Wise Words for the Good Life: A Homesteader's Personal Collection

by Helen Nearing

Helen Nearing was a collector of words. As one of the leading twentieth-century practitioners of self-sufficient living, Helen Nearing found illumination and solace in the sayings of predecessors who had sought their own versions of "the good life." By grouping the wisdom of the ages into categories that are quirky yet eminently sensible, she brings to life the contemporary relevance of some of the most profound chroniclers of our rural As well as being a gleaner of quotations, Helen was the creator of her own "wise words." Her book Loving and Leaving the Good Life was described by May Sarton as "a tonic for any young person dismayed by the state of the world, and a drink at the fountain of youth for any old person depressed or discouraged." Helen's book Simple Food for the Good Life was described by Health Science as "far more than a mere cookbook. It belongs to the category of classics, destined to be remembered through the ages."

Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Helen Knothe Nearing was an American author and advocate of simple living. She and Scott Nearing started a relationship in 1928 and married nearly 20 years later, on December 12, 1947.[3][3] The couple lived in rural Vermont where they grew much of their food and erected nine stone buildings over the course of two decades. They earned money by producing maple syrup and sugar from the trees on their land and from Scott Nearing's occasional paid lectures. (from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Autumn]

What attracted me to this book was the connection to the classic book, The Good Life by Scott and Helen Nearing. This book, Wise Words for the Good Life, is excerpts from Helen Nearing's library relating to simple living close to the land. Excerpts ranged from ancient to recent historical quotes. The book was mostly boring. I did not like it. I loved The Simple Life, though.