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The Unsettlers
The Unsettlers: In Search of the Good Life in Today's America | Mark Sundeen
17 posts | 11 read | 42 to read
The radical search for the simple life in todays America. In the dead of winter, a classically trained opera singer, five months pregnant, and her husband, a former marine biologist, disembark an Amtrak train in La Plata, Missouri, assemble two bikes, and pedal off into the night, bound for a homestead theyve purchased, sight unseen. Meanwhile, a horticulturist, heir to the Great Migration that brought masses of African Americans to Detroit, and her husband, a product of the white flight from it, have turned to urban farming to revitalize the blighted city they both love. And near Missoula, Montana, a couple who have been at the forefront of organic farming for decades navigate what it means to live and raise a family ethically. More than ever, we seem to be yearning for the simple life. We want to reconnect with the land and the environment in a deeper way that can assuage modern ills. We seek a livelihood that exercises body and mind without taking a toll on the planet. We long to nurture spirit and community instead of distracting and isolating ourselves with electronics. We even dream utopian dreams of discovering ways of life that model for others answers to the question of how we can live more sustainably, peacefully, authentically. A work of immersive journalism steeped in a distinctively American social history and sparked by a personal quest, The Unsettlers traces the search for the simple life not only through the stories of those three very different couples, but through the visionaries, ascetics, and artists that inspired each of them to walk away from the life they knew in order to find (or create) a better existence. Captivating and clear-eyed, it dares us to imagine what a sustainable, ethical, authentic future might actually look like. From the Hardcover edition.
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8leagueboot
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Reading about people who buck the system and create something new in its place is an inspiring vibe for this cross-country adventure.

39 likes2 stack adds
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Suet624
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Pickpick

It‘s only fair to post a photo of the third couple highlighted in this book. Their mission for decades was to grow organic food in Montana. Their story was complex and outlined what it was like for their three children. I wouldn‘t have picked up this book on my own & I‘m so glad it was suggested. All these folks weigh all their decisions very carefully to ensure their impact on the earth is minimal. Now excuse me while I shut off some lights. 😀

minkyb It really makes you pause and think. 7y
Suet624 @minkyb you‘re absolutely right. 7y
62 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Suet624
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The second section of this book provides details on Olivia, a horticulturist, and Greg, a former teacher who started Brother Nature Produce in their backyard in Detroit. The author provides interesting background on where they came from and the passion and determination it required to offer fresh produce in a bleak and impoverished city. I was stunned when reading the history of Detroit. I knew nothing about what had happened to that City. 😳😳

Tamra Kudos to them! Inspirational! 7y
Suet624 @Tamra the individuals highlighted in this book are amazing. 😳😇 7y
78 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Suet624
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My librarian knew I had lived on a commune in the past and recommended this book. The author, in looking for his own version of a more simple life, meets and tells the story of three American families who have chosen to live a more intentional life. The first group he visits is The Possibility Alliance, started by Ethan and Sarah Hughes. A video of the group: https://youtu.be/xTD3WuLWxpQ. It brought up lots of memories for me of my past.

nickimags Sounds really interesting. 7y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Interesting video, beautiful photo! 7y
mcipher What an interesting experience to have had! I can imagine if being both wonderful and difficult (I guess that‘s anything in life, huh?) 7y
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tournevis Interesting. Hopefully, the memories are good! 7y
ReadingEnvy I love these kinds of stories and that is interesting that you have that background! 7y
Suet624 @JanuarieTimewalker13 That photo is from one of my drives in Vermont. 😍 7y
Suet624 @mcipher Yes, at the time it was both wonderful and difficult. Now my memories are all wonderful. 😀. No running water or electricity made it challenging but the companionship and shared vision was great. 7y
Suet624 @tournevis Yes, the memories are indeed wonderful. 💕 7y
Suet624 @ReadingEnvy I enjoy these stories too. I love knowing there are still people consciously working to leave less of a carbon footprint on the world. I have gotten a bit sloppy about that. It‘s a reminder for me. 7y
72 likes5 stack adds10 comments
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books_cats_art
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review
kiminreverse
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Pickpick

Sundeen tells the story of Missouri homesteaders, urban farmers in blighted Detroit, and organic gardeners in Montana, focusing on one couple living in a unique way in each section. This book's strength lies in his incredible ability to tell a story: of people, places, and movements. I *really* loved this one, particularly the Detroit section.

L_auren Sounds great and I've never heard of it! Thank you 💕 8y
7 likes1 comment
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krismlars
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Pickpick

This book covered a lot of topics-activism, racism, politics and government, spirituality, history-in it's examination of intentional living in the US. In this photo: the Possibility Alliance (top left), the Eastern Market in Detroit, and a random farm in the Bitterroot Valley. Inspire by these stories (I'm training anyway), I'm going to pedal this book 16 miles round-trip back to the library. (I prefer the library in the next burb over.)

kspenmoll Intriguing book- and you amaze me with your biking.🚵🏻‍♀️ 8y
krismlars @kspenmoll thanks! But I live outside of Boulder CO, where many super athletes train. They would not be very impressed by 16 miles! I had a good ride though😃 8y
13 likes1 stack add2 comments
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kiminreverse
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krismlars
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This describes exactly why I love backpacking! I never expected to enjoy it, because it's HARD. But the benefits far outweigh the efforts.

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DreesReads
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Returned all but one of my library books today (unread!) and picked up this. Trying to break out of my reading slump!!

20 likes1 stack add
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Kelly
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the author of this is irritating so I'm hate reading now BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I read outside with a lavender latte. In February. In Wisconsin.

EmilyChristine It's been raining here all day. In almost Canada. Where is winter? 8y
queerbookreader A lavender latte?? 😛 8y
31 likes2 comments
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Hoopiefoot
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Wheel meet House.

TrishTheBibliophile This looks great!!! 8y
valeriegeary Have you started this one yet? Interested in hearing how it is 8y
Hoopiefoot @valeriegeary I just finished it. Really liked it. 8y
80 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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Kelly
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I love to read and love to hate on these kind of books. Thanks @Amanda for spreading the lovehate

Weaponxgirl I do the same 😂 a part of me wants to slow down ect, the other part of me is annoyed at how privileged and unaware of it most people who write these books are 8y
27 likes1 stack add1 comment
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BekahPat
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#bookmail is the best mail! #blamemrbook....it really is his fault! #blamelitsy

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MrBook
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#TBRtemptation post! This just-released contemporary sociological history looks at how some Americans are returning to "the simple life". A pregnant opera singer & her marine biologist husband bike from the train to their new home sight-unseen on Missouri. A horticulturalist & her husband begin urban farming in Detroit. And a couple near Missoula, Montana, who have been organic farmers for decades raise their family. #blameLitsy #blameMrBook ?

LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
87 likes11 stack adds1 comment
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Liberty
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I put all the entries from the #BooksFromLiberty giveaway into the random name generator and @Shmemilina won! Thanks to everyone for participating and stay tuned, I'll be doing it again soon. 🎉📚😘

181 likes1 stack add
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Rhondareads
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A search for people who are living a simple life living off the land ,some will not drive cars some off grid.An interesting view of people who adopt a lifestyle that I know I could never survive.

17 likes1 comment