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The Unsettling of America

Culture & Agriculture

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The Unsettling of America

Written by: Wendell Berry
Narrated by: Nick Offerman
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About this listen

Since its publication in 1977, The Unsettling of America has been recognized as a classic of American letters. In it, Wendell Berry argues that good farming is a cultural and spiritual discipline. Today’s agribusiness, however, takes farming out of its cultural context and away from families. As a result, we as a nation are more estranged from the land - from the intimate knowledge, love, and care of it.

Sadly, his arguments and observations are more relevant than ever. Although “this book has not had the happy fate of being proved wrong,” Berry writes, there are people working “to make something comely and enduring of our life on this earth.” Wendell Berry is one of those people, writing and working, as ever, with passion, eloquence, and conviction.

©1977 Wendell Berry (P)2020 Recorded Books
Environment Nature & Ecology Social Sciences Conservation

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Timeless

Wrote a few decades ago yet you think it was written yesterday. Berry paints a picture of where our earth is headed with current agricultural practices and political policies.

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Soon to be a classic.

After seeing Wendell Berry quoted so often I needed to read one of his books. He is an articulate but angry writer who, after witnessing the collapse of agriculture and a way of life of people close to the land he has every reason to be. First published in 1977, he describes the rise of agri-business, the degradation of soil, the buying up of small farms, the flight to the city by young folk, and bureaucratic oversight preaching it is all for the best.

In just two years time it will be 50 years since this book came out; I would argue it is still relevant.
Agri-business is as strong as ever and farmers continue to struggle. But for all that we're also seeing young people come back to the land. Yes, it's worth a read.

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Be concerned.

Josh Brown

Knowing there is a problem is important. Knowing how we got to this point gives us context. Read this book to understand both.

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Important

I feel as though I'm a fish and someone has just explained water to me.

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1 person found this helpful