The Unsettling of America Audiobook By Wendell Berry cover art

The Unsettling of America

Culture & Agriculture

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The Unsettling of America

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
Conservation Nature & Ecology Social Sciences Thought-Provoking

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Really well written and well narrated

Makes me want to move to a farm. A seriously well thought out essay that makes me sad considering nothing has changed in 27 years.

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Prescient!

A classic work well ahead of its time. Sadly, it is still almost 100% relevant. The analysis is cross-cutting, with insight offered into agriculture, economics, social theory, ethics, and psychology. And all of it is wrapped in the brilliant and lucid prose-essay style of Wendell Berry. A classic this deserves to be!

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Comprehensive, Eye-opening perspective

I love how Wendell Berry takes a holistic approach to this topic, which is still relevant today. His writing is simple but powerful and Nick Offerman does a great reading.

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Sanity in a corrupt world

Fantastic delivery by Offerman of Berry's important message. If you are frustrated with government and corporate dysfunction when it comes to the most basic necessities of life and wondering for the life of you why no one is making the ethical, ecological, and patriotic case for common sense and good stewardship, Wendell Berry just might save your sanity and there is no better, more even, or more engaging yet reassuring voice to bring this book to the restless than that of Nick Offerman.

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Excellent

A wonderful book on the state of agriculture in the modern west and the dangers that they entail on creation, along with good solutions.

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Love the performer they chose!

This is something I plan on listening to over and over, what I got out of it the first listen was wonderful and I look forward to absorbing new information the next time.

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Such an incredibly thoughtful author

So thoughtful. One of the 4 most important books I have ever read. And the narrator was absolutely excellent at communicating the attitudes and intent of the author. Excellent book. Excellent performance. You simply must read it to understand the human place in the universe.

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Holds true still today.

Listening to this book was riveting. When I looked up the publish date I was in awe that it could be so spot on and relatable to modern day agriculture or the lack there of.

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A good book

That I have started to think Nick Offerman’s voice is Wendell Berry speaking - I would prefer if my mind could hold the distinction between the two

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Excellent Book, surprised with breadth

Incredible book. I read this with three friends in a book club. I must admit I expected it to be dry and possibly a slog to get through but I found it fascinating and insightful. The loss of small farms in America created a greater cultural void than you might imagine. Easily much greater than the loss of industry as it went overseas. Its not just an economic issue, though that is a part. This is more about what we lose in culture, character, and spirit. We are a little more dead behind the eyes as a country for it.

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1 person found this helpful