aliceleanne's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interest little collection of essays. I was already really familiar with WB’s perspective, so it wasn’t anything new. He does make some great points about our relationship to agriculture and how pivotal it is for a noble society to have ties to the earth and to our food. Definitely lots to apply, even for the house-wife hobby gardener.
tiffanyslack's review against another edition
4.0
This was a nice collection of Berry's essays and food and farming. The fiction pieces at the end were a nice touch. If the essays had been a little more readable, I would have given it five stars. The details bogged it down in places.
kateraed's review against another edition
2.0
First section on farming is fantastic, clearly explaining the dangers of our current agribusiness setup. The second section, on farmers, is more detailed looks at individual farms; I found it mostly skimmable, as it was more detail than I was interested in. The final section, on food, is mostly selections from his fiction writings -- interesting to see context of the previous generation's interactions with food and each other, but it is fiction out of context, so I also moved to skimming that pretty quickly. The final essay is the most valuable (at least as a city dweller), offering guidance for how to eat more sustainably and have a more holistic (that is, contextually rooted) relationship with food and land (which, Berry reminds us, are inseparable).
nclar17's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Prophetic essays about the state of our food systems and agrarian life, as relevant now as when they were written (some almost half a century ago). The fictional pieces at the end are a lovely add-on.
sonicmooks's review against another edition
5.0
Wendell berry is a writer of fiction, poetry and (here) non fiction, who also happens to have worked a farm in Kentucky for the better part of the last 50 years. I was aware of him by reputation and through running across a few poems and short stories in anthologies and journals here and there. But did not know of his work as a sustainable farming advocate, which is probably how he is best known.
In reading the Omnivore's Dilemma a little while back, Berry was referenced several times, and at first I was not even sure it was the same guy. But indeed it was, and as Michael Pollan states in his introduction to this collection of essays on farming and food - Pollan "borrowed" an awful lot from Mr. Berry.
This collection spans over 4 decades of essays that are eloquently written, completely accessible and incredibly thought provoking. Berry's writing style is very lucid and easy to grasp, as he has a novelist's cadence and a poet's eye as he takes on issues ranging from small family farms, to animal husbandry, to industrial agricultural, to the intrinsic conflicts between an agrarian and a capitalist society
and that's just scratching the surface of the topics/issues covered herein. And lest you assume that this is just some backwoods country bumpkin' waxing eloquently about bucolic life on the farm...the man knows his stuff. The essays here are full of depth, detail and obviously copious research...not to mention direct hands on experience.
When I wrote a review of Omnivore's Dilemma, I think I said something that the book had opened my eyes and influenced me to my core. Well, if such was the case there, then Bringing It To The Table took things to a whole new level.
Completely inspiring and informative, whether you are a farmer, cook, chef, restauranteur, "foodie", locavore...or if, like me, you have just come to realize that the production of food in this country and around the world is one of the greatest challenges and important issues facing us today, tomorrow and on into whatever future we are allowed.
Highest recommendation.
-m
In reading the Omnivore's Dilemma a little while back, Berry was referenced several times, and at first I was not even sure it was the same guy. But indeed it was, and as Michael Pollan states in his introduction to this collection of essays on farming and food - Pollan "borrowed" an awful lot from Mr. Berry.
This collection spans over 4 decades of essays that are eloquently written, completely accessible and incredibly thought provoking. Berry's writing style is very lucid and easy to grasp, as he has a novelist's cadence and a poet's eye as he takes on issues ranging from small family farms, to animal husbandry, to industrial agricultural, to the intrinsic conflicts between an agrarian and a capitalist society
and that's just scratching the surface of the topics/issues covered herein. And lest you assume that this is just some backwoods country bumpkin' waxing eloquently about bucolic life on the farm...the man knows his stuff. The essays here are full of depth, detail and obviously copious research...not to mention direct hands on experience.
When I wrote a review of Omnivore's Dilemma, I think I said something that the book had opened my eyes and influenced me to my core. Well, if such was the case there, then Bringing It To The Table took things to a whole new level.
Completely inspiring and informative, whether you are a farmer, cook, chef, restauranteur, "foodie", locavore...or if, like me, you have just come to realize that the production of food in this country and around the world is one of the greatest challenges and important issues facing us today, tomorrow and on into whatever future we are allowed.
Highest recommendation.
-m
squirrelfish's review against another edition
5.0
Wendell Berry made a lot of very smart, very prescient points over his career. This is primarily a collection of essays from him on modern food and farming practice. It also has a set of selections from his fictional work involving mealtimes on the farm. Essays are from the early 80s through the mid 2000s. The fictional pieces mostly took place in the depression to just Post WW2 years. There were a bunch of essays primarily aimed at those more involved in agriculture or farming - for example talking about the qualities of sheep or horses. I was still interested somehow And kinda want to have a farm now(ok, again...or still..). Other essays dealt with community agriculture, eating locally, etc. My commitment to eating sustainably has been made stronger as well as my desire to live on a farm or in the country. It inspired me in multiple ways, and influenced me as it has influenced many others. Overall, highly recommend for people who like Omnivore's Dilemma or The Third Plate.
brentfernandez's review against another edition
5.0
fantastic read. especially enjoyed pollan's intro (admitting he's standing on the shoulders of giants, in a way.) i really enjoyed the final essay and think everyone can benefit from that one. others were definitely relevant to my current life on a farm. mr. berry just speaks the truth!
asensualcow's review against another edition
so good! really crystallizing in the way it frames agriculture and industry (as completely incompatible systems, one of which will probably lead to like the total collapse of our food system). wild to see how long some of these convos have been happening for. did, at moments, have me considering dropping everything and becoming a farmer but I think that’s ultimately not my path. certainly made me a better food consumer though!