A landmark book by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols on the remarkable effects of water on our health and well-being.Why are we drawn to the ocean each summer? Why does being near water set our minds and bodies at ease? In BLUE MIND, Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes how we think about these questions, revealing the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near … on, under, or simply near water. Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling personal stories from top athletes, leading scientists, military veterans, and gifted artists, he shows how proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success.
BLUE MIND not only illustrates the crucial importance of our connection to water-it provides a paradigm shifting “blueprint” for a better life on this Blue Marble we call home.
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Explains what us water lovers are often unable to truly express and for those not already hooked it will encourage you and tell you why you should be.
As psychologist William James wrote, “We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected in the deep.”
One of my favorite books of all time. Wallace J Nichols gives us an indepth look at the the reason behind being in, or, near, under or around water and the positive effects it has on your life. Not only it is a technical account of how the ocean heals, it’s also a look at the different professions that work, live, or play by the sea or lakes. I absolutely loved this book. Since reading, I’ve become a blue mind ambassador – sharing any positive information I learn about how to protect our oceans and our lakes. A wonderful read.
I have always loved to swim. Along with reading, traveling, and baking cookies – I have the best chocolate chip cookie recipe you’ll even taste, trust me – swimming is one of my favorite activities. (It also counteracts all those cookies…) All of which is to say that I when I stumbled across Blue Mind in a bookstore recently, it went to the top of my reading list. And I so wanted to like this book.
Unfortunately, I didn’t like it at all. In fact, I couldn’t even finish it. Aside from the fact that the book didn’t seem to scratch the surface of answering how or why being in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, blah, blah, blah, I was most distracted – and irritated – by the number of places where the author (Wallace J. Nichols) inserted himself for no apparent reason other than that he likes to talk about himself. It’s quite important that his readers know, for example, that his brother-in-law was a Harvard professor, which might be the place where I finally closed the book for good.
The research and studies that he does site seem to be inserted haphazardly so that Blue Mind feels like a random collection of anecdotes and research pieces stitched together in an incongruous fashion. (In between each, Nichols reminds his reader that he has even created a conference by this name, as he repeats again and again until it’s the last thing on earth this reader would ever contemplate attending. And if I’m exaggerating, it’s not by much.)
As one Amazon reviewer noted (and I’m still kicking myself that I didn’t read the reviews before I opened the book), “Many people have an innate desire to be near water and our brains appear to benefit from that proximity. That’s it, folks, that’s the central theme that is tortuously repeated over and over until you just want to punch the next beach-goer that crosses your path.” Only I didn’t want to punch the beach-goer; I wanted to punch Nichols.
Want water? Read Paddling the Pacific. Want science? David Quammen has you covered. But my all means, skip Blue Mind. Water may make you happier and healthier, but this book won’t.
(This review was originally published at http://www.thisyearinbooks.com/2015/04/blue-mind-surprising-science-that-shows.html)