Rating: 
Summary: One of those book I treasure and re-read a lot
Review: This is a wonderful book if you want to learn what to do and what not to do if you desire to be as self sufficient as possible. I especially appreciated the sections on eating for health as well as what they eat and why. But it is the sections on how they supported themselves with blueberries and maple syrup that I appreciated so, because they explain how they used what was native to their area, as a means of support, but only as much as they needed. They never "raped" the earth in order to survive, but instead are demonstrative of what a legitimate wise steward is or should be. I also liked the section on how they came to use hand laid stone wall fences rather than wire fences. And the choice and use of wood for heating, which in 2003 is even more efficient with stove inserts that have catalytic converters so air pollution is diminished drastically. Although I believe if they were alive that a solar home would have been their main source of energy. And their section on building a garden soil with compost and no artificial fertilizer is something anyone who wants to grow a hearty organic vegetable garden should read. We have used their sage advise and people joke that our garden must be on steroids. Chapter seven dealing with water issues is a must read for anyone looking into buying land and buying land for the purpose of living on it and surviving.Needless to say I like all their books and read and re-read them gleaning valuable information each time.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, cranky people
Review: This was an inspirational book for me when I was a young man and yearned to "go back to the land." Now, been there done that, and I'm more cynical about city folks in the country.
The Nearings left "civilization" in the depression era when Scott was about 50 and spent the next 50 years homesteading rural properties in Vermont and Maine. Actually, if you read between the lines, they spent only part of the year homesteading and the rest traveling and lecuturing. They were an opinionated pair -- strict vegetarians, organic gardeners, and full of personal idiosyncracies they spend a lot of time rationalizing. For example, they ate with wooden utensils rather than metal silverware because of fear of chemicals. But who can argue with them? Scott lived to be 100 and Helen lived a long time too.
There are as many contradictions in their philosophy as has a Marxist manifesto. The "simple life" as they define it includes a pickup truck (something of a luxury in 1930s Vermont), cement mixer and (gasp!)chemicals to acclerate the workings of their beloved compost pile. They are anti-capitalist but make a living selling maple sugar, blueberries, and Scott's economic tomes. I would guess they took advantage of the Depression by buying land at low, low prices from destitute farmers -- but they later donated some of it to the community. Typical of city folk in rural situations they looked down on their neighbors as backward rubes, incapable and unwilling to be educated (indoctrinated) by their betters. I would love to have a book about the Nearings by one of their neighbors. It could be hilarious.
Amidst the philosophy of a pair of radicals in the country is some good advice on how to build a stone house and wall, tap maple trees, and irritate your neighbors. The romance of the rural is compelling and I enjoy dipping into their books from time to time.
Smallchief
Rating: 
Summary: I don't think so
Review: This way of life is not for me and I admit it right up front. 'The Good Life' does some mandatory chest-thumping and has more detail on building a fence or a wood shed than I'll ever need (I hope). Still, I kept on with the book 'til the end. More than anything, I found myself feeling sorry for Helen Nearing. I know she supposedly went along with this way of life willingly, but if you read between the lines, you'll find Scott Nearing self-righteous, overbearing, a pretty bad host to company and not much fun at parties. On the other hand, if you want someone to build you a fence and throw you a handful of granola, he's your man.
Rating: 
Summary: Our Way or the Highway
Review: While I admire the Nearings for dropping out of urban society and making it on their own in rural Vermont way before it was fashionable to do so, I found their tone to be didactic in the extreme, and their attitude (we are the only ones on the planet who know exactly how to live, work, play, eat, sleep, breathe etc. correctly) to be annoying. The book gives no real practical knowledge of homesteading, other than a densely written, obtuse chapter on building with stone. It also actively disparages the rural culture and traditions of the people around their homestead. The Nearings are the only people who know anything (in their estimation), and the fact that the people around them don't bow down to them, and acquiesce to their every wish and demand, just proves that they are all dolts. I also found it curious that despite the fact that the Nearings claimed not to use any animals on their homestead, there are two pictures of them in the book (at least in the 1970 edition I was reading) using a team of horses.
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