The Nature Instinct

Gooley has almost single-handedly triedto reconnect people (see The Natural Navigator and The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs) to nature the way our ancestors were. They learned to read and understand nature to help them navigate, remember, and survive. His previous books often focused on the tips and knowledge, but also encouraged deeper awareness. This new book focuses on the latter, going into much detail. It is one thing to stop and smell the roses; wholly another to engage you mind and retrain your brain to always be aware.He discusses "slow" and "fast" thinking — the latter being what our brain does automatically, without us directing it. It takes in cues from the senses, sifts through its stores of knowledge, and instantly tells us something: The weather is about to change, what direction to go, or there is danger near. Sometimes this is attributed, as Gooley explains, to feelings or a "six sense," but really isn't. He gives examples, but do the abilities of the brain really explain every instance?With some of his comments you can see he often refers to the evolution model of life. The problem is that evolution can't account for one complex system, let alone the hundreds in the human body. If we had waited for traits to have come into existence due to a response to predators and dangers, we would have died out eons ago. Evolution's power is limited and certainly can't explain what it claims to (see Darwin Devolves by Behe). I mention this because adhering to this failed model hamstrings science. For example, to adhere to evolution means one must ignore science that shows mind and brain are separate, that one can affect or change the other, and show that not all of what Gooley describes is simply "fast thinking" (see Brain Wars and The Spiritual Brain by Beauregard). Evolution also fails to explain information in DNA (Signature in the Cell, Meyer), and so deeper questions cannot be pursued because evolution tells you not to. Another example: there is part of the brain that controls navigation (see Wayfinding by O'Conner), but chance cannot explain it.With Gooley's books and others (again Wayfinding by O'Conner, and The Memory Code by Lynne Kelly) there is a growing body of work re-discovering the abilities of our mind and brain that our ancestors had mastered. In all of our advancement, we have forgotten what they new so well. Throw off the models that put science in a box, so we can continue to explore this fascinating world Gooley continues to unveil. See also the classic by Gatty, Nature is Your Guide.

Good insights. It’s funny how you can read some books and almost immediately find yourself using it in your daily life and travels. I went outside and started looking at trees, to see if Gooley was right about the way the branches grow in relation to the sun and the wind. (I saw what he suggested, but quickly realized in urban areas this tip is of limited usefulness; urban tree experts frequently have a mandate to promote symmetry over a tree’s natural growth. Oh well.) Then I started to check out other tips from the book; to see the movement of the constellation Orion, to observe the behavior of rabbits when they freeze upon seeing you, to look for small openings in shrubs that may signal a pathway or hiding place, and to look at the position birds take before they take flight. I didn’t realize the different responses animals have, depending on their species.In short, Gooley points out all sorts of things that many hunters and nature lovers know intuitively or have learned over time without realizing they learned their skills in steps. And when Gooley makes a determination of a situation, he’s looking at everything (the sky, the time of day, the type of vegetation, the sounds, the direction the wind is blowing, the moisture and dryness, whether animals are communicating and what they are likely saying)…and so much more. This is not a manual, it’s a number of stories that demonstrate many signals and indicators Gooley has observed. It’s interesting reading but perhaps is best taken in small doses, as you may want to put some of his observations to the test yourself.

I can't find the things it mentions on the cover of the book

Opens your eyes about nature … … aardvark and the world will be better for you and yours in the future

I first read The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs and was blown away by the things I learned that I could pick up on after reading it and this book continued to provide new insights into seeing and observing the world around us. I've been able to learn and share new information with others about the natural tendencies with animals and their movements and how they interact with their environment. This book also provides a lot of personal experiences of the author and although it does have some information that is repeated from the other book, there is a clear contrast between much of the new information in here. Thoroughly enjoyed the book as it provided great info that can be useful for a walk around the neighborhood if you're stuck at home or if it's a nice day. Highly recommend to anyone!

I have not yet completed the book but already I have found it helpful--as I found his other books to be. I spend considerable time outdoors both on my acre of property and in the local forests here in western Oregon, USA. I have been a lifelong student of natural history, and I love integrating what I learn into my strong interest in hunting our local Black-tailed deer, where knowledge of weather, birds, and native plants brings me closer to obtaining the skills my ancestors would have used to hunt. Mr. Gooley's book is leading me into what I can only describe as an entirely new level of observing wildlife. Just as his book on navigation prompted me to observe the "check effect" on trees, I will be much more sensitive to the patterns and behaviors I observe in the birds and squirrels in our yard, and not just in identifying them. I take my thirteen-month-old granddaughter outside frequently on an excursion to identify the plants and birds. I look forward to being able to teach her and my older grandchildren a deeper knowledge that I am learning from Tristan Gooley's most helpful book.

There is good information in this book but......you have to read an entire chapter of memoirs to get to the meat of what you want to know. That's cool and all.....it's interesting if you like that kind of thing but, I think the title should include "The Memoirs of (Author)" so you know more of what you are actually getting.

If you enjoy nature and strive to increase your awareness of the beautiful world around you read this!

Bit long winded and didn't understand.

if you are looking for a way to enhance your enjoyment and experiences outdoors i highly recommend this book.

All good