The Great Plains in Transition

[Oliver]

A spot for discussing The Great Plains in Transition, one of the big 12 books for Dr. Isern's comps list.

[Thomas]

I think when you get to the chapter on sutland and younland, Oliver, you will see the direct relationship to your thesis research.

[Oliver]

I've decided to get started on The Great Plains in Transition tonight. One thing that stood out immediately is the book is dedicated "To the rural residents of the Great Plains," with the following message, "with the hope that other United States citizens, in and out of the region, will find in these pages the ways and means to help build a satisfactory way of life for the Plains."

Kraenzel seems to have a different mindset than Webb or even Cather. I'm not sure they would as open-handedly ask for help in the way Kraenzel does. I'm excited to get started on this book.

[Thomas]

Kraenzel ia a planner; land-use planning had a vogue in the 1930s. He also is a rural sociologist; thus he extends planning to people.

[Dan]

review is up here:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Thomas]

Great review, Dan. You see the connection to Webb. Kraenzel does not dispute that environment rules, and humankind must adapt, but unlike Webb, Kraenzel still sees the adaptation as a work in progress. Notice the chronology: Webb publishing in 1931, pre-Dust bowl, Kranzel in 1955 (as I recall), post-Dust Bowl, and getting into the so-called Filthy Fifties. Kraenzel's work is another of those that hovers in-between primary and secondary. He has a lot of secondary matter in the front, but then he gets into current problems, and thus is a great source as to thought about the Great Plains a generation after Webb. As a planner, Kraenzel wants to see the people of the plains take their future into their hands. But that requires dismantling much of what they have built. A hard sell.

[Thomas]

Oliver, have you been reading the Kraenzel?