In Defense of Sunlight sounds the call on what researchers have been sure of for years, and what health care providers and media outlets have been slow to take up: that sunlight is one of the simplest, and most equitable, treatments for a variety of health issues, from diabetes to dementia to multiple sclerosis. A call for a return to common sense in our relationship with our local star, In Defense of Sunlight offers its own seven words of advice: Get sun. Not too much. Go outside.
In Defense of Sunlight benefits from Mr. Jacobsen’s breezy prose and tales of his own experiences with sunlight—or lack thereof. (He lives in cloudy Vermont.) He also explores the history of using the sun as therapy. The book could have devoted more attention to the cosmetic reason many people give for staying out of the sun: minimizing the wrinkles on their faces ... But the sun-deprived among us would surely profit from Mr. Jacobsen’s straightforward recommendations, which include getting outside every day and working in an environment with plenty of natural light.
In this well-written, thoroughly documented book, Jacobsen weaves personal anecdotes with decades of scientific research and experiments as well as interviews with scientists, indicating that regular exposure to natural sunlight can lead to increased brain activity and improved mood and cognition. ... An engaging science-based 'energy diet' that advocates for appropriate doses of sunshine.
