This book has me thinking about my relationship (and my culture's relationship) with time, money, work, art, and the earth. It's a positive, hopeful, inspiring book. It is also a sweetly intimate glimpse into the lives of some fascinating people who have consciously chosen to do what the author says in the introduction he has always thought possible: "...to live well, to connect with each other, to do meaningful work, to make powerful art, and to forge a different kind of future...." The writing is simultaneously lively and lovely, brimming with a deep respect for the subjects, for nature, and for the fluid beauty of poetry. For some readers, it may be a blueprint for avoiding burnout, balancing a life of activism with self-care and creativity. After reading it, I'm primed to think and rethink my everyday choices, to see places where I might step a little aside from the everyday rush and hustle, breathe a little more deeply with gratitude and respect for the soil under my feet. I just finished reading it, and am about to dive right back in. I'm sure I'll keep coming back to this book.
