Customer Reviews

Hard Times in Paradise

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I bought "Hard Times in Paradise" and "Homeschooling For Excellence" in 1988, I was pregnant with my only child. I did not think that a federally controlled, compulsory education was healthy, nor did I think that small children should be removed from their parents' care at such an early age. I was hungry for information that would give me a perspective on what to expect. David and Micki Colfax have done a wonderful job of explaining the hits and misses that comprised the raising of their children outside of the standard educational systems. The long term successes of their sons are enough to inspire any parent. I can't recommend their books enough.

David and Micki Colfax have succeeded in doing what some of us would love to do ... return to a lifestyle that while more challenging (physically and mentally) is often more rewarding ... the simple pride of being able to provide for one's self and family; giving to one's children the gift of unrestricted time and energy, taking time to answer their questions and involve them in what you are doing and teaching them that some things in this world are not always fair .... there are other things I could mention but will let you find for yourself. When I find myself needing to step back from the hustle and bustle we know and call life, I return to "Hard Times In Paradise," to be reminded of what's really important.

This book is well worth the money, if you want to learn what the Colfax kids really did to become the students that were accepted at Harvard. All the real life learning, hands-on projects that were essential to survival in the CA mountains, and learning to think, improvise and make it work! However, the Colfax's are just as proud of their fourth son, who didn't attend Harvard. Read in conjunction with "Homeschooling for Excellence" you get the whole picture of one way to provide a well-rounded education for your homeschooled kids.

I agree 100% with Kenneth Robinson's comments on this book. It is definitely a "good read;" it was almost a page-turner. Many times I was amazed by, and sometimes I greatly admired, the authors' risk-taking, fortitude, and adventurous spirit. Certainly I could understand the importance they placed on family, and the way they valued learning by doing, which is something I believe we in the mainstream society have come to appreciate more over the years. However, I was less than charmed by their bitterness, strangely judgmental and superior outlook toward anyone who was different than them, and economic view of the animal kingdom. (I was also amused that they acted as if they were the first, and only, individuals on the planet to discover cooking from scratch, organic gardening, 4H, farming, etc.: many others do it, some with far less educational advantages, out of necessity, and to these multitudes it simply a natural way of life, not some grandiose philosophy.) I was left wondering why, considering their values and background, they so prized their sons entry into Harvard? And why did they bite their tongues regarding their politics when they wanted to take advantage of a neighbor to get water?

Couldn't put the book down. Throughout the story of their family's survival in the country with all the challenges of actually living off the land - dealing with the elements, living without amenities, having no money to buy decent equipment, and needing even the small children to contribute to make it work - I felt I was right there with the Colfax's. It made me laugh and cry as I lived through the challenges with them, watching each child grow stronger with each set-back, seeing each one's individual strengths emerge, and the tremendous sense of self-confidence that came with it. What a way to grow up! I know their book has inspired generations of home-schoolers. I didn't expect it to be such a fresh and enlivening experience to read even today. I feel so grateful to the Colfax's for telling their story.

This has been my favorite homeschooling book for years and one of my favs in general. Wonderful family! Enjoyable even if you don't homeschool.

I absolutely loved this book. When we got the book, my husband and 3 children and I were already homesteading and I had started to homeschool my children. Our experiences were slightly different, but at the same time some were very similar. I could relate to their struggles. And I also remember the '70's when they started their adventure. Homesteading and homeschooling is so much more acceptable now! They were pioneers for the rest of us!

This is not a how-to manual or a Thoreau-like discourse on the philosophy of agrarian self-reliant living. It's an amusing, anecdotal story of their homesteading endeavors.

I found the Colfaxs' perseverance in the face of often great adversity inspiring and admirable. On the other hand, I found their martyr complex extremely tiresome. David Colfax was denied tenure at a couple of colleges allegedly due to their heavy involvement in left-wing causes. I find it perplexing why a man who espouses self-reliance believes that he has a right to tenure--which is welfare for those with a PhD. and a willingness to jump through the hoops.

Still, this is a fine, light read--if you get the book at the library or in the bargain bin. It's certainly not worth paying for a new copy.

Ignoring the political differences and the focus on not getting tenure do to political activities done on private time (I assume they were on private time v. paid teaching time on campus) the book is very enjoyable.
While they were inspired by John Holt they could have been inspiration for Gatto.
I disagree with the politics and the long held anger toward former employers for not receiving tenure (and memories of a truly horrible experience of being threatened by others in the political opponents in a former community). However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading their homeschooling story and seeing a well functioning family. I find it interesting to see them live out ideals that seem to be opposite of the values they were "fighting for" in their politically active days. What they lived, and what worked so well for them, is not what they believed politically and what they taught their children (as indicated by their children's activities now during their adult lives).
I find it so interesting to see how there is so much overlapping between conservatives and liberals when it comes to our children and our rights as parents. I guess that is the area where we are all a bit Libertarian!
I appreciate the candor and openness of the Colfax family. I appreciate their dedication to their family, their work ethic, their willingness to buck their liberal counterparts (many liberals are stuck in working within the public schools and thinking bigger and more government is better) and their adventuresome spirit of being willing to unschool before there were other examples to follow.