Book SummaryBlue Mind, by Wallace J. Nichols

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Blue Mind

In Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols argues that water has a profound impact on our well-being and health because it induces a calming, meditative state he refers to as Blue Mind. He explains that we’re naturally drawn to water because it’s critical to our survival, and he elaborates on the additional benefits water provides us with, including its capacity to reduce stress and stimulate our senses in an enjoyable...

Blue Mind Summary We’re Naturally Drawn to Water

According to Nichols, humans evolved to want to be near water because it’s necessary for our survival. Throughout history, we’ve naturally gravitated toward habitats that included water, such as lakes, rivers, and coasts. Water consumption is necessary for life, but there were other reasons humans as a whole were drawn to water, as well.

Experts suggest that water sources—along with open spaces with low grass and trees—make up part of a “universal landscape,” or a natural environment that has all the...

Blue Mind Summary The Meaning of “Blue Mind” and “Red Mind”

Nichols uses the term “Blue Mind” to describe water’s impact on the brain. Blue Mind is a calm, peaceful, contented state similar to one achieved through meditation, and it can be induced by proximity to water.

He distinguishes Blue Mind from “Red Mind,” which is a mental state characterized by stress and arousal, and he presents the Blue Mind state as a potent antidote to the detrimental effects of the Red Mind state. The stress response, also known as the fight or flight response, is an important evolutionary feature that developed to help us deal with danger. It enabled us to defend ourselves from threats or remove ourselves from threatening situations by flooding our bodies with stress hormones like [restricted term], glucocorticoids, and cortisol. These hormones enhance our senses and awareness so we can better cope with danger.

(Shortform note: Nichols may use the terms “Blue Mind” and “Red Mind” to describe states of calm and stress because these states are indeed so different as to be akin to using two different minds. The changes that chronic stress in particular brings about in the brain lead you to [function very differently than you do when you’re not...

Blue Mind Summary How Water Heals the Mind

Not everyone is able or willing to take part in extreme sports like skydiving to reduce their stress response, so Nichols suggests that engaging with nature, particularly water, can mitigate the stress response, as well. Extensive research using self-reported results, brain scans, and other tests shows that time spent in nature gives the brain a rest from stress, activating the parts of the brain that deal with empathy and pleasure, which calms the brain and nervous system.

You can achieve these effects not only by immersing yourself in nature through activities like fishing or snorkeling, but also by spending time in places like aquariums or near fountains, and even by looking at images of natural landscapes or listening to nature sounds.

(Shortform note: Some researchers support Nichols’s suggestion that engaging with nature mitigates stress, and they note that images can be particularly useful in circumstances that may limit how much time people can spend outside their homes, such as the Covid-19 pandemic. The researchers suggest that part of the...

Blue Mind Summary How Water Appeals to Our Senses

Water is enticing to us not only because it reduces stress and heals the mind but also because it has a powerful sensory appeal. This sensory appeal is part of what contributes to the Blue Mind effect.

Water’s Visual Appeal

As discussed above, Nichols explains that even looking at images of water can provide the positive psychological effects of the Blue Mind state. The color blue itself is calming to us. Psychological and marketing research shows that people associate the color blue with concepts like cleanliness, openness, strength, trust, and wisdom, and that blue is the most popular favorite color worldwide by a large margin.

Some experts theorize that people feel so positively toward the color blue because, between the blue sky and the blue water that covers most of our planet, we evolved surrounded largely by shades of this color, so we find it comforting on a biological level.

Ecological Valence Theory: Color Preferences Vary With Our Experiences

Nichols implies that our attraction to the color blue is innate, but some research indicates that there may be a social component to color preference. [Ecological valence...

Blue Mind Summary Ways to Enjoy the Water

There are many ways to enjoy the benefits of water. Nichols explains that it’s not just being in water that induces a Blue Mind state, but also being on the water, being near the water, or even looking at images of water. He describes several ways people interact with water to obtain its benefits.

Exercise: Swimming

Nichols explains that swimming is appealing because of the body’s buoyancy, which causes a 200-pound body to weigh only 10 pounds in the water. The water also provides resistance, so moving our bodies through it stretches and exercises all the body’s muscles while taking pressure off the joints and ligaments.

(Shortform note: Exercises that take pressure off the joints are known as low-impact exercises. These exercises are well-suited for people recovering from injury or dealing with joint issues, and anyone can benefit from alternating between low-impact and high-impact workouts. Swimming is particularly advantageous because it can be high intensity—meaning it’s extremely physically challenging—while still keeping pressure off the joints.)

Additionally, the physical pressure of being immersed...

Blue Mind Summary Society’s Relationship With Water

While the benefits of water are many, there are some societal obstacles to accessing them, including financial issues and environmental damage. The Blue Mind state is not as easy to attain for some people as it is for others.

The Cost of Water-Adjacent Properties

Nichols explains that real estate that’s near water is in extremely high demand. As a result, these properties are much more expensive than similar properties—or even higher quality properties—away from the water. People with the means to do so will often pay millions of dollars for even the shabbiest homes if they’re next to a water source. Nichols cites this as evidence of how highly we value water. However, because man-made water features also provide the benefits of Blue Mind, you don’t necessarily need to live right by the ocean, a lake, or a river to enjoy the effects of water.

(Shortform note: The high cost of properties near water means that water-adjacent living is becoming a privilege often available only to the wealthy. This problem is exacerbated by climate change-related weather events that often damage water-adjacent...

Shortform Exercise: How Do You Experience “Blue Mind”?

Reflect on your experience with the Blue Mind state and the ways you interact with water.

Identify a water-based activity that you enjoy. This could be a sport like swimming or surfing, or something as simple as showering.