I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I expected a little more from the book but it was a lot of stuff I have already read.

When my twins were toddlers I realized I was not doing well mentally at all. I was slightly isolated but mostly I was always overwhelmed. I started having intrusive thoughts and I was just unable to function, Getting out and enjoying life and nature was not happening with special needs twins and my new disability. So I got on Lexapro and it saved my life.
I do find that things are better if I am out with my friends, hanging out at the cemetery and talking about local history.
I think humans do better with community, however I also think we need medication in today's world and I am grateful for both. This book reinforced a few of my beliefs and I learned some stuff. Love that.

The Connection Cure: The prescriptive power of movement, nature, art, service, and belonging by Julia Hotz. Such a fascinating topic! Instead of asking "what's the matter with you" maybe the question should be "what matters to you?" This book does not suggest that we should abandon all traditional medical therapies but more that we should get to the real heart of the matter and combine therapies for the best results. What matters to you? When do you feel healthy? What brings you joy? And oftentimes the answers include nature, socializing, movement, and service. Sometimes a combination of those things. I love this concept, this idea, it's truly thought-provoking and definitely worth exploring more!

The shift towards social prescriptions represents a monumental departure from the conventional reliance on pharmaceutical solutions in healthcare practice. Hotz's meticulous research and engaging storytelling in her book shed light on the transformative power of lifestyle modifications in fostering holistic health and well-being. The book serves as a poignant reminder of the pressing issues faced by healthcare systems globally and offers a compelling vision of a more integrated and patient-centric approach to care delivery. Particularly striking is the chapter that delves into mental health and critiques the pharmaceutical industry's influence, juxtaposed with narratives of individuals benefitting from alternative therapies through social prescriptions. Hotz's nuanced approach underscores the complementary nature of social prescribing alongside traditional medical interventions, advocating for a comprehensive treatment strategy that addresses the multifaceted needs of patients. A must-read for a diverse audience, the book offers a refreshing perspective on contemporary healthcare challenges and serves as a clarion call for transformative change within healthcare providers navigating a complex and demanding system.

I recommend this book for anyone looking to improve his/her health without a reliance on pharmacology. This would be a good read for medical professionals as well. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a welcome review of the research on social prescriptions and a call for greater acceptance and use of these prescriptions. As a strong proponent of the biopsychosocial model of human health and well-being, it's awesome to read an empirically supported book that shares the value of urging all of us to see movement, nature, art, service, and belonging as a valuable intervention for better health.

Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging - five new "pills" we can pop instead of filling a prescription at the pharmacy.

I love this book by Julia Hotz with all her carefully chosen examples of how people suffering anxiety, depression, chronic pain, or other maladies can rally around without pills. Just do what our Paleo ancestors did, and what a lot of third-world citizens still do, and we can find wholeness and better health along with a sense of community and purpose.

If it sounds "Captain Obvious," why, yes, it is! And yet, most health care workers especially in America are late to the party.

Many of the same insights abound in a book I read in 2018, "How to Happify Your Life: what I learned while living with the happy "poor" people in the remote islands and jungles of Middle America" by Laura LaBrie. (I highly recommend it.)

In the Julia Hotz book, we get pages of names and places, examples, scientific studies, and evidence of how well it works, just to get people moving, out of the house, engaging with others, volunteering, doing things, finding purpose and meaning. European countries are a lot farther along than we are. We have barely even dipped our toes in the water.

Social workers are called upon to shoulder the connection-building and "social prescribing," but if more medical professionals read this book and take it to heart, we might see something revolutionary.

Then again, Big Pharma might find ways to keep everyone seeking the quick and easy fix of an Rx drug instead of the busy work of taking a walk, finding a new hobby (fishing, painting, crocheting, gardening, music, dance, you name it), and just MOVING and being outdoors instead of holing up, huddled in pain, on a sick bed, getting worse not better. But let's loosen the grip all these drugs have on us! Let's get on the phone, connect with someone who's lonely, meet our neighbors, take up a new hobby, something, anything, to break the cycle of doctors prescribing pills and procedures when a lifestyle change is in order.

A comprehensive book, well researched, inspiring, and worthwhile.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book is a game changer. This isn’t your typical health book; it’s a refreshing take on how we can get well beyond just medications.

What makes this book truly remarkable is its affirmation of the many facets of life that contribute to our well-being beyond traditional medicine. It’s a refreshing reminder that elements such as movement, connecting with nature, engaging in art, serving others, and fostering a sense of belonging are essential to our health. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to explore these vital aspects of healing and wellness.

The Connection Cure is not anti-medical or anti-pharmaceutical. Instead, it opens up a world of additional health-boosting strategies. From nature walks and art classes to community farming and cold-water swimming, the book provides numerous examples of how social prescriptions can lead to better physical and mental health.

Listen to my full review on the Health with Hashimoto's podcast: https://healthwithhashimotos.com/connection-cure/

Sadly, my expectations were too high for THE CONNECTION CURE by Julia Hotz, a journalist who works with other writers at Solutions Journalism Network. I was impressed by the massive amount of research (notes comprise almost a fourth of the book) and interviews which she has conducted. Hotz does a very good job of integrating facts and anecdotes into her text which is split into three main parts: science supporting social prescription, contrasts (and innovations) in healthcare approaches around the world, and personal stories and applications. Hotz writes that a 'social prescription' is defined as "a nonmedical resource or activity that aims to improve a person's health and strengthens their community connections." She later illustrates the five areas that appear in her subtitle: Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging. This is where I was most disappointed since I had been looking forward to a set of resources and organizations related to each of those areas. Perhaps, that's too much detail for this book, but I think that would have been valuable to readers who already know these factors are important and want to pursue them in greater depth. Hotz does offer a key point to keep in mind: "instead of [focusing on] 'what's the matter with you' -- a fixed list of symptoms -- ...focus on 'what matters TO you' -- a set of inherently unique interests, needs, and life events."

Related titles with more specifics to consider (both formerly on NetGalley): The Age-Proof Brain by Marc Milstein; Keep Your Wits about You by Vonetta M. Dotson.

I liked this book overall, but I was hoping for some newer ideas. I always love reading about these types of concepts, but sometimes it feels repetitive when every author is repackaging similar ideas. Still good, I’m just hoping for more!