The Unsettling of America

American poet, essayist, novelist, farmer, and environmental activist Wendell Berry is known for his passionate advocacy of sustainable agriculture and rural communities. Born in 1934 in Henry County, Kentucky, Berry spent much of his life living and working on a small farm near his birthplace. His profound connection to the land and his firsthand experience as a farmer gives him unique insight into the challenges facing rural communities. This perspective informs much of his writing, which addresses the moral, cultural, and environmental consequences of industrialization, particularly in the agricultural sector. Berry’s other nonfiction work includes The Art of the Commonplace (1977), a collection of essays examining the agrarian lifestyle. Among his 80 novels is Jayber Crow (2000), which centers on the largely rural life of a Kentucky man in the fictional town of Port William.

Berry’s academic background includes degrees from the University of Kentucky and Stanford University, and he has taught creative writing and English at several universities. However, he ultimately chose a simpler, agrarian life in Kentucky over an academic career, opting to reconnect with the land and the rhythms of rural life. His firsthand experiences in farming, as well as his expertise in literature, make him particularly qualified to discuss the impact of industrial agriculture, offering a deeply personal and philosophical perspective on these issues (Skinner, David.