BOOK REVIEW:
Connecting with Life by Martin Summers.
I received this ARC from Netgalley for my honest thoughts on this novel coming out August 25th, 2020. This is not typical book I would read but Mr. Summer makes compelling points about how people have changed and are not spending enough time in nature and how pollution and our environment are being destroyed.

Mr. Summer discuses the changes made over hundreds of years and how we’ve become more urbanized and have moved away from living and surrounding ourselves with the outdoor world. This he says is affecting us both mentally and physically.

He believes in what he calls the “biophilia design,” which is the innate need to connect with other life forms. He feels we should have more natural light. wood floors, plants, water fountains in our homes in order to be closer to nature. Optimally if we could live out of a big city it would be better all together. This way we could be one with nature but since that is not always possible the above suggestions can help. I found that his suggestions were doable but not always realistic.

Verdict:

Mr. Summer writes a powerful book but it is not a realistic book from my point of view. He makes some great points and is thorough explaining how one can make a change for the better. I give this book 4/5 stars. Although I might not agree with everything Mr. Summer says I do find his research and knowledge impeccable.

Thank you to NeGalley, Summer Press, and the author for making this title available for an advanced review!

First of all, this book is launching at the perfect time. Many of us are still relatively stuck indoors and/or limiting our time outside as we shelter in place through this pandemic. I was just needing such a book. I'm fortunate to have a lovely backyard, but was looking for ways to expand my connection with nature during these challenging times. One look at the title and I jumped onboard!

Martin Summer gives an extensive look at the many ways we humans interact with natural world and what threatens this deep connection we have to the earth and wildlife. This book is not just an anthology of humans throughout history experiencing nature, nor is strictly a cautionary tale about the environmental and climate crisis, but rather it highlights - in a very easygoing fashion - ways in which we can deepen our connection and escape just a smidgen of urban life as we are, wherever we are.

I loved how accessible this book is. It is anything but dry. The author's humor and passion for nature absolutely shine through on every page. As he states early on, "I can't stand dry books!", and he fulfills his promise. Also, the author himself can relate to how difficult it can be to find nature on a daily basis. Many people struggle right now is small spaces and are limited to the outdoors. For two months during this year, my city closed down large parks and hiking through my favorite space was prohibited. So what do we do? The author has first hand knowledge and thoughtful suggestions on even the simplest change (more sunlight is key!) we can make in our immediate environment to bring more of natural world into our homes and daily life.

The book is laid out in a strategic fashion, highlighting how our ancestors relied on nature at times for survival and how we evolved and adapted to even the harshest obstacles that nature threw at us. I especially liked the chapter on urban noise and how it affects human beings mental health. I was struck by the fact that finding the least noise polluted place on earth is becoming increasingly impossible day by day; I don't think I realized just how noisy the city truly is until I read this. I especially appreciated Summer's acknowledgment that we live in a technological world and despite best efforts, we can't ever fully escape. His writing is never judge-y, inaccessible, or holier-than-thou. He offers straightforward, practical advice and often it comes from his own personal experience from travel and living in an urban area.

My only wish here would be to add even more personal stories of his adventures and how those related to his finding different solutions to decrease the urbanization around him and less of the commentary with "how to"/step-by-step solutions that he summarizes at the end of each chapter. The book veers sometimes towards a "textbook" feel, which I don't think was his original intention.

I highly recommend this book. I'm putting into practice a few of his suggestions! As I write, I have my bare feet in the grass and I'm listening more to the wildlife around me. Everyone will get something from this book, guaranteed.

Martin Summer presents a fresh and deeper look how mindfully connecting with nature can make a difference in our lives and the world. He shares many ways to connect with nature outdoor and indoor by giving honor, respect and using our five senses. This is a Beautiful soulful book I thoroughly enjoyed.
Slow down, immerse yourself in Connecting with Life.

If you are someone who is on the path of wellness and sustainability of the Earth, you really must read this book. It is a light-hearted easy read that brings a lot of thought to living an urban lifestyle while trying to stay connected to the Earth. I think that Martin gives wonderful examples and suggestions to help with this task. Some I have never thought of! I have started implementing some of the suggestions that I learned and I really do think it helps to stay grounded and connected when you live in an Urban space. I highly recommend this book!

This book generally reads like a self-help on how to connect with nature. I am not a big fan of self-help books but I am definitely a nature lover. This book presents an impressive amount of information about the relationship between humans and nature (through history) and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about natural occurrences that are not necessarily given considerable thought (for example, what chemicals cause petrichor). That said, the actual self help parts of the book fell short for me. I like that the author chose a problem-solution approach in writing this book. However, unlike the problems, there was an underwhelming amount of research presented to support the solutions offered. While the author did give tangible and, in most cases, accessible solutions for the challenges faced by people (especially in urbanized areas) in connecting with nature, none of the solutions were new and I did not feel moved to action. This book can serve as a good guide for newbies who have never embraced nature before and need a place to start but I think a lot of what is discussed in this book, in terms of a call to action, is second nature to a lot of people who already do embrace nature.

I have read several books on connecting with nature, and this is one of the best. It's very easy to read and understand. The author is very down to earth (pun intended) and talks to the reader in a very friendly and conversational manner. He has a lot of simple suggestions, instead of telling us we need to travel, follow special rituals, or seek out "nature gurus" to teach us how to enjoy nature.

I really enjoyed this book. It's informative and interesting without being over-bearing or pedantic, the author's writing style is laid back and chatty, which draws the reader in and keeps him/her there. I discovered a few facts I did not know, such as the fact that almost 9 million people a year die due to air pollution, a shocking statistic in a world where plastic is already such a blight.

He also speaks in-depth about noise pollution, often overlooked in light of other issues, but when it comes down to it is just as important. The problem is that often we get so used to something, we no longer notice it. As a nature child, I don't need to be told the importance of going outdoors, and spending as much time as possible in the fresh air and sunshine, but it isn't always easy for everyone, especially considering the way many of us live, in suburbs, apartments, complexes and so on, but there is always a way, from eating lunch on a park bench or drinking tea on a balcony, to spending weekend getaways with friends outdoors, picnicking in a field instead of sitting in a bar.

The chapters are laid out with a summing-up of the most important points, which I find very sensible and user-friendly, that way you can easily refer back to anything specific that caught your eye.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Summer Press and Martin Summer.

Unfortunately, I didn’t glean any new information from this book. And, in spite of the positive vibe of the cover and title, this is a depressing doomsday book, overall.

Received ARC through NetGalley.

While there is a lot of good information in this book, I didn't find that there was anything really new or unusual that I didn't already know or hadn't read about somewhere else. I grew up in a rural area, and now live just outside a major city, and I can't say I really discovered any new ideas on how to find and connect with nature in an urban center. Perhaps others who have different situations in life might find it more helpful.

I also felt like Summer was maybe trying to tackle too many different (but related) topics. Instead of focusing on just ideas for connecting with nature in cites, he spends a lot of time talking about the history of humans and urban vs. rural life, as well as things like air pollution, noise pollution, light pollution, invasive species, etc. He also writes in a very casual, conversational style which I found off-putting at times, along with his frequent promotion of his website.

For somebody who is a true neophyte, there is probably a lot to be said for this book, but for people well-footed in an on-going relationship with nature wherever they live, this book falls a bit flat.

I loved it! Both urban and natural explorations are covered in a logical informative manner that excited my imagination. A few of the things that stand out to me are: wear an N95 mask when bike riding in traffic areas to protect your lungs from exhaust and other city fumes, be more aware of
indoor air pollution, noise pollution (including restaurants, light pollution both in and outdoor, protect hearing from noise that others make (cars, neighbor's lawn mowers, etc). Then there are the things that increase our awareness of nature both outdoors as in parks but also in urban settings. Be aware of and inform yourself about edible plants and city foraging (Unseen City: The Majesty of Pigeons, the Discreet Charm of Snails & Other Wonders of the Urban Wilderness). I learned that in Europe and elsewhere there is such a phenomenon as barefoot parks!? So much to learn and enjoy! No specific mention of adapting interest to disability as that is too personal a matter to include in such an already diverse book, but he has a website with even more information.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Summer Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

Martin Summer’s book, Connecting with Life, explores how nature can shape humans. He states (and I believe correctly) that urban living and our modern comforts of home and office are distractions that interfere with humans’ natural need to connect with nature.This nicely organized book may provide that little shove or inspiration you need to turn off your televisions and computers and make a little time to get your hands dirty digging in your garden, or to tune in to the songbirds’ song or to take a hike in the woods.

This book was written for people like me - who love or even just might like nature a bit but also live in a city. Author Martin Summer wrote this book to explore "what a city dwelling nature lover can do to stay sane in an urbanizing world." With that description, I knew I would find something interesting here.
Without denigrating cities, Summer explores various challenges cities offer to enjoying nature, but, more importantly, offers solutions to those problems. My favorite part of this book, the final section, discusses how to enjoy nature wherever we are, including the densest urban neighborhoods. Best of all, it doesn't take money or excessive time, but perhaps something much more valuable - our attention.