Keep It Simple: A Defense of the Earth

Several years ago, when John Nichols felt his life was out of control, he decided to forge a less complex, and far healthier existence. As part of this process, he used a camera to help himself "stop and smell the flowers." In this way, he soon developed a new sense of proportion which led to a much more balanced lifestyle.
Beginning with a Thoreauvian exhortation to simplify, and ending with a series of photographs which comprise a hosanna to the tranquil life, this book is a gentle yet persuasive call to arms for a better environment.
About the photographs themselves, Nichols writes: "... the unassuming pictures I made during this time jibed perfectly with my mood. They joined the healing process, reflecting the goals I was striving to achieve. Anthill pebbles or lichens on a gravestone may seem like prosaic fare, yet by paying attention to these matter-of-fact wonders, I sure quieted my soul."
In both words and pictures, Nichols details how the struggle to regain his own health led to a much wider understanding of how we all can lead an environmentally compassionate life.