Reviews
The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry by Norman Wirzba, Wendell Berry
kath_m's review against another edition
3.0
My attention span is, sadly, too short for Wendell Berry. Ironically, this is exactly what this collection of essays addresses... the dangerous and demoralizing impact of modern life on our communities, our minds, and our very souls. I honestly did not make it through a single essay, although I skimmed the majority of them and came away with questions to ponder in my own life.
racheljohnson9731's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
ikahime's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that you can read over and over again - for refreshers and boosts to your own philosophy, but also to argue with, or realize that your opinions have changed since your last reading. A collection of essays that hold the farm at its heart, but are still approachable for the urban non-farmer. Calls for responsible awareness of food long before Pollan, consideration of an almost Amish nature of the appropriateness of technology, the wholesale rejection of modern, rapacious economy. I find it hard to side with his stubborn cleavage to the Christian faith, but agree that what much of the Bible says does not jive with what most Christians do with respect to God's creation. Too bad more Christians aren't like Wendell - it would be a totally different faith in practice.
bookmama1980's review against another edition
5.0
This is a wonderful collection of agrarian essay by Wendell Berry that articulate the need to better understanding the world in which we care for, food economy, industrial destruction, local communities, and a critical view of Christianity's role in the destruction of the planet. I appreciate and am inspired by his vision of a better and more responsible way of protecting that which was left in our care, the earth.
toniapeckover's review against another edition
5.0
Such an important book for us today. Essays on the point of humanity, the place of fidelity, what it means to be a creature in Creation, the mishandling of scripture by modern Christianity and the devastating consequences of that on the world. I'll be reading and rereading this book the rest of my life.
theconorhilton's review against another edition
5.0
I ADORE this book. Wendell offers a prophetic call to action that feels all too relevant today. I love the way that he sits outside of normal ideological boxes and presents a vision of the world and what we can be that is rooted in his own personal experience AND is unafraid to challenge the status quo from a variety of angles.
It's rare to find such a thoughtful writer that I think would anger and thrill both progressive and conservative folks in the US.
I long for and am wary of Wendell's call for a simpler world, stripped of some of the technology and complexity that we have added to it. I am challenged, and invigorated!, by Wendell's commitment to the communal nature of existence, that none of us are independent or autonomous, but that we all depend on others and can only choose whether that dependence is responsible or irresponsible. Loads of food for thought packed into this essay collection--best read in small doses to chew on and savor.
It's rare to find such a thoughtful writer that I think would anger and thrill both progressive and conservative folks in the US.
I long for and am wary of Wendell's call for a simpler world, stripped of some of the technology and complexity that we have added to it. I am challenged, and invigorated!, by Wendell's commitment to the communal nature of existence, that none of us are independent or autonomous, but that we all depend on others and can only choose whether that dependence is responsible or irresponsible. Loads of food for thought packed into this essay collection--best read in small doses to chew on and savor.
livingpalm1's review against another edition
5.0
Read my long-winded review here: http://blog.thissacramentallife.com/2015/10/thoughts-on-art-of-commonplace-by.html
thisgrrlreads's review against another edition
5.0
I rarely say this but I seriously wish I owned this book. Wendell Berry is quoted by absolutely everyone in the local and organic food movement because he is opinionated, eloquent and thoughtful, and has been for much longer than the recent "locavore" movement got started. This is a book of essays, beautifully written essays that take a serious stand. So serious you can't read too many in a row or your head starts to spin. I gave this book back to the library after 3 essays but I'll take it out again or maybe even acquire my own copy.