The Power of Place: How Our Surroundings Shape Our Thoughts, Emotions, and Actions

This books makes a big deal out of what today is largely common knowledge, and never connects it to either causes or effects. To me it also seemed strangely disconnected from place AS PLACE. Perhaps this was a good book 20 years ago. Certainly it would have been a fine series of magazine articles. But I found it disappointing as a book today.

In The Power of Place: How Our Surroundings Shape Our Thoughts, Emotions, and Actions, Winifred Gallagher compares the environments of our ancestors with the surroundings that the majority of people encounter today. While Gallagher mostly discusses the effects nature has on individuals, she also briefly touches on interiors and the role that internal and external environments have on our development.Gallagher divides her book into 3 sections: Outside In, Inside Out, and Synchrony. The first section is dedicated to the outdoors, followed by people's cognitive reactions to a variety of environments. The most important aspects of these environments and the primary focus of Gallagher's research is the effect of light. Though light is a very interesting influence and has been shown to both induce and treat various conditions such as depression and seasonal effective disorder, Gallagher's reemphasis of its importance becomes quite repetitive. Also, other than mentioning the effect of light on various historical icons, she only briefly elaborates on the lasting effects of changes in light exposure on circadian rhythms. In the "Inside Out" section of her book, Gallagher focuses on the importance of the environment within the womb during fetal development. In describing fetal development, Gallagher maintains that changes in development occur first with changes in emotional responses. Especially in the case of babies born prematurely, the transition from life within the womb to life in nature before they are developmentally prepared to do so causes various points of emotional distress. From this focus on emotional distress, Gallagher goes on in "Synchrony" to explain the effect this distress has on behavior. In particular, she discusses the correlation between crime and specific weather and urban surroundings. Gallagher additionally mentions our tendency as a society to succumb to certain roles that correspond with our settings. For example, in a school setting, we usually become either teachers or students. Lastly, Gallagher argues that we are most compatible with our environments when we abandon self-awareness and adopt a sense of "flow" to our actions and behaviors.In regards to the organization of The Power of Place, Gallagher's inclusion of quotes and anecdotes from leading psychiatrists, environmental scientists, and even physicists in the field is helpful yet often overshadowed by the repetitiveness of these details without true elaboration. In particular, she tirelessly discusses various phenomena in the context of the Alaskan climate. Though interesting, this single example is not easily relatable for the majority of readers and does not effectively cover all aspects of the facts she presents. The inclusion of additional examples would have given the reader more opportunities to understand the full context of Gallagher's observations in order to develop a deeper understanding of abstract concepts.Gallagher's journalistic style along with her presentation of information from numerous primary sources allows the tone of her book to remain relatively objective. Gallagher frequently mentions conflicts of interest amongst leaders in the field in order to emphasize the fact that such a field is still highly contested and popular theories are frequently revised and exchanged for more current explanations. This objective, inclusive style is effective in gaining the reader's trust in the facts she presents. One of the most interesting stylistic elements Gallagher presents is her emphasis on historical context in her writing. By presenting information in the context of evolutionary change and the history of these phenomena, she piques the reader's interest in the magnitude of these experiences and their application to every individual. She specifically notes that for centuries, people have recognized the significant and unique relationship between Mother Nature and the human body. The reader may notice, however, that despite her exhaustive list of references in the back of the book, there are a handful of names that appear time and again to support her claims. Since Gallagher's primary role is to report on the broad view of the power of place, acknowledging more references would give her book more credibility as a literature review.Gallagher's anecdotes serve as refreshing contrasts to the more scientific jargon of experts' research that she often discusses, yet the stories are sometimes left unconnected and unexplained. She does, however, note the abstract nature of the effects of place due to the varying personal experiences from one person to the next, which may explain the obscurity of some of her examples. Commenting on the complexity of associating environments with neural function, Gallagher suggests that "the senses convey to the brain far more information than we can consciously be aware of; it is the totality of all that undifferentiated input that we perceive in a general way as ambience."Overall, I found the basis for her book intriguing, but I had to reluctantly keep reading at times. As mentioned, many topics are repeatedly addressed but only on the surface level. I craved a deeper understanding of the brain's direct role in translating environmental cues into behaviors, thoughts, and actions. In particular, I would have enjoyed discussion on the effects of interior design on individuals. I do not think she elaborated on "the power of place" but rather on "the power of a few places." The remaining places may be explained in her other works, such as House Thinking, but I believe even just a chapter dedicated to the environments we craft for ourselves would have provided an informative contrast to natural ones. I did enjoy Gallagher's advice "to run away from problems" by changing up our surroundings when we feel anxious or stressed.The ideal reader for this book would be an individual with a general interest in how our environments shape how we act, think, and feel. Though nature enthusiasts and Native Alaskans have an upper-hand in relating to Gallagher's extensive anecdotes, readers from any part of the world can parallel their experiences with everything from blue moods to seasonal changes to phenomena she presents.Gallagher frequently uses imagery to emphasize abstract ideas. Therefore, readers may find it useful to digest the material slowly, taking time to visualize landscapes. By doing so, readers can, to some extent, experience the environments and connect better to the text emotionally.

needed a break during the pandemic and went to get this off my shelf. fun and soothing to revisit, and especially in this place.

We now live in the North Carolina mountains May through June, escaping the horrid heat of Florida's summer heat. Florida's winters are worth returning to. I have given away copies of this book. It explained to me why I have always felt better at higher elevations. Was at a party in N.C. recently and asked a lady how she came to the mountains. Her reply: "I read THE POWER OF PLACE and acted on it."

Winifred Gallagher has been called to explain "us" to our contemplative selves. This is not her best piece of work, but I say that because I disagree with some of her thoughts and not because they are poorly expressed. This volume is a good book for people who want to reconcile with their past, especially if they have moved to a different location.

It may be a great book when it was released because it has many concepts that nowadays are more obvious.

Some ideas are dated, but otherwise a pretty good look at aspects of environmental psychology.

Extremely informative. I thought that the book was written a while back so with the moving, cutting edge science field maybe some of the information may not be up-to-date. However, I was wrong, this book is well written, extremely informative and very technical. Non-science readers may get dazzled with some of the terminology, nonetheless, there's nothing that Google or Wikipedia can't clearly explain. Good Stuff!

Thoughtful book with great incites into the why of building - where.Very useful for my 'Sense of Place' heritage studies at Bangor, Wales.