A brilliant and wise book by a journalist and author of ten bestsellers about rebuilding connections between people and animals—a call to reunite with nature and animals, which can become a true remedy for many problems of modern life, including loneliness and boredom. The author explores these powerful and mysterious bonds from the past, explains how they can change our mental, physical, and spiritual lives, serve as an antidote to the growing epidemic of human loneliness, and help us show the compassion needed to preserve life on Earth. Louv interviews researchers, theologians, wildlife experts, local healers, and psychologists to show how people communicate with animals in ancient and new ways; how dogs can teach children ethical behavior; how animal-assisted therapy can change the field of mental health; and what role relationships between humans and animals play in our spiritual well-being.