The Well-Gardened Mind

The Restorative Power of Nature

By: Sue Stuart-Smith

Narrated by: Sue Stuart-Smith

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

A distinguished psychiatrist and avid gardener presents “a truly uplifting book on the power of gardening - and how it can change people’s lives” (Stylist, UK).

The garden is often seen as a refuge, a place to forget worldly cares, removed from the “real” life that lies outside. When we get our hands in the Earth we connect with the cycle of life in nature through which destruction and decay are followed by regrowth and renewal. Gardening is one of the quintessential nurturing activities and yet we understand so little about it. The Well-Gardened Mind provides a new perspective on the power of gardening to change people’s lives. Here, Sue Stuart-Smith investigates the many ways in which mind and garden can interact and explores how the process of tending a plot can be a way of sustaining an innermost self.

Stuart-Smith’s own love of gardening developed as she studied to become a psychoanalytic psychotherapist. From her grandfather’s return from World War I to Freud’s obsession with flowers to case histories with her own patients to progressive gardening programs in such places as Rikers Island prison in New York City, Stuart-Smith weaves thoughtful yet powerful examples to argue that gardening is much more important to our cognition than we think. Recent research is showing how green nature has direct antidepressant effects on humans. “The most original gardening book ever [that] combines observation, horticulture, literature and history” (Sunday Times, UK), The Well-Gardened Mind is a book for gardeners and non-gardeners alike, and the perfect solace for people seeking healthier mental lives.

©2020 Sue Stuart-Smith. Originally published in Great Britain in 2020 by William Collins. Excerpt from “The Garden” in Chapter 9 is reproduced with permission of Curtis Brown Group Ltd, London, on behalf of The Beneficiaries of the Estate of Vita Sackville-West. © Vita Sackville-West 1946. Excerpt from “Hold out your arms” in Chapter 10 is reproduced with permission. Helen Dunmore, Counting Backwards: Poems 1975–2017 (Bloodaxe Books, 2019). © Helen Dunmore 2017. (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.

truly loved it!

It's a beautiful blend of stories! Warm, intelligent and enlightening about the effects of the garden and nature on the healing of the body and mind. I loved it. I highly recommend the audio book.

Loved it!

Speed is a little slow, listen at 1.20 speed. The science, psychology and purpose of this book is amazing. It helped me find myself in my garden.

Amazing!

Life affirming. Beautiful depth and breadth. The author’s voice accentuates the lyricism of her gorgeous prose.

Wonderful Book for Gardeners

This delightful, encouraging discussion and memoir of gardening is a resource for people who enjoy any kind of gardening (including having houseplants) and want to understand the therapeutic aspects of gardening in more depth. The author, a retired psychiatrist, discusses various treatment programs for mental and physical illnesses which involve gardening and spending time in gardens. For example, the author's grandfather, traumatized by his time as a WWI POW, was rehabilitated by gardening.

The author writes about the men in WWI who were stuck for long periods of time at the front lines. Some of them grew flowers or vegetables when they had the chance. It was something to help them keep a hold on their sanity.

It turns out that both Freud and Jung enjoyed being outdoors and working in a garden. Freud was very fond of orchids.

I was very interested in the discussion of prehistoric gardening. Researchers believe that some very ancient gardening was intended to produce especially desirable foods, such as figs. They also believe that ancient people grew gourds simply to make them into musical instruments. In other words, our remote ancestors enjoyed growing things. It wasn't all the drudgery of survival.

If you feel restored and energized by gardening, you will find much that explains the value of it in this book.

You will flourish from it.

I am amazed by the volumous research Sue Stuart-Smith conducted inorder to write this book. Her narration is beautifully executed and soothing to hear. I think this is an important book for everyone to read. It is so important for us to be aware of the importance that gardening brings to our lives. It is undeniable that we are all better and healthier when we incorporate the principles of growing our own food, being intouch with nature, and nurturing our mind, body in soul through the connection of gardening.

Tremendous insight into the power of gardening

The book is nothing like I anticipated - it is much better. I anticipated a dry book on gardening and the mind. However, the stories combined with historical antidotes, made the book alive with insight that I embraced as someone who has gardened off and on for forty years but in 2020, embraced it like never before.

The stories, success, and insight along with the excellent narration, made the book more than anticipated. I highly recommend this book.

The Well-Gardened Mind

This book was recommended by a Climate Reality Leader colleague, and it was splendid.
I strongly recommend to everyone who wants to heal yourself and why not other people's minds.

Nourishment for self care and cognitive growth

Gardening has always been a part of my life but I never realized the effect it has had on it. This book, thoughtfully written, well researched and supported and beautifully narrated is one that I cannot stop recommending. I know too many people affected by trauma, traumas that this book gave me an even deeper and more holistic view of. Being able to understand, on any level the pain and subsequent effects and behaviors they exhibit has given me a newfound respect for their ability to function in any level. This book also helps highlight potential ways that they might be able to grasp beautiful realities their injuries and traumas blind and handicap them towards.
I cannot praise this book enough. I hope the author sees this and knows how powerful a work she has brought onto this world.

Great View if Gardening From a Mental Perspective

Narrator was very good. The beginning and end were great. Parts if the middle didn't resonate with me as much. Very eye opening to hear the role of nature, growth and death on mental health.

A Worthy Read for a Lifetime of Reading

Everyone who exists should read this book, as we all are the beneficiaries, thus, the stewards of this world, Nature & the biodiversity within it. Such a fantastic read, and deeply peaceful.