Book Recommendations: The Titles I Read this Fall

Book Recommendations: The Titles I Read this Fall

by Tim O’Hara

Last year I wrote a short article about the books that I read while visiting my family last fall in the United States.  I received a handful of positive responses after we posted it to the Ranch’s blog and as a result I thought that I’d go ahead and repeat the exercise this year.  The books below are in the order that I read them.  I would recommend and learned something important from all of them.  A few of them impacted me profoundly.  I will try to incorporate the lessons that I learned in many of these books into my personal and work life.  

Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America by Juan Gonzalez
This book evoked Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States of America and Eduardo Galeano’s The Open Veins of Latin America.  It’s an enlightening look at latino history from the perspective of the oppressed and highlights their role, courage and sacrifice in modern American history.  If you’re interested in obtaining a more balanced look at Latin American history, add this one to your collection.        

The Wolf at Twilight: An Indian Elder's Journey through a Land of Ghosts and Shadows by Kent Newburn
Rich Esposito, a former visitor to the Ranch, gifted me and the Ranch both this book and The Girl Who Sang to the Buffalo: A Child, an Elder, and the Light from an Ancient Sky (see below).  They are books 2 and 3 in Kent Nerbern’s trilogy about the author’s time spent with a Lakota elder named Dan and some of his closest friends.  All 3 books affected me deeply.  I can highly recommend them all.  I think that it would be beneficial if they were required reading in public high schools throughout the US.  If more people read stories like this, their impact might bring us closer, faster to the type of society that I aspire to live in.  Ceremony, slowing down, deep listening, honor and respect are themes that seem to have less and less room in our modern, high-paced, sometimes dysfunctional society.  I will be doubling down on my commitment to these lessons as I try to improve myself and dedicate my work to creating an alternative model to the broken communities that many of us live in.

Overstory:  A Novel by Richard Powers 
This book was recommended to me by a visitor to the Ranch in August.  I picked it up as soon as we arrived to the States.  It read much like a Barbara Kingsolver novel.  Mr. Powers weaves together the lives of a disparate collection of people around the theme of the power and importance of trees.  Wow.  If you’re a tree lover, get your hands on this book.  If you believe in the power of trees, buy this book.  If you want to better understand the critical role that trees play in our ecosystem, borrow this book from your local library.  If this book were required reading for everyone we might become better stewards of the magical, rooted beings that gift us life. 

The War on Normal People: The Truth About America's Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future by Andrew Yang 
After getting sucked back into the US political scene this fall, I decided, based on Brian “Sparky” O’Rourke’s suggestion, to pick up and read 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidate Andrew Yang’s book about his thoughts on Universal Basic Income (UBI), the state of academia, and the changing landscape of the US economy and how it’s being revolutionized by automation.  It was a pretty quick read and one full of provocative and compelling snippets that got me thinking differently about what our future may hold.  I like Mr. Yang’s straightforward and compassionate style and it seems as if many people in the US electorate agree as I’ve watched his poll numbers creep upwards ever since he’s walked onto the national stage.  

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer 
This book, loaned to us from 2019 Apprentice Abby Kuchar, is a must-read.  The author, based in Upstate NY not far from where I grew up, takes both a scientific and spiritual look at plants and their critical importance to the human species.  The book is beautifully written and touches on difficult subjects in a way that feels both profound and accessible.  This book should arguably have a place in everyone’s library.  My sense is that if you read this book every year that you’d continue to glean something life-changing from it with each read.  It’s a perspective changer in the best way.  Ms. Kimmerer has a way of bringing together the gifts of indigenous cultures and the practicalities of science to show us a path on how we can live on this planet in a way that might be necessary if Homo sapiens are to stick around much longer.       

The Girl Who Sang to the Buffalo: A Child, an Elder, and the Light from an Ancient Sky by Kent Newburn
I read this book in 2 days.  I could not put it down.  I think that everyone that reads this book, especially white people born in the United States, will benefit from the lessons herein and the important stories that take a candid look at American Indian life.  Be prepared to shed tears of both joy and anguish.  This was my favorite book of the trilogy (outlined above).  I didn’t want it to end.  These stories seem critical to share.  I want to shout from the top of lungs, “read this book!”.  I would like to buy a copy for every high school English classroom and everyone I’ve every met.  Mr. Nerburn has a gift for sharing the stories of American Indians in a way that is consequential and educational to non-Indians. 

Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog and Richard Erdoes
Mary’s straightforward and matter-of-fact storytelling shares the story of the plight of the modern American Indian from the oftentimes unheard woman’s perspective.  This is an intimate, candid, first-hand look at the tragedy and beauty of American Indian life.  This important story includes first hand accounts of the takeover of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) building in Washington D.C. in 1972 and the protests and incident at Wounded Knee in 1973.  Mary’s a courageous woman who has inspired a generation of American Indian women to be proud of their heritage and fight for the rights of this land’s original stewards.        

Trees of Power: Ten Essential Arboreal Allies by Akiva Silver
Akiva Silver, the founder of Twisted Tree Farm in Spencer, NY not far from my mom’s home in Binghamton, NY, is an agroforestry innovator, farmer and nursery manager who’s having a profound impact in this region of the United States and beyond.  I love his philosophy and dedication to spreading the gospel of temperate perennial tree producers.  The book is inspirational and practical with the second half of the book focusing on 10 agroforestry species that with large scale plantings could get humans thinking differently about food production and how to feed the world.  Akiva and his family are doing important work in this part of the world.  If you’re in the Northeast, check out his farm and nursery and if you’re looking for trees to plant on your farm, in your yard, or throughout your community, Twisted Tree should be at the top of your list to check out.    

Blood and Thunder: The Epic Story of Kit Carson and the Conquest of the American West by Hampton Sides
This book was recommended to me by my sister-in-law Tracy.  It’s about the life of frontiersman Kit Carson and the conquest of the the American West by the U.S. government.  It’s a tragic recount of the continuous wars between Britain, Spain, Mexico and various American Indian tribes and the fledgling United States.  The common thread that runs through this story is one of deception, broken promises and treaties, massacre and murder.  I felt that Mr. Sides did a reasonable job in presenting a somewhat objective history of the horrors of how the country of my birth realized its “manifest destiny” through the eyes of one of its most well-known adventurers and pioneers.   

Happy reading to you all.  I’m always looking for book recommendations so let me know if there’s anything in your library that you think that I would enjoy and/or learn from. 

Abrazos, 

Tim

Ranch Reading Recommendations: 8 Great Books I Read This Fall That Relate To Our Work

Ranch Reading Recommendations: 8 Great Books I Read This Fall That Relate To Our Work

By Tim O’Hara, Ranch Core Team

During my annual visits to see family in the United States, I oftentimes have the opportunity to catch up on some reading that regularly alludes me during the busy seasons here in Mastatal.  More than any year in recent memory, I felt as if I hit the jackpot with the titles that I was recommended, came across, and picked up this fall.  Here’s a quick glance at them, all of which I’d suggest to anyone looking to add a good volume or two to their personal or professional library.  I think that all of these titles are relevant to our work at the Ranch and the greater work that so many of you that read our blog are interested in.  

The Story of the Human Body:  Evolution, Health and Disease by Dr. Daniel Lieberman

An informative and thought-provoking book for readers interested in human and cultural evolution and how they have come together to impact our specie’s health in modern times.  

The Wizard and the Prophet:  Two Remarkable Scientists and their Conflicting Visions of the Future of the Planet by Charles Mann

A dissertation about two philosophies on how to tackle current problems of feeding a growing global population and dealing with climate change.  One view contemplates technological and engineering solutions while the other espouses resolutions with a softer touch on our environment.

Neither Wolf Nor Dog:  On Forgotten Roads with an Indian Elder by Kent Nerbern

Nerbern documents the thoughts, beliefs and stories of a Lakota Sioux elder in this eye-opening, sometimes heartbreaking, and other times hopeful look at how humans might change the way they live to find common ground in addressing past atrocities and future challenges.  It had been quite a few years since I read a book focusing on Native American challenges.  I couldn’t put this book down once I started.  Some other titles related to Native American history that I’ve read in the past and also recommend include Peter Matthiesson’s In the Spirit of Crazy Horse, Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, John Neihardt’s Black Elk Speaks, and Sherman Alexie’s Reservation Blues.   

Lost Connections:  Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari

An eye-opening book about the nature of anxiety and depression and some surprising strategies to deal with these increasingly challenging and difficult social issues.  I read another of Hari’s books last fall entitled Chasing the Scream:  The Opposite of Addiction is Connection.  I raced through both books.  Hari’s writing style is accessible, absorbing and compelling.  

How to Change Your Mind:  What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us about Consciousness , Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence by Michael Pollen

A fascinating read about the history of psychedelics and their potential use to address social problems such as addiction, depression and terminal illness.  Pollen strays from writing about food for the first that I know about in many years.  I think that this is a courageous attempt to shed light on an oftentimes contentious, misunderstood and polemic subject that deserves another look by researchers, academia, medical professionals and society as a whole.  

Bringing it to the Table:  On Farming and Food by Wendell Berry

A nice compilation of essays about food and farming.  Over the last decade or more I have repeatedly returned to Berry when I feel the need to reground.  His essays are a refreshing look into the darkness of what has become of conventional agriculture in the United States and elsewhere.  

The Gift of Good Land by Wendell Berry

A great collection of short essays by one of my favorite authors.  Berry’s compositions never fail to get me thinking deeply about the topics that are most relevant to my future.

I’ll also add another book even though I haven’t finished it yet as it is offering a fascinating perspective about humans and our current predicaments.  

Sapiens:  A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

The book goes deeper into some topics populated by Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs and Steel and Charles Mann’s 1492.  It’s a fascinating read that includes new research and theory as to how we have become the planet’s dominant species with insight as to why that argument is changing so quickly and alarmingly as humans impact the natural planetary systems that sustain them.  

I found all of the books on this list riveting, well-written and provocative.  They all had me at one time or another thinking about what I could be doing better as a father, business owner and global citizen.  The information that I ingested was at times difficult to read, inspiring, despairing, hopeful and motivational.  As I always appreciate personal recommendations for new books, I wanted to share with others the topics that have most recently been on the forefront of my evolving brain.  

Mastatal’s Local Library

Rancho Mastatal Voices

Rancho Mastatal Voices

The Ranch Core Team has been featured on a number of blogs, podcasts, and news-sites over the last few months. So for everyone absent from the Ranch here are a few different ways to hear our voices.

Abundant Edge Podcast

Timo talks with Oliver Goshley about founding the Ranch and the work over the years in the local community.

Scott talks with Oliver about managing the Ranch agroecosystem and helping others design their farms and homesteads.

Tico Times

Laura has been writing for Costa Rica's largest English language newspaper the Tico Times. You can read about her recent articles on Ginger Beer and Costa Rica food cultures here.

USDA Inside Agroforestry Blog

Scott was recently featured in the USDA's Inside Agroforestry blog on New and Beginning Farmers. You can read the whole blog here.

2018 Workshop Calendar

Our team has been busy putting together another year of life changing workshops and short courses for our community. From Japanese Cooking to Bamboo Construction, from Permaculture Design to Medicinal Plants, 2018 is going to be a good year to skill up at the Ranch. Please help us spread the word!

Abrazos

The Ranch Crew