"These marvelously provocative essays ... shine with honesty and tenderness."---Nelson Bryant, The New York Times Book Review

Wendell Berry identifies himself as both "a farmer of sorts and an artist of sorts," which he deftly illustrates in the scope of these twenty-two essays. Ranging from America's insatiable consumerism and neglected household economies, to literary subjects and America's attitude toward waste, Berry gracefully navigates from one topic to the next, discussing the ills plaguing America and the growing gap between people and the land. Despite the somber nature of these essays, Berry's voice provides an underlying sense of faith and hope in the power of humanity, not only to fix its past mistakes, but to build on earth a sustainable future for all.

"[Berry] is ... the prophetic American voice of our day."---Christian Science Monitor

"Wherever we live, however we do so, we desperately need a prophet of responsibility; and although the days of the prophets seem past to many of us, Berry may be the closest to one we have. But, fortunately, he is also a poet of responsibility. He makes one believe that the good life may not only be harder than what we're used to but sweeter as well."---Bill McKibben, The New York Review of Books