Parent or child, young or old, EVERYONE can benefit from this book (for parents, it should be a must read, though). We are a culture that has gone astray from nature, and are hurting as a result. The statistics are astonishing at first, but they are really not that hard to translate into our current state of emotional, physcological, and physical health. Effective at shining light on today's ills (ADD, Autism, Depression, Obesity, etc...), this book also expertly weaves in the solutions, showcasing encouraging examples of people all over the country achieving spectacular results simply by getting connected with nature. No gimmick, nothing to buy, no pills to take, just simply spending more time outdoors does wonders. We all need nature - much more! So let's get it before it's all gone, and maybe even help preserve some of it, if for nothing else then to make ourselves feel better!

I teach high school, and I can tell you we have raised what we call a microwave generation: they want to push a button and it happens. They call their cell phone their "baby." When I attempted to tell them about a recent trip to Africa where I did volunteer work for animal anti-poaching in the wild, they were aghast I had no access to cell phones, myspace, or a computer. Few were interested in the slide show of my trip, prefering instead to gossip about teen angst and the latest rumours.
However, we are responsible for this. If I tell them the information "is in chapter 13" they demand to know what page and will not open the book without knowing the exact page. We have a library full of books few students peruse; computers they line up to google. Plaegerism is so difficult to explain( "why is cut and paste bad?"). But when I suggested my class just sit outside one day to hold class, I was met bt gasps and shaking heads from academia. "What if we just sat on the bleachers?" I asked, "in the sun?" I might as well suggest we all go to Egypt.
When I taught career college, I took my criminal justice students to watch the mounted patrol officers train the horses. One of my students, a 24 year old girl, had never seen a horse in real life. She was mesmerized.
We have lost the "let's pretend" games and driven the creativity out of our young people.

moving urgent plea to give today's kids the healing and stimulating outdoorness we all grew up with--bought extra copies to give to others--a really important book for anyone who cares for a child or even someone like me who only worries about them in general--great thought and action provoking book which is also easy to read and full of action to help.

Richard Louv makes many great points in his book, Last Child in the Woods. I love that he discusses the fact that nature can help people to be less socially awkward and more confident. All in all, nature can just make people into healthier beings. It is also really neat that he talks about how important it is to stay in touch with nature because it brings us closer to God. If people keep ripping out the nature that God puts there, it is like we are saying that what we create is better than what God can create. In essence, we are making ourselves out to be above God by ripping out His creation and putting our own in its place. There have been times in my life where I have had the opportunity to just sit back and enjoy nature for what it is. This sounds cheesy, but I could simply listen to the birds chirp and wind rustle through the leaves of the trees. This helped me to relax, unwind, and forget about all of the worries that I have. If people work and work all the time, then they will just snap under the pressure. It is so important to have those times in your life to reflect upon the issues that matter the most to you. I strongly feel that nature is the best outlet for this and can heal so many things. People should realize that the connection with nature needs to start with childhood because that is the time when you develop the most. Parents are so afraid to let their children out into the woods for fear of things such as strangers, dangerous vehicles, and nature in general. In all reality, it is very improbable that these factors will harm children. The only reason we think that this stuff is so prevalent is because these are the things that the news teams cover. But really, the pros outweigh the cons when letting children explore and enjoy nature.

Whether you're an avid outdoor parent or family, this is an important read. If active in nature and its various outlets, it will validate your commitment with your family. If not, it will serve as a primer and, certainly, important motivation to incorporate the natural world in your child's upbringing. Nature, albeit remarkably complex, can also be taken in with simplistic beauty. I would recommend, first, a read of Rachael Carson's "A Sense of Wonder." Then Louv's narrative will provide the road map. His book is destined to be tagged with "classic" if it hasn't already. I cannot imagine a more important book for a family library.

This may very well be one of the most important books I have read this year ... or the past few years.

I purchased "Last Child in the Woods" right after I heard Richard Louv interviewed on a local radio program. I was so moved by his message and impressed with the breadth of his knowledge and depth of experience. And it all translates well in the book.

"Last Child..." feels more like a conversation than a text(book). It's just that comfortable and open. Yet it very strikingly paints a picture of what is currently happening to children and our world as well as what may yet happen if nothing is done to reverse "nature deficit disorder". But, more importantly, there are also bright examples of hope and suggestions as to what we can do, as individuals and in larger groups, to cultivate appreciation of -- and cooperation with -- the natural world.

Anyone who wants to awaken a love of nature in their kids, or simply deepen their own nature walk, should give this inspiring book a chance.

This may very well be one of the most important books I have read this year ... or the past few years.

I purchased "Last Child in the Woods" right after I heard Richard Louv interviewed on a local radio program. I was so moved by his message and impressed with the breadth of his knowledge and depth of experience. And it all translates well in the book.

"Last Child..." feels more like a conversation a text. It's just that comfortable and open. Yet it very strikingly paints a picture of what is currently happening to children and our world as well as what may yet happen if nothing is done to reverse "nature deficit disorder". But, more importantly, there are also bright examples of hope and suggestions as to what we can do, as individuals and in larger groups, to cultivate appreciation of -- and cooperation with -- the natural world.

Anyone who wants to awaken a love of nature in their kids, or simply deepen their own nature walk, should give this inspiring book a chance.

I'm young enough that I still get called "kid" by my friends' parents, and when I saw the cover of this book in the store, with the kid holding a frog, I instantly felt like this book was about someone just like me. When I started reading, I felt so even more.

I've lived in forests and next to creeks all my life, but today, I look around at my friends and I see that most of my generation wasn't as lucky as me. They're all scared of bugs, (even moths!) they adamantly refuse to swim in the lake, (won't even touch salt water) they pick their way slowly and clumsily through the bushes trying not to touch anything... one friend brings an entire fold-out kitchen with her whenever we go camping. (At least she actually goes.) They call me "extreme", when all I did to become this way was catch some frogs, build some stick forts and flip over a few rocks to see what lived underneath.

It took the contrast of moving to the city to show me that there was a problem. I'm not a parental person, but looking around at my friends and peers and seeing them nature-handicapped.. it sucks. I don't want more people to have this problem. And though I haven't finished the book, every sentence has really resonated with me. This is extremely valuable information.
Kids have to know what frogs smell like, where to find snails and snakes, how to hop down a wet trail without getting muddy, or climb up a steep slope in the forest; they have to feed squirrels in the park and learn to fall down and not notice they've scraped their elbow. They should be learning to build things out of branches and leaves and rocks. They should be watching the animals. They need a secret place.

The memories I have of playing on the wilderness are some of the best I have. If they don't learn how now, they'll be too afraid to try later! And then Wall-E happens.

I'm young enough that I still get called "kid" by my friends' parents, and when I saw the cover of this book in the store, with the kid holding a frog, I instantly felt like this book was about me. When I started reading, I felt so even more.

My parents are outdoorsy (even though my dad worked at Microsoft and there were always computer games available to me, and I still love technology) and we lived in forests and next to creeks all my life. But today, I look around at my friends and I see that most of my generation wasn't as lucky as me. They're scared of bugs, (even moths!) they adamantly refuse to swim in the lake, (won't even touch salt water) they pick their way slowly and clumsily through the bushes as if every branch causes them pain... one friend brings an entire fold-out kitchen with her whenever we go camping. (At least she actually goes.) They call me "extreme", when all I did to become this way was catch some frogs, build some stick forts and flip over a few rocks to see what lived underneath.

It took the contrast of moving to the city (where I've lived for 4 years now) to show me that there was a problem. I'm not a parental person, but looking around at my friends and peers and seeing them nature-handicapped breaks my heart... I don't want more people to have this problem. And though I haven't finished the book, every sentence has really resonated with me. This is extremely valuable information.
Kids have to know what frogs smell like, where to find snails and snakes, how to hop down a wet trail without getting muddy, or climb up a steep slope in the forest; they have to feed squirrels in the park and learn to fall down and not notice they've scraped their elbow.

If they don't learn how now, they'll be too afraid to try later! And afraid of the world, they'll stay in their play-pens until the day they die.

I whole-heartedly recommend this important book. Richard Louv's book sparked a movement that had been simmering under the surface for some time -- with the rapid growth of technology in recent years, our children are spending less and less time outside.

I work with Green Hour, a campaign of the National Wildlife Federation, that aims to inspire parents to encourage their kids to turn off the computer, IPod and TV and GET OUTSIDE! Check out www.greenhour.org to find the tools you need as a parent to help fight nature deficit disorder.

Childhood obesity, ADHD, and basic developmental problems have been associated to this broken link with the outdoors.

The new edition is great -- there are ideas in the back for getting kids outdoors...

Anne Keisman
Green Hour

Louv claims that children spend less and less time outdoors because of parental fears, electronic toys and a variety of other reasons. He explains what the implications are for children and adults: attention problems, disconnectedness with the world, lower productivity. Louv makes the case for why and how parents, teachers and others should help children connect with nature. I really liked the book overall, although I felt like some of the chapters could have been more concise. The second addition has an appendix with a concise practical list of things parents can do.

From the first chapter, this book has had a tangible impact on my life. I grew up in a rural area but now live in NYC and had sensed, but did not fully realize how important being in nature is for my physical, spiritual and mental health. This book has re-opened my senses to the truth that I am a part of nature and even though I live in a city, I have the obligation to care for the nature around me. I also work with children and am newly inspired to incorporate nature into all aspects of education.

The only critique I have is that at times it feels like Louv is repetitive, and the directives about what can be done are sometimes broad, but the overall effect has been to inspire me to get out and DO something about the problem.

My wife and I played in the woods; we taught our kids to play in the woods; one is an environmental educator; one is an environmental biologist.

Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods
This book makes a convincing case that many of our children are suffering from a deficit of nature in their lives. He connects this nature deficit to a variety of modern plagues, including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, stress, depression, anxiety disorders, and childhood obesity. The evidence tends to be more anecdotal than systematic or experimental, but the cumulation of such evidence becomes persuasive.

He attributes this deficit to many causes, including a loss of public spaces, the testing climate in public schools reducing recesses, the growth of organized youth activities at the expense of just messing around in vacant lots, parents' fears for safety, fears of litigation making cities reduce parks and playgrounds, electronic games and television, and various other ills. The causal links here are even more speculative but again, the story coheres well from an accumulation of circumstantial evidence.

Louv's solutions seem to address symptoms, not underlying causes. Many are wishful thinking - - with so many social and economic pressures taking our kids away from nature, we need a significant restructuring to get them back. I'm not sure how to do this, but this important book certainly does a good job raising the issues.

Cannot recommend this book enough whether you live in a city, suburb or rural area.

Nature is all around you as the book says, and sadly to many children have no idea what trees are in their neighborhood, or what that flower called a dandelion is growing thru the crack in the sidewalk.

If nothing else I hope the book will make parents/adults and children simply stop and look around and see what is growing or living around them. Would make a GREAT gift for any parent. So turn off the computer, tv and cell phone and get outside.

True, today's computer use by kids has in too many cases divorced them from the real benefits of being outdoors and understanding the need to interact with Nature in all its various forms.

However, the author errs when he puts forth the premise that todays activists are interfering with the kids' rights to interact with nature - NOT SO!!! Hunting and fishing will ALWAYS be with us -- and RESPONSIBLE hunting and fishing should be the core of every sportspersons' agenda. Not everyone wants to hunt and fish -- so those who just enjoy hiking and camping should be aware of and follow the rules and responsibilities of careful stewardship of the earth (bring your trash OUT of the wilderness with you-- be extra careful with camp fires, etc etc)

Not one word of his book mentions Humane Education, or the GREAT work that Humane Educators, especially the Institute for Humane Education -- are doing to re-acquaint children with the ecology (animal vegetable and mineral) that surrounds them and their responsibility toward this ecology that is EVERY individual's birthright. I would HOPE that the next revision of this book WILL discuss the great contributions of these Humane educators and organizations.

Neither does the author mention the efforts on the part of major religious organizations to make their members aware of the need to respect, preserve and maintain God's gifts of flora and fauna and verything that makes up this big beautiful earth.

Growing up in the Big City -- as a child, I visited the MANY FREE places open to kids of all ages in New York City -- namely the zoos and botanical gardens that are still there today. These organizations appeal to children and have programs specifically aimed at all children, and ARE visited on a daily basis by children who attend the local schools.

All is NOT lost -- computer can never supplant the "real Thing" -- but many children still need to acquaint themselves with Mother Earth and their responsible relationship to her. With some improvements, this book can help re-acquaint all of us to the beauty of nature and the need to preserve it (without bashing any of the groups out there who have their own specific philosophies about other living beings) and can act as a beneficial guide to parents and children alike.

Last Child in the Woods provides an essential argument for parents, educators, and adults who have been influenced by nature deficit disorder. This book outlines the harm our society faces due to a lack of exposure and appreciation for our outside world. As we continue to place utmost importance on technology our children are being deprived of a childhood spent outdoors, even in their own backyard. Our society has made parents fearful of allowing children to play in their own backyards and parks without complete supervision, which is often not possible due to busy schedules. This fear is depriving our countries' children the opportunity to discover and explore the world around them, use imagination turning sticks into swords and flowers into crowns, and build a strong self-esteem by problem-solving. The final and most important argument this book makes is that if our children do appreciate the world they live in, they will have no reason to fight to save it in the next 50 years. The issues are world faces will become the responsibiltiy of today's children and their children and if they don't have a reason to fight for it, who will?