The Good Life: Helen and Scott Nearing's Sixty Years of Self-Sufficient Living

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.

Good read, be lovely to live like them now days.

The best book ever about getting out of the rat race

A bit heavy going and written by people who seem to have deluded themselves as to just how dependent they were on other people's labour and even on the capitalist system the abhorred.I would have preferred the book to have started with an honest account of what Scott Nearing got up to in the first 40 or so years of his life. A little less extremism and preaching would have been good, though I admit that, even as an experiment, their methods would be very difficult to follow in our generation. However, it is still interesting and worthwhile reading.

I'm writing this review primarily because the previous review does not reflect the true value of this book. I agree this book is not a casual read. It is a very detailed document of how two intellectuals born into privilidged circumstances, eventually rejected the exploitation they saw in society, prefering a frugal life in the country where they could live according to their principles.I believe they wrote this book because they had found something of value they wanted to share with anyone who was interested, and not to make a fast buck.The depth of information on what they ate, how they grew their food, preserved their crops , their 'leisure' time etc - although it is written to their own situation, gives insights into self sufficient living that I have not gleaned from other books before. This book is genuine. They do not pretend to be experts in the field of smallholding. They were almost complete novices, out on their own, learning from their mistakes.If you stick out reading the book, you will also gain a real sense of how time management takes on a new meaning. We tend to plan goals taking only a few weeks to achieve, perhaps a year before the job is done. Helen and Scott Nearing took on projects that took decades to complete e.g. Scott digging the lake by hand. If you don't have the will to finish the book, then self sufficient living is definately not for you.For 'lighter' reading and real insight into their relationship, read 'Loving and leaving the good life'. Very touching.

A fascinating insight into the Nearings' experiment in living an alternative lifestyle. A book full of information on their simple but obviousely imensely fulfilling day to day life, but more importantly this book takes the time to explain the reasons for their decisions and their life philosophy.Inspirational and fascinating, I only wish I had words to express how highly I recomend this book to anyone and everyone who is sufficiently interested to have read this review.

I would not want to be their neighbour, that's for sure. I think that they were stuck up (well educated with trust funds behind them and not needing to live the way they did) and unkind to anyone who had a different point of view. I don't like their views about animals that they are either our slaves or we are theirs (wish someone explained this one to me) and their constant criticism about their neighbours. The sense I got from this book was "we are right and everyone who doesn't agree with us is wrong". I admire them for their early views on recycling, organic living, vegetarianism and so on but I think they lived with a military precision which would not suit most people. I also think that they were lucky they had each other because they didn't seem to like anybody else.

Inspiring story of a couple of people who had a lot of determination and integrity to live the type of life they valued and made it work. There is a lot of detail on the day to day practicalities of living simply and working hard, and their philosophy behind their decisions.

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

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

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

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

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!