Books We're Psyched To Share: Vitamin N, by Richard Louv

It can be a challenge to live a high-tech AND nature-rich life. Finding that balance in our day-to-day isn’t always easy, and I won’t claim to have it figured out. It’s a journey that we’re all on together. Over the years, I’ve come across some incredible resources and am eager to start sharing them with you. Some, of course, will cover the benefits of time in nature and the impact of tech use. But life isn’t two dimensional, and neither are our book recommendations. You can look forward to a variety of topics and content, knowing that what’s offered has provoked deep thought and meaningful change in our lives. 

In thinking about what to share first, I kept circling back to a favorite author, Richard Louv, who is a huge inspiration to our work at Nature Unplugged. Louv was one of the first to bring widespread attention to the growing separation of children and adults from nature over the last 20 years, in part due to the rapid advancement and accessibility of new technology. He’s published quite a few books, but one of my favorites is “Vitamin N: The Essential Guide to a Nature-Rich Life: 500 Ways to Enrich Your Family’s Health & Happiness”. 

Here’s why I think you'll love it too... Louv takes enough time to explain why getting out into nature is important without burying us in a pile of dense literature and research. He provides context, inspiration and generally speaking gets us, “the reader”, on board and ready to get outside. That’s where a lot of books end, and here, it’s just the beginning. The value of this book is really in all the ideas and tangible tips on how to get outside and what to do once you’re there. With accessibility in mind, there’s a wide range of 500 (yes, 500!) activities, small and large scale. There’s truly something for everyone in this book.