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The 3-Day Effect
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The 3-Day Effect is a look at the science behind why being in the wild can make us happier, healthier and more creative. Whether it’s rafting down Utah’s Green River, backpacking in Arizona’s wilderness or walking through Rock Creek Park in Washington, D.C., scientists are finding that the more exposure humans have to nature, the more they will benefit from reduced
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Audible Audio, Audible Originals, 3 pages
Published
September 27th 2018
by Audio Studios
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The idea is nice, BUT there are dangerous implications that people could take from this book (like ditching their medicine in favor of spending 3 days outside) and the experiment was seriously flawed and biased.
There was no control group in the city for 3 days. They do not take into account the social bonding factor or the fact that the absence of things like blue light from screens or city noise can contribute to improved sleep, which is proven to greatly improve mental health and positivity, ...more
There was no control group in the city for 3 days. They do not take into account the social bonding factor or the fact that the absence of things like blue light from screens or city noise can contribute to improved sleep, which is proven to greatly improve mental health and positivity, ...more

It isn’t often I will give fewer than three stars to a book Imfinish, but that is the case with this audio book on the benefits nature will give a person by spending three consecutive days outdoors. Concept is nice but this experiment isn’t good in my mind...needs more variables, plus what happens when the subjects go back inside? The narrator is the author, which 99% of the time I consider that a good thing, but here, it ended up making me question the validity of the entire experiment. Usually
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I've long been fascinated by the concept that spending time in nature is good for our mental health. This audiobook explores "the science behind why being in the wild for a minimum of three days can make us happier, healthier and more creative." The truth is, my enjoyment was held back by the documentary style of the audiobook versus a narrative approach, but I'm still glad I listen to it.

(Audible)
First of all, if one is doing a scientific experiment, you don't start from a position of, "I intuitively know this to be true, so let's do some anecdotal scientific measuring to confirm my hypothesis."
Secondly, there was no control group.
Thirdly, was it being outdoors that lowered heart rate and helped the participants feel more grounded, or was it the sense of connection, of belonging in a group?
Fourthly . . . . well you get the picture.
The audio book is read/recorded by the author ...more
First of all, if one is doing a scientific experiment, you don't start from a position of, "I intuitively know this to be true, so let's do some anecdotal scientific measuring to confirm my hypothesis."
Secondly, there was no control group.
Thirdly, was it being outdoors that lowered heart rate and helped the participants feel more grounded, or was it the sense of connection, of belonging in a group?
Fourthly . . . . well you get the picture.
The audio book is read/recorded by the author ...more

This piece presents itself as a scientific study. This may not be what the author originally had in mind, but "The 3-Day Effect" is essentially testing the impact of short to intermediate jaunts into nature upon one's health.
An interesting idea with no scientific validity based upon the author's actions and methods. The author wanted to determine whether reconnecting with nature has mental and physical health benefits (sidenote: this has already been determined in more formal and robust ...more
An interesting idea with no scientific validity based upon the author's actions and methods. The author wanted to determine whether reconnecting with nature has mental and physical health benefits (sidenote: this has already been determined in more formal and robust ...more

Quick and easy listen.
I think the concept of spending 3 days in nature to reset your brain to a healthier state really resonates with me. In part because this is what I long for but also in part because of having experienced what being outside in nature normally has on me.
I am keen to experiment with this a bit more and I know a few who will want to do the same :-)
I think the concept of spending 3 days in nature to reset your brain to a healthier state really resonates with me. In part because this is what I long for but also in part because of having experienced what being outside in nature normally has on me.
I am keen to experiment with this a bit more and I know a few who will want to do the same :-)

This book confirms what I knew already about my river trips: they had a way of wiping away daily stress and letting you get back to things with energy and a new perspective. But I also think that unlike hiking, river trips have a special way of making you pay attention to the present moment; you simply cannot carry thoughts of work life into a rapid.

Very interesting premise. It is certainly a theory that I would love to be true from a scientific standpoint, even if the research hasn’t been fully evaluated at this point. Anecdotally, I would say that the findings and view of the book certainly align with my experience on the benefits of spending time in nature, and the positive impacts on my psyche.

I'm glad this was a free book and that I didn't purchase it. While I love Utah and Rafting and have Rafted the Green River countless times, and truly believe that being in Nature heals you - seriously firm believer. The stories shared made me want to jump off a cliff...

Getting the ability to download these freebies from audible every month has really enabled me to listen to things that I wouldn't normally pick up. Some are hits and some are misses and that is fine. Since I am back in school for psychology again, I was drawn to this one in the month of May.
the 3-Day Effect is about how spending three days in nature can help rest your brain. It causes you to be more in tune with yourself and more appreciative and is shown to decrease stress. This particular ...more
the 3-Day Effect is about how spending three days in nature can help rest your brain. It causes you to be more in tune with yourself and more appreciative and is shown to decrease stress. This particular ...more

So, this was an audible freebie (kind of - it was one of the optional free originals that now come with an audible monthly membership) for May 2019. I picked it from the options because the topic was interesting, and only realized after that it was the same author who wrote The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative, which I read last year. With that in mind, I didn't like The 3-Day Effect.
For starters, it was more in podcast-y style narrative, which isn't my ...more
For starters, it was more in podcast-y style narrative, which isn't my ...more

This was a great little book! By little, I mean can be read in a day or listened to in 3 hours. However, the message is big.
I don't think the science behind this is new, but it did solidify something I had already come to know for myself. Getting out in nature renews your spirit, mind, and body.
The interesting bit about this book was the real-time experiences that Florence documented. She joined a group of veterans on a 3-day wilderness trip that was so clearly renewing for them, that I could ...more
I don't think the science behind this is new, but it did solidify something I had already come to know for myself. Getting out in nature renews your spirit, mind, and body.
The interesting bit about this book was the real-time experiences that Florence documented. She joined a group of veterans on a 3-day wilderness trip that was so clearly renewing for them, that I could ...more

This is a mini memoir about trips made outdoors lasting 3 days or longer. People taking these trips to embrace nature are generally better off at the end. They are apparently less stressed out, more resilient against stress, and more creative (an author who’s avowed city person overcame his writers block after reluctantly going on such a trip). This is not a scientific piece. But it introduced to me the concept of “3-day effect”. I’m looking foreword to finding out more about it.

I didn’t really need a book to tell me how helpful nature is. But it was free so I figured I’d listen. I enjoyed it. It was very encouraging and I can see it being very helpful to many people. I’ve always loved the outdoors. It is definitely a great antidepressant. Sometimes just a simple walk can help my mental state more than I can describe with a few words. Also, I totally think people with PTSD could benefit from this. I’m glad they are doing research and tests to come up with scientific
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An engagingly told audio “book” (really more a series of interviews and audio clips) that illustrates the power of nature, particularly within a period of three days, to de-stress and boost creativity. It made the same point over and over so even though it’s a short book, I still felt it was longer than it needed to be. But interesting nevertheless.

From experience, I know getting outdoors and into nature is both physically, emotionally, and psychologically rewarding, but it’s refreshing to see science support this. I thought the book was short and sweet, telling nice stories to accompany the scientific exploration. Definitely has me itching even more to get out my door and into the local mountains on a more frequent basis.

I enjoyed this. It was like a refreshing glass of water.
I love nature and I know how therapeutic it can be. So here’s to the high lonesome, long may it and all the other realms of awe and wonder provide refuge and healing to the broken.
I love nature and I know how therapeutic it can be. So here’s to the high lonesome, long may it and all the other realms of awe and wonder provide refuge and healing to the broken.

I thought Florence Williams did a great job taking a huge discussion and making making it easy to digest. She gives you just enough context and detail that you can follow and understand what's happening, but you aren't completely overwhelmed. The 3-Day Effect left me wanting to buy a ticket and pitch a tent for a few days alone to reconnect and recenter.

Quite unimpressive! 1/4 science and cool findings and 3/4 utter waste of time! The way they structured the audio book is to make in awe inspiring which was a complete failure. If I wanted a motivational book this audiobook failed to deliver. If I wanted an in-depth view on the effect of nature on the brain this audiobook again failed to deliver.
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