U of I Selects ‘The Nature Fix’ for 2023-24 Common Read
April 10, 2023
MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho has chosen “The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier and More Creative” by Florence Williams, a contributing editor at Outside magazine, as its Common Read for 2023-24.
“The Common Read committee, composed of students, faculty and community members, felt this selection was a perfect choice to accentuate the scholastic strengths of the institution, surrounding beauty of the Palouse, and a need for balance and health in the post-pandemic world,” said U of I Director of General Education Dean Panttaja.
From forest trails in Korea to groves of eucalyptus in California, Williams investigates the science behind the environment, mood, health and creativity. Delving into new research, she uncovers the natural world’s powers to improve health, strengthen relationships and promote reflection and innovation. As modern lives shift indoors, these ideas — and the answers they yield — are more urgent than ever, Williams said.
Now in its 16th year, the Common Read is designed to engage the university and Moscow community in a unified intellectual activity, Panttaja said. First-year students will be assigned to read the book as part of their studies courses and first-year writing composition sequence, all part of the General Education program.
The New York Times reviewed the book as “breezy enough to draw in the lay reader” while being “thorough enough to satisfy the expert.” Williams, according to a Wall Street Journal review, identifies “a good case for connecting with nature to extend both the quantity and quality of life.
Other recent Common Reads have included: Tara Westover’s “Educated: A Memoir,” in 2018; Tommy Orange’s “There, There,” in 2019; Cristina Henriquez’s “The Book of Unknown Americans,” in 2020; Angela Duckworth’s ”Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance,” in 2021; and Ijeoma Oluo’s “So You Want to Talk About Race,” in 2022.
Copies of “The Nature Fix” will be available later this summer through the VandalStore and BookPeople of Moscow.
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Media Contact
Kyle Pfannenstiel
Media Relations Manager
208-329-8947
kylecp@uidaho.edu
About the University of Idaho
The University of Idaho, home of the Vandals, is Idaho’s land-grant, national research university. From its residential campus in Moscow, U of I serves the state of Idaho through educational centers in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Idaho Falls, nine research and Extension centers, plus Extension offices in 42 counties. Home to nearly 11,000 students statewide, U of I is a leader in student-centered learning and excels at interdisciplinary research, service to businesses and communities, and in advancing diversity, citizenship and global outreach. U of I competes in the Big Sky and Western Athletic conferences. Learn more at uidaho.edu.