There are three basic themes in Ralph Borsodi's This Ugly Civilization a critique of modern industrial civilization, achieving personal economic independence, and maximizing individual potential. Borsodi advocates a lifestyle of self-reliance and decentralized power, and outlines how it can be realized either by one man or by all. The logical steps are given for moving beyond a "victory garden" so that each of us may cultivate a human-scale existence compatible with nature and the pursuit of the good life.Received with great interest upon release in 1929, This Ugly Civilization offered a course of action for those who were soon facing the Great Depression. The book again found an audience during the rationing and instability of World War II. This Ugly Civilization and Borsodi's subsequent Flight from the City (1933) became "bibles" to many in the successive "back-to-the-land" movements that occur every generation. His ideas gained further momentum among young people looking for answers in the 1960s and 70s. The indefatigable Mildred Loomis, the greatest advocate of Borsodi's work, even garnered the nickname "grandmother of the counterculture." Within another decade, the punk-inspired DIY movement would rail against centralizing authority and encourage the creation of a new culture of self-determination-although such radical ideas were hardly new, as Borsodi's book shows.This Ugly Civilization rejects the reign of quantity over quality in both man and machine, along with the concomitant rise of consumerism and groupthink. Above and beyond mere self-sufficiency, Barsodi champions an appreciation of beauty, uniqueness and craftsmanship over the factory conformity being imposed in every sector of life. He has written a pragmatic, poetic and philosophical work that will speak to every thoughtful nonconformist. It represents an early seed of the Green Revolution that continues to promote health, comfort and independence. It is about living a whole, organic life and developing the potential of the individual, the family and the surrounding community.
Ralph Borsodi was among the first Americans to experiment in leaving the bustling city for a more relaxed, rural life - this book chronicles his progress, and includes many practical pointers. Like many urban workers, Ralph Borsodi found the non-stop pace of work and the stressful, competitive atmosphere to be damaging to his health and well-being. A new life away from New York City, one where he and his family could enjoy a closeness to nature, better food, and develop practical skills and knowhow, became his goal. Yet Borsodi found the transition from downtown office worker to rural homesteader was not easy, and certainly not for everybody. Borsodi is honest about the sacrifice that moving out of the city entails: one's options for a social life are fewer, there are no theatres or sports stadiums for example. Challenges such as learning how to maintain one's home and secure it against the elements, while having sufficient finance in place to buy a plot of land and to manage on while adapting to rural life, are described in detail. Flight from the City was popular when it first appeared in 1933, and its guidance inspired many Americans to follow in the author's footsteps. Even today, much of the wisdom and experience Ralph Borsodi espouses is relevant and valuable for anyone thinking of pursuing a life in the country.
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