Recipe for Thoughtfulness: The Wild Horse Effect: Awe, Well-Being, and the Transformative Power of Nature by Chad Hanson

 Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from Chronicle Books via Edelweissplus for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it. All opinions are my own.

Combining stunning imagery with insights from the new science of awe and contemplative practices, The Wild Horse Effect reminds us that stepping away from our modern lives and reconnecting with the natural world is essential to our sense of peace, purpose, and well-being.

Synopsis:

This unique nature book invites you into a world seldom experienced by humans through breathtaking imagery of wild horses on the open plains. In addition, author Chad Hanson delves into current research and lays out the myriad mind-body benefits of spending time in natural spaces. "Try this" sidebars throughout offer simple ways to get outside, practice mindfulness, and discover more wonder in your every day, no matter where you live.

Handsomely designed to evoke the allure of the West and brimming with images that range from austere to heartwarming to jubilant, this transporting book will appeal to animal and nature lovers, photography enthusiasts, and anyone interested in improving their well-being through time spent outdoors.

STEP INTO NATURE: Through beautiful photography of sprawling landscapes, dusky skies, wild mustangs, and galloping stallions, this book invites readers to get lost in its pages and travel to wild, faraway places without ever leaving home. This celebration of wild horses is also a stirring call to action to protect these majestic animals and beautiful landscapes.

WELL-BEING AND STRESS MANAGEMENT: Forest bathing meets wildlife photography in this one-of-a-kind book. Natural landscapes and wildlife inspire a sense of reverence, and experiencing a sense of reverence is beneficial for our mental and physical health. This book paves a path to greater well-being through nature by sharing scientific research, insightful reflections, and accessible mindfulness practices.

HANDSOME GIFT: This gorgeous hardcover volume filled with breathtaking nature photography is a great Father's Day gift and the perfect present for family and friends with a range of interests, from the mindfulness practitioner to the equestrian, the flannel-wearing outdoorsman to the Yellowstone fan, the nature lover to the cowboy enthusiast.

Review:

Love horses? Know someone who does? Then this is the perfect book for them/gift giving! The pictures are just as stunning as the cover picture, as you can see, and anyone who loves horses, or the wild west will get lost in the pictures, before even looking at the applicable quotes!

Some of the pictures are just SO SO stunning- they look like they have been painted, not taken with a camera (see second picture) and I felt like the book took me back to my childhood, when traveling through the west on vacation meant sometimes actually SEEING these wild horses running the plateaus and mesas. There is something that catches our souls when we think of these horses having lives hundreds of years, free to roam, watching the history of our country pass them by, while they remain unencumbered from it (mostly). Do yourself a favor and check out the print edition when this book comes out- you'll want it for your own mindfulness too!

About the Author:

Chad Hanson serves as a member of the faculty in Sociology and Religion at Casper College. In addition, he is a co-founder of the Wyoming Mustang Institute, which works through research and advocacy to ensure healthy and stable wild horse populations on public land. For more information, visit chadhanson.org.