loppear reviewed The good life by Helen Nearing
Review of 'The good life' on Goodreads
4 stars
Self-sufficient idealists move to a use-economy in Vermont and then Maine. An interesting early version of this story, starting in 1932 and referencing intentional community (and Walden Two in passing, published after 15 years of their story) but ultimately the story of a couple willing to nonchalantly tackle and thoroughly document their version of happiness; towards the end, the tale of the stone garden wall they took 14 years to build.
Combines two separately published books, one on 20 years in Vermont (when Scott was approaching age 50) and one on 20+ more years starting again in Maine after the ski tourism became too busy for them in their original homestead. The first is more idealistic and socialist, and anticipatory of an impending decline of the American state, while by the latter they have settled on a simpler agricultural and practical tone.
