Wendell Berry: Life and Work

Culture of the Land

by Jason Peters (Editor)

Essayist, social critic, poet, "mad farmer," novelist, teacher, and prophet: Wendell Berry has been called many things, but the broad sweep of his contemporary relevance and influence defies facile labels. With his unique perspective and far-reaching vision, Berry poses complex questions about humankind and our relationship to the land and offers simple but profound solutions. Berry's essays, novels, and poems give voice to a provocative but consistent philosophy, one that extends far beyond its agrarian core to include elements of sociology, the natural sciences, politics, religion, philosophy, linguistics, agriculture, and other seemingly incompatible fields of study. Wendell Berry: Life and Work examines this wise and original thinker, appraising his written work and exploring his influence as an activist and artist. Jason Peters has assembled a broad variety of writers including Hayden Carruth, Sven Birkerts, Barbara Kingsolver, Stanley Hauerwas, Donald Hall, Ed McClanahan, Bill McKibben, Scott Russell Sanders, Norman Wirzba, Wes Jackson, and Eric T. Freyfogle. Each contributor examines an aspect of Berry's varied yet cohesive body of work. Also included are highly personal glimpses of Wendell Berry: his career, academic influence, and unconventional lifestyle. These deft sketches of Berry show the purity of his agrarian lifestyle and demonstrate that there is nothing simple about the life to which he has devoted himself. He embraces a life that sustains him not by easy purchase and haste but by physical labor and patience, not by mindless acquiescence to a centralized economy but by careful attention to local ways and wisdom. Wendell Berry: Life and Work combines biographical sketches, personal accounts, literary criticism, and social commentary. Together, the contributors illuminate Berry as he is: a complex man of place and community with an astonishing depth of domestic, intellectual, filial, and fraternal attributes. The result is a rich portrait of one of America's most profound and honest thinkers.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Essays

368 pages, Hardcover

First published June 15, 2007

Reviews

[Bob Brinkmeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fabulous collection of essays about Berry, covering (as the subtitle announces) his life and his work, both as a farmer and a writer. Berry is the type of writer who touches readers deeply, so even the academic pieces read almost as if they were personal essays. All in all, this is a great book for anyone interested in Berry, from those just coming to his writing and those who have been reading him for a long time. There's much to be learned here. Really, really fine.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved Berry's novels and am motivated now to re-read some of them. I should also read his poems and non-fiction pieces. This book of essays written by many of his friends and colleagues makes me admire Berry even more for his pacifism and his love of community and nature. He practiced what he preached in living in Port Royal and running a small farm.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

after having spent the past few years immersing myself in Wendell's essays and fiction, I found myself tiring of him - despite his timeless message. I guess I just jumped in a little too fast and burnt out a little too quick, as well.

This collection of essays was enough to restore my fondness for Wendell and his writing, although his message has never left me. At times, the writing in Life and Work is even more enjoyable than Wendell himself (i.e., Ed McClanahan), and sometimes makes his points a bit more clearly than he could on his own. Life and Work is excellent from start to finish and is perhaps an even more clear portal to Wendell Berry's person and intellect than any of his own products are.

Moreso than a finishing point for lovers of Wendell Berry, Life and Work may be the best starting point for those looking to learn more about Wendell and, well, his life and work.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just discovered and bought this book this afternoon, and have only read a few of the roughly 30 essays in this superb, intense gold mine of a book. The essays I have read are marvelous, enhancing further my already sky high regard for and pleasure in the work of Wendell Berry which they discuss, all of which I have previously read and loved. Many of the authors of the essays I have yet to read I already know well--Bill McKibben, Wes Jackson, Barbara Kingsolver, Gene Logsdon. This was not an inexpensive book, but from the moment I opened it and read the first page, I felt only delight and gratitude for having found it. Books like this, and authors like Wendell Berry, are what writing--and reading--was invented for. More later.

[Francine Apollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book of essays by friends and associates of Wendell Berry. They are marvelous! For the reader who has not read Berry, this could be a nice introduction. Some of the pieces are not only well written, they have extensive bibliographies which I found fascinating and informative.
My only criticism is that the book is printed and bound with very little white space. I am sure that's right up Berry's alley...less paper used...but it was hard on this reader's eyes.
Nonetheless...put this one on your "To Be Read One Day" list.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I most treasured the personal essays in this book and frankly skimmed or skipped over the more scholarly pieces. What becomes clear in this book is how many people's lives and careers have been influenced by Wendell Berry, the professor, the farmer, the poet, the philosopher, the writer, and the friend. I thank Jason Peters for this book and particularly the essays by Wes Jackson, Barbara Kingsolver, Hayden Carruth, and Gene Logsdon and for the wonderful pictures.

[Lucia]

I'm looking forward to reading this book. I just found it on the New Books table at the library and I have confiscated it.

[Angela Kantola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read much of this (from the library), bud didn't finish it. Excellent book -- I should like to own it.

[Duke Revard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful reflections on Berry.

[Roger Snell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything about Wendell Berry is wonderful. But most of the authors get in the way writing about themselves or analyzing academically. The gems are from Ed McClanahan and Gene Logsdon.

[Reid Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoughtful and thought-provoking, like Berry's own writing.