Media
“This is your exit from the hustle, the grind, the overwhelm. You won’t see anything the same after reading this powerful and accessible invitation to….slow. down. We all get caught up in our fast-paced lives and this book is exactly the medicine we need to (re)learn how to live with intention and reverence.”
— Lindsay Thomas, Alpinista Coaching
ABOUT THE BOOK
You Are Nature is a 102-page blend of personal memoir and science, offering readers a grounded alternative to screen addiction and burnout culture.
The book draws on childhood experiences in rural Kentucky and Yellowstone National Park, as well as years spent working at Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana, where the author plowed fields, tended gardens, and learned what it means to live close to the land.
Featuring central Indiana landscapes throughout, the book introduces readers to shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), a practice backed by research showing that time in nature reduces stress, improves focus, and supports emotional well-being.
This isn't a productivity hack or a new optimization strategy. It's a reminder: we are not separate from nature. We are part of it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adam Bouse is a coach, writer, emotions educator, and possibilitarian based in Muncie, Indiana. He helps people find possibilities through emotional intelligence coaching, nature-based experiences, and workshops.
He is the founder of Optimistic Coaching, an International Coaching Federation (ICF) coach, a certified forest bathing guide, and a nature connection specialist.
Before coaching, Adam worked at Conner Prairie in Fishers, Indiana, where he plowed fields and tended gardens. He has also worked in tech startups, nonprofits, and communications.
Adam's work is influenced by Mary Oliver, Parker Palmer, and Richard Rohr. He writes regularly about grounded optimism, resilience, and nature on Substack.
In 2025, Adam's wife Stacey passed away after a brief illness. You Are Nature is dedicated to her memory and to the walks they shared.
READER REVIEWS
“You Are Nature is my favorite type of book. The wisdom, heart, and stories within its pages akin to the invitation nature so often offers us (if we let it). To slow down, to drink in the beauty, and to reestablish a deep connection to what matters most. And like my favorite places in nature, this is a book I will revisit again and again. Thank you Adam!”
— Lindsay Thomas, Alpinista Coaching
“I’ve known Adam for most of my life, and this book captures exactly who he is: grounded, thoughtful, and deeply attuned to what really matters. You Are Nature is a powerful reminder that the life we’re chasing might already be waiting for us.”
— Adam Weber, Executive Coach
“With moving personal stories of (re)discovery of the embodied experience of time in nature, combined with real science and practices that make it feel grounded and easy, Adam offers you a gentle welcome back to nature, and back to yourself. What a delight.”
— Sage Catlett
Photo Credits: Adam Bouse, 2026
DOWNLOADABLE ASSETS
Press Materials
Book Images
Author Photo
Nature photography by the author to accompany stories or media coverage can be found at unsplash.com/@adambouse
CONTACT INFORMATION
Media Inquiries:
adam@optimism.coach
www.optimism.coach
Book Website:
YouAreNatureBook.com
Social Media:
Substack: bouse.substack.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adambouse
KEY TALKING POINTS
Local connection: Former Conner Prairie (Fishers, IN) staff member; book features central Indiana landscapes
Timely topic: Addresses screen addiction, burnout, disconnection — offers forest bathing as scientifically-backed alternative
Science meets story: Blends personal memoir with neuroscience research on nature's impact
Accessible and grounded: 102 pages, no jargon, highly accessible
Experiential approach: Author offers forest bathing workshops, "Walk Your Problems" sessions, and nature-based events
Personal journey: Written in part as a path through grief after author's wife passed away in 2025
AUTHOR AVAILABILITY
Adam Bouse is available for:
Media interviews (print, radio, podcast, TV)
Book signings and readings
Forest bathing workshops and guided nature walks
"Walk Your Problems" experiential sessions
Speaking engagements and lunch-and-learns
Keynote addresses
Podcast guest appearances
QUICK FACTS
Author: Adam Bouse
Release Date: April 19, 2026
Publisher: Optimistic Coaching Press
Format: Trade paperback (5.5" × 8.5", 102 pages) | Ebook
Price: $16.95 (Print) | $9.95 (Ebook)
ISBN: 979-8-9954779-0-7
Genre: Nature Writing / Memoir / Self-Help
For Fans Of: Mary Oliver, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Anne Lamott, John Green, Parker Palmer
Distributed through IngramSpark: Easy wholesale orders.
Purchase: Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org | Amazon
From Adam’s Unsplash
