The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture

This is the classic expression of Wendell Berry's particular type of environmentalism, one that does not see agriculture as the problem, and pristine and untouched nature preserves as the solution, but specifically targets large-scale industrial agriculture. Berry exposes the many ways in which we pay more in hidden costs for our cheap and fattening "food" and how the industrial food system has not only wrecked our diet but families and communities in the process. Perhaps inadvertently Berry reveals what today's conservatives have missed, that there's a world of difference between multinational conglomerates that process corn into all sorts of by-products and food for beef cattle, and more local farms and businesses. The former breaks down communities, and the other (at least potentially) builds them up. One controls more of your life than you think, and the other hands your life and your freedom back to you. Berry's knowledgeable about all the old farming practices that many have forgotten, practices also promoted by Michael Pollan, that eliminate much or all of the need for external "inputs" such as fertilizer, pesticides and antibiotics. He has one foot in the past, and the other firmly planted in our future, hoping to bridge the gap.

There is a lot of beauty to this book, including the language and his "willingness" to discuss the theological nature of farming. I want to love this book, there are some amazing lines and sections, but it seems so tied to a certain form of "nostalgia" and a fear of change that seems to want the world to be "the way it was when I grew up" that fails to accept the reality of the present and the potential of "some technology".

If I grew up on a farm, I too would resent the ideology that says "you can succeed by moving to the city" and those who stay home and farm are "failures" - yet that does not seem like a motivational argument for a realistic farming strategy.

Yet, I cannot deny that there is something deeply prophetic about this book written at a turning point in our society (1977) as he discusses the rise of an ethos of "greed" and a devaluing of "work" especially any form that involves using your hands. Additionally his discussion of valuing the opinions of university agricultural experts over those who have tilled the land for generation after generation speaks volumes of truth as to how we got into the mess we are in.

His deeply Christian sentiments ring through chapter after chapter and speak to an earlier ethos of "right and wrong" that come from seeing the fruits of one's labor rather than practicing a "slash and burn" mentality driven by ego and greed among those without a solid moral compass.

There is an amazing amount of truth in this book, but I think it lacks even a hint of true optimism that is the only hope for a better future.

As a society, as a world, so much of our mindset is formed by our history, without our even realizing it. This book does an exceptional job of showing that history and how it affects our everyday lives and thinking about so many more things than just agriculture. It's not a dusty, boring history book though; it's so much more, and so skillfully written, weaving present and past in an informative and interesting dialogue.
I was blown away by how much we think alike about our current state of agriculture and our disposable society! The seeds of this current unsustainable life style really go deep and wide, far deeper and wider than I had realized, and I've been seeing most of these problems and working to change them in my own life for over 50 years.
On the other hand, gratefully, this book also showed me a few areas where I need to make some improvements in my level of sustainability - and I had thought I was doing very well all of the way around on my little homestead.

Probably the most important book I've read in a long time - even more relevant today than it was when it was written. This book is a must read for anyone concerned about the economy, agriculture, our food system, the environment, or pretty much any American with a vested interest in this nation.

Although this book shows its age, it is still a vital read. We continue to drift away from the land and community. Our last, best hope is to break free of both nostalgia and mindless progressiveness and look seriously at what feeds our bodies, minds, and souls.

Really good information about the state of our US agriculture and diet systems, and their impact on society. However, it’s also detestable for anyone to be so arrogant as to assign motives and intent to the actions of historical, or contemporary, people based on opinion and/or hind site. And he did plenty of that.
But, if we’re unwilling to be made uncomfortable, or even offended, then we’ll never learn anything. So, I highly recommend reading this, I enjoyed it very much.

I was absolutely entralled. This is one of my favorite books. A university degree should require this book.

Deeply insightful about why some old fashioned stuff actually matters like topos and relationships and restraint.

At the same time the book comes back to very practical discussion of ag and ed policy and why those have failed us.

I had been reading food-related books (Dan Barber & Michael Pollan) and kept hearing the name Wendell Berry come up.

It is so wild to hear that over 30 years ago, much of the knowledge & ideas that are now becoming more mainstream were already known about. The book questions our societal values and calls for introspection and action for change in the exuberantly wasteful way we live.

I believe this is a deeply enriching book that anybody would do well to read.

It's amazing how a book written in the 70's about farming is as applicable today as it was then.

Written with a fairly strong religious undertone. As much as I support the general consensus, I couldn't not finish the book, because of the continuous mentioning and theoretical refernces to "the all mighty" when attempting to pull it all together. That's my personal feelings. The focal idea is strong, regardless of the connection to "God" that I do agree with and respect the works on that basis.