Richard Louv has written a great book about a problem he describes as "nature deficit" disorder. Essentially he sees the change in our culture in which children spend less time outside and he is greatly alarmed. I was interested in the book due to my interest in environmental ethics, and although I do not have children of my own, I too have often observed how my nieces and nephew and their friends seem to be inside a lot more than my sister and I ever did at their age. Louv does a great job of describing how childhood memories and experiences of the natural world enrich our lives and how children who miss these experiences can be negatively impacted physically, mentally, and spiritually.

My favorite aspect of this book is that Louv doesn't just describe the problem. He makes suggestions and proposes ways to turn this alarming trend around. I think the book will mostly be of interest to parents, but it also has value for anyone who is interested in and concerned about the environment.