American Idle

10 Jun 2009

by Anne Keisman

in Health Issues, Screen Time, Resources

At Green Hour, we focus on the fun, nostalgic, energizing aspects of outdoor play. We know kids and adults benefit physically, mentally, emotionally -- even spiritually -- from time spent in nature. Every day it becomes clearer that Green Hour is part of a larger movement to get Americans active and moving again.

Which is why we are so honored to be included in award-winning author Mary Collins' new book, American Idle. Collins suffered a devastating bicycle accident, which launched her into an exploration into America's sedentary culture.

She notes that for 99 percent of human history, we've lived as a species on the move, but recently, with the explosion of the Internet, desk jobs, and other social changes, we've become dangerously close to immobile.

Collins provided us an excerpt of Chapter 14, "Reclaiming Natural Grace in Natural Places -- Have You Had a Green Hour Today?" (PDF/ 74K), which includes an interview with Kevin Coyle, National Wildlife Federation's Vice-President, Education and Training. His leadership led to the creation of Green Hour, and in Collins' book, he discusses the challenges of getting the wired generation to reconnect with nature.

In her book, Collins:

• Visits the Olympic Center, factory floors, archeological sites, city planners, health experts, and even the National Zoo
• Explores the hazards of a society centered on desk jobs.
• Looks into why organized sports have made kids less fit and advocates for more free play.
• Uncovers new research about how physical activity impacts the adult brain.
• Talks with experts about the growing imbalance between our overactive minds and our underused bodies.
• Offers advice on how to integrate movement into the natural flow of our daily lives again.

Collins is a professor of creative writing at Central Connecticut State University and is the award-winning author of The Essential Daughter: Changing Expectations for Girls at Home (Praeger), National Public Radio (Seven Locks Press), and Airborne: A Photobiography of Wilbur and Orville Wright (National Geographic Books).

Good news: Collins supports Green Hour's efforts and has offered Green Hour fans a 35% discount on American Idle. Go to American Idle's page on Capital Books and click "add to cart." In the box that says "to use a special offer," use the code IDL909. Then click on "update cart" to get your discount..To get your discount, you must order the book prior to Sept. 30, 2009

American Idle comes out in September, 2009.