If you need motivation to throw off the materialist mindset for the simpler life. I'd like to recommend a book that has had a real impact on my life and way of thinking. Or if you want to convince others to give up the rat race for sane and sensible living this book is a God-send (literally). It is Henry And The Great Society by HL Roush. It should be on every homesteaders bookshelf. I don't know if you can get it interlibrary loan or not. I've never tried. I got mine from

Pathway Publishers 258ON 250W LaGrange, IN 46761

This is an Amish publisher so they have no phone #. The author is not Amish. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has read this book or is interested enough in buying it. I wish I could remember the price, but it was only 4 or 5 dollars and well worth it.

-- Tiffani Cappello (cappello@alltel.net), October 20, 2000

Answers

Tiffani,

I will make this my MISSION this weekend - to find a copy of this book. I so desperately need it. I am willing to MAKE the time to read anything I can get my hands on about how to slow down and get out of this rat race lifestyle we're in right now.

My husband does not share my enthusiasm for the "country life" but he does want to slow his life down. I'm hoping this book will be able to give me some suggetions that I can implement quickly, right where we are in our life right now.

Thank you for caring enough to post this information. I'm sure I will be eternally grateful to you for it.

All the best to you and yours, Greenthumbelina

-- Greenthumbelina (sck8107@aol.com), October 20, 2000.

I just checked over at amazon.com and they do have this book in stock. The price is $5.95 and they will ship it within 24 hours. Sherri in Indy

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), October 20, 2000.

Greenthumbs, www.abebooks.com has a copy available for $1.00. Go to their site and do a quick search. I have done bizness w/ them before w/ good results. John

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), October 20, 2000.

This book is great! I have read it and it gives a true picture of the futility of chasing after materialism and how once you have one gadget, you "need" another gadget and then another gadget...It really speaks directly to the American culture. It's a convicting book. I would recommend reading it before your next major purchase.

-- Chris DeCollibus (c.decollibus@ocsnet.net), October 20, 2000.

Tiffani how big is the print in this book? compare it to the bible thanks Bob in s.e.ks.

-- Bob Condry (bobco@hit.net), October 21, 2000.

Hi, I have followed Countryside for many years, sometimes subscribing and sometimes not (depended on the money I had) and when I couldn't subscribe I went to the "net" to see what's happening with all the homesteaders. I usually sit back and read what all of you have to say and don't respond at all. But here's a little something for those of you who like to read and want a little inspiration. Years ago, in college, I was assigned to read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayan Rand. Back then I thought that was the biggest pain in the rear known. But over the years since, the ideas in Atlas Shrugged got me where I am now, which is owning my own little place and doing for myself. The whole gist of the book is that there are people out there who are doing, building, etc. for the pure love of the occupation, while others are living off what these people have created. The ones living off the others work take credit for, tax, regulate and generally make life so miserable for those who create, that the creators start disappearing. They go to a very isolated area where they start over, very simply. The rest of the US/world is lost without the creators. Trains don't run, steel doesn't get made, banks collapse, etc. The book is kinda slow reading in the beginning as it has to "set the stage" but picks up quickly until you are wondering too, where have all these people gone? Although it was written over forty years ago, the lessons there are still applicable today. If all the creators and doers were to leave and start over somewhere else (isn't that kinda what we do?), eventually where will that leaver the takers?

By the way, anyone out there with a big heart and lonesome nannies, need a purebred Pygmy buck? I have three that I will trade, to good homes where they will be taken care of. All are out of registered stock, but I want to switch over to Milkers. All are real gentlemen and proven producers. I am only keeping the "old man" as I have had him for eight years. Best wishes! Anyway, much s

-- Cindy Lawson (colawson@mindspring.com), October 22, 2000.

Apology to all!! I put up the wrong address for the Advanced Book Exchange. The correct address is: www.abe.com Sorry for any confusion. John

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), October 23, 2000.

If you would like to read something that explains how and why to get out of the rat race, read Ecclesiastes. He tried and did about every thing before realizing that Only God can bring us peace.

-- Doug (theespe@aol.com), October 26, 2000.

John, I went to that site right after you posted it! Think I got the last copy! Thanks! Also, thanks Tiffani I'll be looking forward to reading it! God Bless! Wendy

-- Wendy@GraceAcres (wjl7@hotmail.com), October 26, 2000.

Hi Tiffani- I just wanted to thank you for recommending "Henry..." I really enjoyed it and have now loaned it on to friends. I think Roush does a wonderful job of illustrating how materialism is not the road to happiness. He understands how our desires keep spiraling until we get sucked into the vortex. In eastern religions I believe the term is "moksha"(sic) which means "endless desires". The term "Nirvana", which many people think means heaven, actually means "the flame of desire is out" ie: death. I like Roush biblical interperation for us western folk. Let's face it - often people confuse living a simple life with buying a farm, getting a few chickens etc. One can live simply anywhere, so long as you control your desires, instead of your desires controlling you. It doesn't matter if you have an outhouse or a flush toilet. The person who desires a nice outhouse has the same problem as the person who wants a marble bathroom. You should be equally happy with either. My grandfather used say if you make a million and spend a million plus $1 - you are poor. However, if you make twenty dollars but spend only $19 - you are rich. The most active form of indentured servitude in this country is debt. Poor Henry got sucked in and chained up before he knew what hit him (cash advance anyone?). Sure some materialism is difficult to avoid because of forces in our society. I could never ride a horse down to the hardware store on my narrow country roads with no shoulder, a pickup truck would flatten us in 5 minutes. Thus I have a motorized vechile and all the little evil imps that come with it. I have to admit that while I now have my little farm, which I do enjoy, the simplest life I experienced was when I lived as a student in New York City. I had a tiny one bedroom apartment that I could clean spotless in one hour - leaving me plenty of time for reading, museums, free park concerts, friends and volunterism. I didn't need a car, so no insurance or gas bills.I worked in a community garden. I was in walking distant to some of the best food in the world and if the sink clogged up - I called the building Super. No I'm not looking to go back, but I can relate to Henry when it seems one material possession seems to attract another and another. Nothing seems to require so many tools and so much time (not to mention $) as my old farmhouse, barns and dinky 5 acres. However, Roush is right that we all have the spiritual compass to discover happiness . Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz - we have everything we need right in our hearts and in our own backyards. It does not take the perfect piece of land to live a simple life, you can do it in a tent or in a penthouse. At least poor Henry didn't have to deal with personal computers and their never ending upgrading, talk about endless desires...enough yadda yadda from me. Peace to you and yours. - D

-- diane greene (cnnursery@ulster.net), November 15, 2000.