The Well-Gardened Mind

The Restorative Power of Nature

By: Sue Stuart-Smith

Narrated by: Sue Stuart-Smith

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.

Critic reviews

"A garden is a physical, natural, social, spiritual, and therapeutic space. The author lays this out in her book about the healing, consoling, and life-affirming effects of gardening. A trained therapist, she narrates her work with a soothing, comforting but far-from-sleep-inducing voice. Her cadence is even and clear but not monotonous. She argues that a garden helps us cope with a fast-paced life by slowing us down, and her narration has the same effect. While the book is not a how-to, the author offers numerous examples of the therapeutic power of gardening. She discusses at length how valuable working with your hands can be. By tending your plants, you are gardening your inner space and cultivating a better mental state."

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.

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.

Dig Deep

This book took me into stories of trauma that gave survivors a chance of finding hope. I learned that gardening and flowers can revive a sad life.
Lots of interesting references that provide paths to more learning.

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.