Birthright
People and Nature in the Modern World
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
Human health and well-being are inextricably linked to nature; our connection to the natural world is part of our biological inheritance. In this engaging book, a pioneer in the field of biophilia—the study of human beings' inherent affinity for nature—sets forth the first full account of nature's powerful influence on the quality of our lives.Stephen Kellert asserts that our capacities to think, feel, communicate, create, and find meaning in life all depend upon our relationship to nature. And yet our increasing disconnection and alienation from the natural world reflect how seriously we have undervalued its important role in our lives.
Weaving scientific findings together with personal experiences and perspectives, Kellert explores specific human tendencies—including affection, aversion, intellect, control, aesthetics, exploitation, spirituality, and communication—to discover how they are influenced by our relationship with nature. He observes that a beneficial relationship with the natural worldis an instinctual inclination, but must be earned. He discusses how we can restore the balance in our relationshipby means of changes in childhood development, education, conservation, building design, ethics, and everyday life. Kellert's moving book provides exactly what is needed now: a fresh understanding of how much our essential humanity relies on being a part of the natural world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Kellert (Biophilic Design), emeritus professor at Yale's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, developed, together with E.O. Wilson, the concept of biophilia, which he describes as "a complex process encompassing an array of values and qualities that constitute a broader affiliation." Kellert proposes that the "fundamental ways we attach meaning to and derive benefit from the natural world" are "attraction, reason, aversion, exploitation, affection, dominion, spirituality, and symbolism," and the bulk of this book describes these qualities and how they define, create, and necessitate human/nature relations. This rather dry exposition is leavened by "interludes": illustrative personal stories that offer compelling autobiographical revelations. The text comes to life in the final chapters, where Kellert moves beyond defining terms to discuss childhood, design, and ethics. These chapters are dominated by captivating, revelatory stories: a wren who mysteriously comforted him when, at the age of six, his father died; a serendipitous encounter at adolescence with an elderly farmer who introduced him, through farm and forest rambles, to the intricate web of life; and his unexpected leap at middle age from a middle manager at a smalltown bank to transforming his town through a visionary, ecologically, and socially supportive plan to revitalize the harbor and downtown. Kellert successfully portrays his spiritual unity with the plants, animals, and elements that embrace and refresh him.
