The Power of Place

Rating:
Summary: An interesting and thought provoking read
Review: Although I had to read this book in an undergraduate course, I found it extremely interesting and I read it in two days. The information is useful for anyone looking for a new place to live. Overall a very good book although the many topic's are only briefly touched upon.

Rating:
Summary: Evidence that Environment Affects Behaviour
Review: In this book, Winifred Gallagher, discusses the various ways that environment can affect human behaviour. Written for the layman, the book does not dwell on the neuroscience data, preferring to interview both the researchers and the affected.

The biggest drawback of this book may also be it's most interesting aspect - the sheer quantity of the material Gallagher must condensed into 228 pages of text. Thus, in less than 100 pages, she discusses seasonal affective disorder, light deprivation, effects of temperature and altitude and geomagnetic phenomena. Withthis constraint, Gallagher's prose in necessarily tight, her interviews brief, and each chapter ends before you've had your fill of the effect she's discussing.

A good book for plane-hopping business sorts - not only can it be read on the flight, the effects of time zone changes, sleep deprivation, and fluorescent lights can be recorded as they are taking place.