57 pages 1 hour read

Wendell Berry

The Unsettling of America

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1977

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Essay Topics

1.

Analyze the exploiter and nurturer dichotomy. How does Berry define the exploiter and nurturer roles? In what ways do these roles influence not only agriculture but also society and human relationships?

2.

Examine the relationship between industrial agriculture and cultural decline. How does Berry link the practices of industrial agriculture to the disintegration of cultural values and community structures? What solutions does he offer to address this decline?

3.

Describe the impact of specialization on human society. What is Berry’s critique of specialization, and how does it contribute to the fragmentation of communities? How does specialization affect personal autonomy and responsibility?