Homesteading means many things to different people. Brende’s focus in this entertaining book is less about homesteading and more about the role automated machines plays in our lives. For eighteen months the Brendes chose to live in a community that doesn’t use electricity, automobiles, computers, or powered machinery (except human or horse power). So there are no discussions of solar or wind power. Solar design in houses, etc. I found it to be a very engaging book. The idea of carefully evaluating what technology you will use is an important concept. As Brende points out, “It often makes no sense to save labor and time when ‘labor’ provides needed exercise and ‘time’ is spent with family or neighbors.”
All things considered I enjoyed the book. I would have liked to get more of a sense of Mary Brende in the book. As it is written there is little sense of her perspective in the book. She’s there, but in the background most of the time. Even so I would eagerly recommend this book to anyone questioning the role of technology in their lives.
