Great Literature and the Value of Thinking While Walking

An article in The New Yorker examines the many benefits granted the life of the mind through the act of walking.

1 minute read

September 5, 2014, 2:00 PM PDT

Ferris Jabr starts with a reference to mapping projects connected to the routes of characters in James Joyce's Ulysses and Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway before examining more of literature's affection for the "curious link between mind and feet."

The article then goes to explore some of the scientific studies that have examined the chemistry behind walking sends more blood to the muscles and organs and increases memory and attention. Jabr also cites a study from earlier this year that found a connection between walking and increased creativity.

As Jabr notes, where we walk also matters: "Still, urban and pastoral walks likely offer unique advantages for the mind. A walk through a city provides more immediate stimulation—a greater variety of sensations for the mind to play with. But, if we are already at the brink of overstimulation, we can turn to nature instead."

FULL STORY: Why Walking Helps Us Think

Wednesday, September 3, 2014 in The New Yorker

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