What do you think?
Rate this book
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers
How to Be a Farmer: An Ancient Guide to Life on the Land
A delightful anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings celebrating country living--ranging from a philosophy of compost to hymns to the gods of agriculture
Whether you farm or garden, live in the country or long to move there, or simply enjoy an occasional rural retreat, you will be delighted by this cornucopia of writings about living and working on the land, harvested from the fertile fields of ancient Greek and Roman literature. An inspiring antidote to the digital age, How to Be a Farmer evokes the beauty and bounty of nature with a rich mixture of philosophy, practical advice, history, and humor. Together, these timeless reflections on what the Greeks called boukolika and the Romans res rusticae provide an entertaining and enlightening guide to a more meaningful and sustainable way of life.
In fresh translations by classicist and farmer M. D. Usher, with the original texts on facing pages, Hesiod praises the dignity of labor; Plato describes the rustic simplicity of his ideal republic; Varro dedicates a farming manual to his wife, Fundania ("Mrs. Farmer"); and Vergil idealizes farmers as residents of the Golden Age. In other selections, Horace extols the joys of simple living at his cherished country farm; Pliny the Elder explains why all culture stems from agriculture; Columella praises donkeys and tells how to choose a ram or a dog; Musonius Rufus argues that farming is the best livelihood for a philosopher; and there is much more.
Proof that farming is ultimately a state of mind we should all cultivate, How to Be a Farmer will charm anyone who loves nature or its fruits.
Whether you farm or garden, live in the country or long to move there, or simply enjoy an occasional rural retreat, you will be delighted by this cornucopia of writings about living and working on the land, harvested from the fertile fields of ancient Greek and Roman literature. An inspiring antidote to the digital age, How to Be a Farmer evokes the beauty and bounty of nature with a rich mixture of philosophy, practical advice, history, and humor. Together, these timeless reflections on what the Greeks called boukolika and the Romans res rusticae provide an entertaining and enlightening guide to a more meaningful and sustainable way of life.
In fresh translations by classicist and farmer M. D. Usher, with the original texts on facing pages, Hesiod praises the dignity of labor; Plato describes the rustic simplicity of his ideal republic; Varro dedicates a farming manual to his wife, Fundania ("Mrs. Farmer"); and Vergil idealizes farmers as residents of the Golden Age. In other selections, Horace extols the joys of simple living at his cherished country farm; Pliny the Elder explains why all culture stems from agriculture; Columella praises donkeys and tells how to choose a ram or a dog; Musonius Rufus argues that farming is the best livelihood for a philosopher; and there is much more.
Proof that farming is ultimately a state of mind we should all cultivate, How to Be a Farmer will charm anyone who loves nature or its fruits.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2021
14 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
M.D. Usher
19 books11 followersI am a UVM alumnus (B.A. in Greek and Latin) and joined the UVM faculty in 2000. Before attending UVM as an undergraduate I apprenticed in Germany as a post-and-beam carpenter. Upon graduation from UVM, I earned my PhD in Classics at The University of Chicago.
I teach courses in Greek and Latin language and in classical civilization. I have also taught in the Integrated Humanities Program, the Teacher-Advisor Program (TAP), and the Honors College. My academic interests include orality studies, Near Eastern influences on classical literature, especially on Greek literature of the archaic period (Homer, Hesiod and the lyric poets), and ancient philosophy (the writings of Plato and Seneca in particular). I am also deeply interested in the reception of classical texts in modern works of art, music, and literature. In addition to publishing books and articles in the field of Classics, I have written an opera libretto (in Latin), original poetry, translations, and children's books. Non-academic interests include carpentry (I built my own house and outbuildings) and farming (my wife Caroline and I own and operate Works & Days Farm in Shoreham and sell market lambs, eggs, and chicken).
I teach courses in Greek and Latin language and in classical civilization. I have also taught in the Integrated Humanities Program, the Teacher-Advisor Program (TAP), and the Honors College. My academic interests include orality studies, Near Eastern influences on classical literature, especially on Greek literature of the archaic period (Homer, Hesiod and the lyric poets), and ancient philosophy (the writings of Plato and Seneca in particular). I am also deeply interested in the reception of classical texts in modern works of art, music, and literature. In addition to publishing books and articles in the field of Classics, I have written an opera libretto (in Latin), original poetry, translations, and children's books. Non-academic interests include carpentry (I built my own house and outbuildings) and farming (my wife Caroline and I own and operate Works & Days Farm in Shoreham and sell market lambs, eggs, and chicken).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 28, 2023
This is certainly an unusual entry in the Princeton Press ongoing series, Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers. Most of the other volumes are about philosophy, or occasionally history and politics. This one is a collection of Greco-Roman writings about farming, an activity understandably held in very high esteem in antiquity. If you are a modern farmer don't look here for practical tips to improve your business, though Cato the Elder's detailed directions on how to properly sacrifice to the gods in order to obtain a good harvest are certainly amusing! More importantly, and of far more lasting value, is the overall sense of meaning and connection with the land one gets from reading the various entries in the collection, curated by Mark D. Usher. Hesiod reminds us of how hard it is to make a living off the land, but also that farming is a good example of "righteous" (i.e., honest, virtuous) living. We find an excerpt from Plato's Republic, describing a bucolic utopia, as well as one from the Epicurean poet Lucretius, from his On the Nature of Things. The latter may be said to have anticipated the modern principle of conservation of energy when he wrote: “nothing comes from nothing or returns to nothing.” We then read the famous story of the country mouse and the city mouse, told by Horace in his Satires, and of course Vergil's praise for the countryside in the Georgics. My favorite, and by far the most philosophical entry in the bunch, is Musonius Rufus's "Why farming is the best job for a philosopher," though apparently the Stoic author did not actually practice what he preached...
September 18, 2022
This is a charming little book that reads quickly. The actual text of the book is 227 pages, but the English translation is printed side-by-side with the original Greek and Italian text, so if you don't read either of those languages you're looking at a novella-sized 113 pages.
As the introduction to the book states, this is not a guide in the more traditional sense of the word, but a collection of excerpts from ancient Roman and Greek writings that demonstrate how farming is connected to all facets of human life from our social relationships, ethics, and economy to our religion and spirituality.
My only criticism is that it left me wanting more. Perhaps this was the editor's intent, but I feel that additional anecdotal accounts, rituals, and hymns proceeded by their context would have made it a more engaging read.
As the introduction to the book states, this is not a guide in the more traditional sense of the word, but a collection of excerpts from ancient Roman and Greek writings that demonstrate how farming is connected to all facets of human life from our social relationships, ethics, and economy to our religion and spirituality.
My only criticism is that it left me wanting more. Perhaps this was the editor's intent, but I feel that additional anecdotal accounts, rituals, and hymns proceeded by their context would have made it a more engaging read.
September 1, 2022
As someone who aspires to be a farmer, I had high hopes for this book. But I just didn’t care for it. Nothing specific as for why, I just didn’t care for it
July 2, 2025
The Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers series will always hold a soft spot in my heart, because "How to be Content" was not only the first "philosophical" book I read, but was lent to me by a dear friend. Unfortunately, however, the series is very inconsistent, with fascinating highs and trepidatious lows. Unfortunately, this may lean more toward the latter.
What I seek the most from these books, given they utilize philosophical excerpts rather than complete works, is context and analysis offered to us by the author. This means not merely presenting the texts, but justifying their selection. Why is this here? What does it tell us? What message is supposed to be conveyed here? As the author, you assume this responsibility. Otherwise, I might as well read the original and complete texts, if only to get a more encapsulating idea of one's thoughts.
This issue is further propounded by the subject matter. Now I, being a young, city-dwelling, East Coast enclosed individual, am not a farmer. Nor do I think there to be a great chance I will become one. For this reason, I don't seek out advice for my ox plowing my acres of wheat, but rather practical advice, as this series is want to give. Unfortunately, however, the whole absent analysis issue is made worse by the fact that some of these excerpts are meant for those who, in a more literal sense, wish to be an ancient farmer.
That being said, one thing I must give Usher here that is not typically the case in this series is that the selection is rather diverse. Whereas the three books I've read prior have zoned in on a particular philosopher, this book introduces some ideas from various great minds. A few I'd already read. Plato's The Republic, for example, is used. Others, on the other hand, were new and intriguing to me. Not to be back handed, but I will say that this did unfortunately have me again pondering why I wouldn't just read all of the original source material.
As stated previously, there are some interesting excerpts here and there, such as from "on work and wealth": "The best man of all thinks out everything for himself, mulling over what is better later on, and in the end. And yet good, too, is he who heeds words well-spoken by another. But whoever neither thinks for himself nor listens to another when he takes something to heart is a useless person." Rather blunt, yet rather apt as well. I think even more so in the modern world we see this person. The one who is not like Emerson's "hero" or "person of character", but is rather whim to the affectations of the world. Many of today's young adults struggle with this, I fear. Furthermore, we know arrogant people that, in spite of this, reject outward wisdom, seeing as they have made themselves into their own God, and therefore have no need of interference.
Hesiod earns a mention in this compilation, with some words about cultivating good neighbors. He tells us that you should give to one who gives, and not to one who doesn't give. "For the man who gives willingly, even if he gives much, rejoices in the gift and feels glad in his heart". He mirrors this with saying that the snatcher hardens his heart. Of course I agree with that sentiment, and the point there after that little adding to little soon becomes much, but I think we are challenged specifically to give to the non-givers. We must give to all. Not just in the monetary or material sense, but in the spiritual sense. It is only through emptying and pouring out our spirit to others, regardless of their gratitude, that we might have our spirits filled in abundance with Christ's light. Do not quarrel or worry over another's gratitude, for that is for them to worry about. You must justify good in the face of the bad, to give to those who don't "deserve it" is exactly what Christ calls us to do, as He does for us. We do not deserve grace, and yet receive it in its infinitude. So we must be ceaselessly grace-giving and charitable. You cannot control actions from other which turn from God, rather you can only continue to evangelize through your living example.
There's a funny little tidbit in the section on procrastination that I think applies to working days as a whole rather than just on the farm: "Concerning the character of days: Sometimes a day is a mother, sometimes a stepmother".
Perhaps not so intentionally, Lucretius gives a primitive version of the Law of the Conservation of Energy in his De Rerum Natura listed here. "For if things were to arise from nothing, anything could arise from anything". This, too, speaks to God, particularly his existence and glory. We know that things aren't begotten from non-entities. There must be an uncaused causer, as Lucretius indirectly tells us here. That uncaused causer is what we would call God. Once we determine that, of course, comes the question of what, or WHO God is. Regardless, it's an interesting excerpt that does bring up some cosmological questions that I find somewhat fanciful, even if I don't tend to humor the arguments for God's existence or non-existence very often.
So, you can always pull what you seek to find within a book, if you're working hard enough yourself. There are some good parts in this selection, some that speak to me on a practical level, and others on a theological one. However, these are unfortunately few and far between.
While it wasn't, of course, a particularly difficult read, I can't help but feel a longing to read the original sources more than this book. Perhaps that was part of the point, but still I think when coming to "Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers", one tends to expect some more participation from the compiler. With that said, the book is fine, I suppose, but not a strongest entry in the series certainly. I feel it lands solidly in the C/C+ tier.
What I seek the most from these books, given they utilize philosophical excerpts rather than complete works, is context and analysis offered to us by the author. This means not merely presenting the texts, but justifying their selection. Why is this here? What does it tell us? What message is supposed to be conveyed here? As the author, you assume this responsibility. Otherwise, I might as well read the original and complete texts, if only to get a more encapsulating idea of one's thoughts.
This issue is further propounded by the subject matter. Now I, being a young, city-dwelling, East Coast enclosed individual, am not a farmer. Nor do I think there to be a great chance I will become one. For this reason, I don't seek out advice for my ox plowing my acres of wheat, but rather practical advice, as this series is want to give. Unfortunately, however, the whole absent analysis issue is made worse by the fact that some of these excerpts are meant for those who, in a more literal sense, wish to be an ancient farmer.
That being said, one thing I must give Usher here that is not typically the case in this series is that the selection is rather diverse. Whereas the three books I've read prior have zoned in on a particular philosopher, this book introduces some ideas from various great minds. A few I'd already read. Plato's The Republic, for example, is used. Others, on the other hand, were new and intriguing to me. Not to be back handed, but I will say that this did unfortunately have me again pondering why I wouldn't just read all of the original source material.
As stated previously, there are some interesting excerpts here and there, such as from "on work and wealth": "The best man of all thinks out everything for himself, mulling over what is better later on, and in the end. And yet good, too, is he who heeds words well-spoken by another. But whoever neither thinks for himself nor listens to another when he takes something to heart is a useless person." Rather blunt, yet rather apt as well. I think even more so in the modern world we see this person. The one who is not like Emerson's "hero" or "person of character", but is rather whim to the affectations of the world. Many of today's young adults struggle with this, I fear. Furthermore, we know arrogant people that, in spite of this, reject outward wisdom, seeing as they have made themselves into their own God, and therefore have no need of interference.
Hesiod earns a mention in this compilation, with some words about cultivating good neighbors. He tells us that you should give to one who gives, and not to one who doesn't give. "For the man who gives willingly, even if he gives much, rejoices in the gift and feels glad in his heart". He mirrors this with saying that the snatcher hardens his heart. Of course I agree with that sentiment, and the point there after that little adding to little soon becomes much, but I think we are challenged specifically to give to the non-givers. We must give to all. Not just in the monetary or material sense, but in the spiritual sense. It is only through emptying and pouring out our spirit to others, regardless of their gratitude, that we might have our spirits filled in abundance with Christ's light. Do not quarrel or worry over another's gratitude, for that is for them to worry about. You must justify good in the face of the bad, to give to those who don't "deserve it" is exactly what Christ calls us to do, as He does for us. We do not deserve grace, and yet receive it in its infinitude. So we must be ceaselessly grace-giving and charitable. You cannot control actions from other which turn from God, rather you can only continue to evangelize through your living example.
There's a funny little tidbit in the section on procrastination that I think applies to working days as a whole rather than just on the farm: "Concerning the character of days: Sometimes a day is a mother, sometimes a stepmother".
Perhaps not so intentionally, Lucretius gives a primitive version of the Law of the Conservation of Energy in his De Rerum Natura listed here. "For if things were to arise from nothing, anything could arise from anything". This, too, speaks to God, particularly his existence and glory. We know that things aren't begotten from non-entities. There must be an uncaused causer, as Lucretius indirectly tells us here. That uncaused causer is what we would call God. Once we determine that, of course, comes the question of what, or WHO God is. Regardless, it's an interesting excerpt that does bring up some cosmological questions that I find somewhat fanciful, even if I don't tend to humor the arguments for God's existence or non-existence very often.
So, you can always pull what you seek to find within a book, if you're working hard enough yourself. There are some good parts in this selection, some that speak to me on a practical level, and others on a theological one. However, these are unfortunately few and far between.
While it wasn't, of course, a particularly difficult read, I can't help but feel a longing to read the original sources more than this book. Perhaps that was part of the point, but still I think when coming to "Ancient Wisdom for Modern Readers", one tends to expect some more participation from the compiler. With that said, the book is fine, I suppose, but not a strongest entry in the series certainly. I feel it lands solidly in the C/C+ tier.
May 27, 2025
Best book ever. I want to be a farmer now.
August 3, 2022
i saw this book in the barnes and noble philosophy section the day i left to visit my family in the cornfields of the American Midwest. without much thought i purchased it, hoping this would allow for some connection with the earth and a little relatability. i just don’t think I really understood this going into it, it truly is just a collection of farming-related, classical texts, loosely thrown together. i think I was expecting some sort of meditation on the connection between humans and the earth that would also draw parallels to these classical texts, but this felt a little surface level. still finished it as it was a very quick read and I was in the middle of nowhere, but wasn’t impressed. i would love to read a book that covered both eastern and western perspectives on humans relation to the earth in a comprehensive way that left me feeling enlightened rather then bored, disappointed, and wishing I had read the synopsis a little closer.
March 25, 2023
Official Review: 4.1 ⭐️
Similar to a poetry book, this book was a collection of writings about “how to be a farmer” and the values of agriculture from Greek, Latin, and Roman authors.
It was a really interesting and short read. I loved that they included the original text on one page with the translated text right next to it! I think my favorite chapters were “Dedication to Mrs. Farmer. Innovation of Rustic Muses” and “Why Farming is the Best Job for a Philosopher”. This book shows the value to women in agriculture and having an absolute reverence for the land that serves humanity so well.
Despite some chapters not feeling entirely relevant to a midwesterner (olive farming and Greek mythology), there was a lot of good in this text!
Similar to a poetry book, this book was a collection of writings about “how to be a farmer” and the values of agriculture from Greek, Latin, and Roman authors.
It was a really interesting and short read. I loved that they included the original text on one page with the translated text right next to it! I think my favorite chapters were “Dedication to Mrs. Farmer. Innovation of Rustic Muses” and “Why Farming is the Best Job for a Philosopher”. This book shows the value to women in agriculture and having an absolute reverence for the land that serves humanity so well.
Despite some chapters not feeling entirely relevant to a midwesterner (olive farming and Greek mythology), there was a lot of good in this text!
September 2, 2025
A wonderful addition to the series, but . . .
Very terrible proof-reading (by Princeton University Press, for goodness sake!) and, perhaps most egregious, a huge section of the Latin text is just simply missing from selection 19.
A nice volume on ancient farming put together by a very game modern hobby farmer, who seems at times to be (from one to another) a hobby scholar.
The book's virtues -- and they are many and great -- are those of the ancient authors, not of the modern editors and publishers.
Very terrible proof-reading (by Princeton University Press, for goodness sake!) and, perhaps most egregious, a huge section of the Latin text is just simply missing from selection 19.
A nice volume on ancient farming put together by a very game modern hobby farmer, who seems at times to be (from one to another) a hobby scholar.
The book's virtues -- and they are many and great -- are those of the ancient authors, not of the modern editors and publishers.
March 23, 2022
An easy, relaxing read or listen for audiobook. There was a nice mix of ancient greek and latin passages and i enjoyed seeing the non translated texts as well. There are other "ancient texts for modern reader" books that I think I might try next.
March 14, 2023
I cannot say i remember a lot from this read but i enjoyed the time i spent listening to it
November 6, 2025
It's more about ancient writing and less about farm advice from them.its interesting to see that people just always complain about the same things when it comes to "getting back to the land".
November 10, 2025
Very contrived.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews