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Helen Nearing

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The Good Life: Helen and Scott Nearing's Sixty Years of Self-Sufficient Living Paperback – Illustrated, January 3, 1990

by Scott Nearing (Author), Helen Nearing (Author)

4.6 289 ratings

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This one volume edition of Living the Good Life and Continuing the Good Life brings these classics on rural homesteading together. This couple abandoned the city for a rural life with minimal cash and the knowledge of self reliance and good health.

Print length

411 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Schocken
Publication date

January 3, 1990
Dimensions

5.17 x 0.88 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

0805209700
ISBN-13

978-0805209709
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Helen and Scott Nearing are the great-grandparents of the back-to-the-land movement, having abandoned the city in 1932 for a rural life based on self-reliance, good health, and a minimum of cash. . . . Fascinating, timely, and wholly useful, a mix of the Nearings’ challenging philosophy and expert counsel on practical skills.”
—The Washington Post Book World

"A prophetic account of the creation of a self-sufficient little Walden . . . that has been an underground bible for the city-weary."
—Newsweek

"The Nearings are plain daylight, solid prose, sound information."
—The New York Times Book Review

"As close to a Walden for out times as we're likely to see."
—Yankee Magazine

From the Publisher

"Helen and Scott Nearing are the great-grandparents of the back-to-the-land movement, having abandoned the city in 1932 for a rural life based on self-reliance, good health, and a minimum of cash...Fascinating, timely, and wholly useful, a mix of the Nearings' challenging philosophy and expert counsel on practical skills."--Washington Post Book World

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Schocken; Illustrated edition (January 3, 1990)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 411 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0805209700
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0805209709
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.17 x 0.88 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #131,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #39 in Sociology of Rural Areas
- #1,218 in U.S. State & Local History
- #3,130 in Personal Transformation Self-Help

Customer Reviews:
4.6 289 ratings

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Helen Nearing

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Helen Nearing left city life with her husband, Scott, nearly sixty years ago to move first to Vermont and then to their farm in Harborside, Maine. The Nearings' food and living philosophies have provided the guidelines for many who seek a simpler way of life.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

289 global ratings

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BealNaBlath

Still powerfully relevant after all these years

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2024

Verified Purchase

It was a pleasure to reread LIVING THE GOOD LIFE, with so many practical life lessons for contemporary back-to-the landers...

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ML

Most inspiring lives!

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2011

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I read this book over New Year's break in 2011, 40 some years after it was written! And yet I found that it best addresses every bit of today's issue for the average American than anything else. Off all the books I have read, including those written today, on the topic of simple, natural, and Self-sufficient living, I found that this spoke to me the most. It is written in simple, clear, inclusive language, gets right to the point and with remarkable honesty about the various details of their lives. Clearly Helen and Scott were visionaries and way ahead of their time, which explains the unfortunate circumstances that they found themselves in with regards to the current culture. This is by far the most inspiring and enlightened couple of all time, a couple in the True sense. I don't believe there was a single instance of "I" in this book; it was always "We."

This is a recommended read for lovers of the simple, natural, and handmade life! Another book I enjoyed is Helen's cookbook "Simple Food for The Good Life" ... very informative and great recipes for vegetarian/vegan diet!

9 people found this helpful

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Hosang Yu

We thought that we will be better off -yes it's true in many ways

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2015

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I read this book more than 15 years ago, a university student in Korea -of course in Korean- where everything was rushing to development or money, without much time to pause and think where we are...
We thought that we will be better off -yes it's true in many ways, but we believe we lost something: a simple life harmonized with surroundings including not nature, but also with neighborhood.
I may be overestimating but for me, this book affected my life as much as Walden and Laozi (yes, I was 23 years old, and this book was more vivid and real for me than book written some hundreds or -even!- thousands years ago )

Now I bought this book and read again, I feel more clearly what this couple wanted to say, not only because it is in original language but also the world we live now -rushing to a place of materialism without knowing why we really have to do- makes this book even more compelling.

12 people found this helpful

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Scott Sauchuk

Mandatory Reading for Homesteaders

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2003

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'The Good Life' consists of two previously published books: 'Living the Good Life' and 'Continuing the Good Life'. Both books have completely different flavors. 'Living the Good Life' (1954) was written in the Nearings' still youthful and rebellious years, while 'Continuing the Good Life' (1979) shows the Nearings in a mellowed, tolerant old age.
Living the Good Life has some very useful information on gardening, food storage, and stone construction. The book is a mix of practical advice and the Nearings' philosophy of living, which includes self-reliance, vegetarianism, and socialism or communism. The authors do a good job of outlining their "design for living". A plethora of quotes tends to disrupt the writing.
The Nearings move from New York City to the Vermont hills, but say little of how they learned "the good life". Much of the book was written as though the authors knew better than the Vermont natives from the start. Surely, there were some humbling moments and follies that they experienced, but none are related. A little self-deprecation would have made the Nearings more likeable.
The authors had attempted to establish a commune or socialistic village in Vermont. However, the independent country folk refused to buy into their collective experiments. With only a handful of members, the Nearings made little economic or social progress. With intense scorn regarding the independence of rural America, the Nearings admit failure of their experiment and move off to Maine.
'Continuing the Good Life' abandons the philosophical ranting found in the first book and focuses on practical advice for modern homesteaders. The Nearings even relax some of their own vegetarian beliefs, as evidenced by eating dairy products and occasional eggs. By abandoning much of their preaching, they become more likeable. Although some of their endeavors are amusing, such as building a 1.5 acre pond with pick, shovel, wheelbarrow, and some concrete, we respect them for adhering to their beliefs and having so much energy at such an advanced age.

27 people found this helpful

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NY reader

An out dated classic, but with great thought provoking writing.

Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2019

Verified Purchase

The Nearings are gone, but their tale is still told. They touched many lives and made us want to go back to the earth and grow our own veggies and live a life separate from the worlds idea of plastic wrapped foods. I think they have a lot to say even today. We can benefit from their wisdom. To change ones life style takes guts and strength and money to purchase the land and venture forth on your quest. Most like modern comforts at the push of a button. Some of us do not, some like both....learn from them and nature. Heath is so important with wholesome foods and its missing now for many.

6 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

This book helped change my life

Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2005

Verified Purchase

These books have inspired me to start my own farm and live a life of simplicity and hard work. I share some of the strong principals that Scott and Helen Nearing had. I only wish I had their courage.

Once you have read their books do some research on Scott and Helen then you will learn why they were the way they were. Scott was a real Pain in the *** to a lot of folks prior to the great depression. His ideas on child labor were way ahead of his time. Helen was his soul mate and partner and a darn good writer in her own right.

They both lived long lives Scott 100, Helen 91 she was killed in an auto accident. With their strong beliefs and not always endearing manners they weren't always appreciated by their neighbors and friends.

However, they were right about so many things and inspired so many people they became cult heros during the sixties and beyond. These books are about them as much as about their farm.

10 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

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Afaneen Kubba

Inspiring !

Reviewed in Canada on February 27, 2022

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed reading this book and it was very inspiring . You need to have a strong will and desire to live this lifestyle.

One person found this helpful

Cliente Amazon

Da esempio per una vita sana.

Reviewed in Italy on April 1, 2016

Verified Purchase

Bel libro da esempio a parecchie coppie che vogliono cambiare vita in una vita più semplice. peccato che è solamente in Inglese.

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PillBlast

LOVED the book!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2014

Verified Purchase

Absolutely loved the book. What they are doing is what I wish I had the courage to do. I skipped all the quote pages (one before each chapter) but this didn't take away from the read and I think some people might actually enjoy them.

Scot Benson

Quick & Easy

Reviewed in Canada on January 8, 2022

Verified Purchase

These are great snowshoe bindings. Easy to get in and out of without taking off your mitts or gloves !!!

One person found this helpful

Ivan

Non lo consiglio

Reviewed in Italy on June 30, 2023

Verified Purchase

La fatica di tradurlo dall'inglese all'italiano, non vale la pena.. ne ho letto più o meno la metà fino ad ora, ma mi sono fermata perché è molto noioso con dettagli tecnici non interessanti.. mi ha deluso molto

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