ve eked it out. Made it last. A beautiful work. Written in a very digestible format. A lot of photographs included of trees, woodlands, forests. Some exercises to try. Some scientific research. Some folklore. A great balance between art and science. I think I’ll be re-reading this. And I don’t want to lend it out.

Highlighted passages:

Contact with nature is as vital to our well-being as regular exercise and a healthy diet

Quality of sleep was better after forest-bathing

Afternoon walks improved the quality of sleep more than morning walks

Trees help us think more clearly, be more creative, and make us nicer and more generous

Not only does walking in nature alleviate feelings of anxiety and other negative emotions, but it also increases positive thoughts. In other words, walking in nature can help us to change the way we think about things and see them in a better light.

Another study looking at the density of trees and the number of prescriptions issued for antidepressants in London found that residents of the streets with the most trees took out fewer prescriptions than those who lived in areas with few or no trees

The are of forest-bathing is the art of connecting with nature through our senses

When we love nature, we are likely to look after it. The more we connect with the natural world, the more likely we are to preserve it for the future.

Originally posted to my Goodreads account