The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture is a 1977 work of non-fiction by American essayist, poet, and farmer Wendell Berry. In the book, Berry offers a critique of modern industrial agriculture in the United States, arguing that it leads to the degradation of the land, the breakdown of rural communities, and a loss of cultural and spiritual connection to place. The book has been widely recognized as a seminal text in agrarian thought and environmental ethics.
Wendell Berry, a Kentucky farmer and writer, had been publishing essays and poetry related to agriculture and the environment since the 1960s. By the mid-1970s, he emerged as a leading critic of the U.S. agricultural system. The Unsettling of America developed out of Berry's ongoing concerns about the ecological and cultural consequences of the industrialization of farming, and it reflected his broader agrarian philosophy that emphasized local economies, stewardship of the land, and the moral responsibilities of farmers.
Synopsis
Berry argues that the shift from small-scale, diversified family farming to large-scale, mechanized, and chemically dependent agribusiness has profound negative consequences. According to Berry, this "industrial" model of agriculture prioritizes efficiency and profit over ecological health and community well-being. He maintains that this results in:
Soil erosion and environmental degradation.
The decline of family farms and rural communities.
A commodification of both land and people, treating them primarily in economic terms.
A broader cultural alienation from the land and its care.
Berry contrasts this with an agrarian ideal grounded in respect for limits, commitment to place, and recognition of the interdependence between humans and the natural world.
Reception and legacy
Upon publication, The Unsettling of America was noted for its forceful prose and moral urgency. It was influential among environmentalists, theologians, and scholars of agrarian studies. Writing in the New York Times, Donald Hall wrote that in the publication of this work, Berry "is a prophet of our healing, a utopian poet‐legislator like William Blake".[1]
The book has come to be regarded as a classic,[2][3] and has been described as one of Berry's most important works and a cornerstone in the literature of American agrarianism.[4][5] Berry's arguments influenced subsequent generations of writers and activists, including proponents of the local food movement and advocates for regenerative agriculture.[6]
Publication history
The Unsettling of America: Culture & Agriculture has been reissued multiple times since its original publication, reflecting its ongoing influence. The following table summarizes notable editions:
Sections of the book have also been included in several collections of Berry's writings, such as "The Art of the Commonplace"[7] and "The World-Ending Fire".[8]
↑ Jackson, Wes (1994). Becoming Native to This Place. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN978-0-8131-0869-8.
↑ Berry, Wendell (August 5, 2003). Norman Wirzba (ed.). The Art of the Commonplace: The Agrarian Essays of Wendell Berry. Counterpoint. p.352. ISBN978-1593760076.
↑ Berry, Wendell (May 14, 2019). Paul Kingsnorth (ed.). The World-Ending Fire: The Essential Wendell Berry. Counterpoint Press. p.368. ISBN978-1640091979.
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