eeeeeeee's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I wanted to like this book more than I did, and I think others will like it more than I did too! The author focuses a lot on modern politics - specifically environmental and economic justice - and of course I want, as usual, more theology. I did learn about some new communities though and for someone who wants a good non-academic introduction to a lot of communities I think you'll like it!
theartolater's review
4.0
Utopia Drive reads like a podcast I'd love to listen to.
The conceit is fairly basic, where a writer is visiting a series of historically Utopian villages and communes in the United States over a period of time, giving a bit of history as well as present-day affairs in many cases, and providing those findings as well as the context of the times they were in place and the relationship to the now.
It's a fairly basic premise and it mostly works - the author does get onto a bit of sermonizing during some of his stops and descriptions, but that is perhaps the only significant flaw in what is an otherwise fun and most breezy read on an under-covered topic for modern histories. Definitely recommend that you take some time with this.
The conceit is fairly basic, where a writer is visiting a series of historically Utopian villages and communes in the United States over a period of time, giving a bit of history as well as present-day affairs in many cases, and providing those findings as well as the context of the times they were in place and the relationship to the now.
It's a fairly basic premise and it mostly works - the author does get onto a bit of sermonizing during some of his stops and descriptions, but that is perhaps the only significant flaw in what is an otherwise fun and most breezy read on an under-covered topic for modern histories. Definitely recommend that you take some time with this.
theconorhilton's review
4.0
A fun read! Not a 'scholarly' book, but packed with engaging, well-written anecdotes and history of various utopian communities along the east coast. I'd heard of some of these groups before, but much of the material was new. The book's very readable and introspective, with Reece thinking about his project and the value or lack thereof of various utopian ideas.
I would've liked a little more digging into the history and practices and such of the various groups, but the snapshot nature of the book is also probably a selling point for many. A useful introduction to American utopias and utopians. Perhaps most importantly, Reece does a lot of work to reframe how we think about these, mostly earlier, utopian experiments--suggesting that referring to them as 'failures' may be missing the point and underselling what they accomplished.
Gave me lots of interesting stuff to think about digging into more.
I would've liked a little more digging into the history and practices and such of the various groups, but the snapshot nature of the book is also probably a selling point for many. A useful introduction to American utopias and utopians. Perhaps most importantly, Reece does a lot of work to reframe how we think about these, mostly earlier, utopian experiments--suggesting that referring to them as 'failures' may be missing the point and underselling what they accomplished.
Gave me lots of interesting stuff to think about digging into more.
sakusha's review against another edition
4.0
An important book to read about past attempts to form utopian communities early in America's history. Some of those utopias even still exist today. I only wish that the book included pictures of the communities or their founders, and that the book included chapters on Brook Farm and the Amish. Instead, the author chose to include Morten's Monk Pond, Joseph Cornell's boxes, and Thoreau's Walden, none of which count as utopias in my opinion. Despite these flaws, this book is definitely worth reading, especially if you care about improving the world!
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review against another edition
4.0
I've always been completely fascinated with utopias, and I've secretly longed to join one or start one. I'm a natural reader for this little travel narrative then, as the author takes us on a road trip (a small one) through all the utopias and former utopias that are or were located close to his home. Like the stories of people who have moved-and-started-over, stories of utopias tend to all end the same---in failure---and I'd love to come up with some sort of broad and clever reason why. I suppose the real reason has something to do with human nature and our deep inability to live happily in a sacrificial group. Or something like that. In any case, I loved visiting all of these utopias. Maybe I can squeeze in time to join one of the still-operating utopias before I---or it---shuts down.
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