Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer

by Wendell Berry

'Do I wish to keep up with the times? No. My wish simply is to live my life as fully as I can'

The great American poet, novelist and environmental activist argues for a life lived slowly.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Philosophy, Classics, Technology, Politics, Modern Classics

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Wendell Berry is a conservationist, farmer, essayist, novelist, professor of English and poet. He was born August 5, 1934 in Henry County, Kentucky where he now lives on a farm. The New York Times has called Berry the "prophet of rural America."

Reviews

[Arupratan · Rating 4 out of 5]

ইদানিং সত্যিই মনে হয়, সেই যখন কম্পিউটার ছিলো না, সোশ্যাল মিডিয়া ছিলো না, তখন মানুষ কি একটু বেশি স্মার্ট ছিলো? সামান্য হলেও একটু বেশি ক্রিয়েটিভ ছিলো? মানে, কী খেলাম, কোথায় গেলাম, কার সঙ্গে গেলাম, কী সিনেমা দেখলাম, কী বই পড়লাম, কী গান শুনলাম, কার বাগানে লুকিয়ে হাগলাম, এগুলো যখন মানুষ ফলাও করে প্রদর্শন করতো না, তখন কি এইসব কাজ করে কম আনন্দ পাওয়া যেতো? এখন কি বেশি আনন্দ পাই আমরা? নদীর তীরে সূর্য অস্ত যাবার ৬৩৭৬৩৮৩১৪৭৫৫তম ছবিটা যদি পোস্ট না করা হতো, তাহলে সূয্যিমামা কিংবা নদীমাসী নিশ্চয়ই খুব বেশি দুঃখ পেতেন না?

কিংবা, অমুকে ওই কাজটা ভুল করেছে, তমুকে ওই কথাটা ভুল বলেছে, অমুক ব্যাটা কতো হাস্যকর, তমুক লোকটা কতো বোকা, এবং আমি কতো চালাক, আমি কতো স্মার্ট, আমি সবার চেয়ে কতো অন্যরকম, আমি কাউকে পাত্তা দিইনা, আমি একদম ডোন্ট কেয়ার ডোন্ট গিভ আ শিট টাইপের ড্যুড্, আমার সেন্স অফ হিউমার দেখে আমিই মাঝে মাঝে অবাক হয়ে যাই— এই যে শুধু আমি আমি আমি আমি আমি আমি আমি! মানুষ যখন দিবারাত্র এইসব আমিমার্কা ঢ্যামনামি করতো না, তখনকার মানুষরা কি এখানকার মানুষদের চেয়ে নিজেদের বেশি ক্যাবলা ভাবতো?

দেশদুনিয়া থেকে শুরু করে পাড়ামহল্লার খুঁটিনাটি বিষয়, যুদ্ধ, মহামারী, বিশ্বকাপ, আর্জেন্টিনা, ব্রাজিল, মেসি, মেসির বউয়ের মেজোপিসি, রোনাল্ডোর বাড়ির ঝাড়ুদার, বিরাট কোহলি, নুহাশ হুমায়ূন, চন্দ্র সূর্য গ্রহ তারা, অমুকের বিচি, তমুকের বাঁড়া, বিশ্বব্রহ্মাণ্ডের স-ম-স্ত বিষয়ে "বিশিষ্ট মৌলিক মতামত" যখন দিতো না মানুষ (দিলেও নিজের প্রাইভেট স্পেসে দিতো), এবং সেই বিজ্ঞ মতামতপ্রদানকারী মহাশয়/ মহাশয়ার পাছাটা, চেনা-অচেনা-আধাচেনা যে-কেউ এসে চুলকে না দিতো (মানে লাইক-কমেন্ট-লাভ রিয়্যাক্ট-হাহা রিয়্যাক্ট এইসব দেওয়ার কথা বলছি), তখন কি মানুষ তার নিজের বুকের ভিতরে ফুঁসতে থাকা "মূল্যবান মতামত"গুলো বাইরে বের করতে না পেরে ডিপ্রেশনের শিকার হয়ে বাথরুমে বসে ভেউ ভেউ করে কাঁদতো? আর তাদের সেইসব বালের মতামতের অভাবে মানবসভ্যতার গাড়ির চাকা পাংচার হয়ে যেতো দিনে ছয়বার?

সোশ্যাল মিডিয়ায় এতো যে দুঃসাহসী নির্ভীক বিপ্লবীর ছড়াছড়ি, যারা একখান কিবোর্ড আর কয়েক GB সস্তা data আর হাতে কিছু ফাঁকা টাইম জোগাড় করতে পারলেই— ব্যাস, শুরু করে দ্যায় সংগ্রাম!! প্রতিবাদ!! প্রতিশোধ!! গণজাগরণের আহ্বান!! মহা-বিদ্রোহী রণক্লান্ত আমি সেই দিন হব শান্ত, যবে উত্‍পীড়িতের ক্রন্দন-রোল আকাশে বাতাসে ধ্বনিবে না, অত্যাচারীর খড়গ কৃপাণ ভীম রণ-ভূমে রণিবে না!!!!! সোশ্যাল মিডিয়ার এই চে গেভারা ফিদেল কাস্ত্রো মহাত্মা গান্ধী মাদার তেরেসা মার্টিন লুথার কিং ফ্লোরেন্স নাইটিঙ্গেলরা যখন ছিলো না, আমি মাঝে মাঝে ভাবি, মানুষের তখন কি ভয়ানক দুর্দশাই না ছিলো! কীভাবে চলতো এই দুনিয়া?? কীভাবে সমস্যার সমাধান হতো?? কতো অত্যাচারিত, বঞ্চিত, পীড়িত, অবহেলিতই না ছিলো আগেকার মানুষ, আহা রে। আজকের এই মহান কিবোর্ড-যোদ্ধাদের প্রতি রইলো আমার... একটা গোটা লাভ রিয়্যাক্ট! ♥️

আমি বোধহয় সেই শেষ প্রজন্মের মানুষ, যারা ইন্টারনেটের সামান্যতম চিহ্নও যখন ছিলো না, মোবাইল ফোনের ভ্রূণকেও চোখে দ্যাখেনি আপামর জনতা (অন্তত এই তৃতীয় বিশ্বে), সোশ্যাল মিডিয়ার ঠাকুর্দারও যখন জন্ম হয়নি, সেই জমানাকেও চাক্ষুষ করেছে ; আবার আজকের এই অন্তর্জালের ফাঁসে হাসফাঁস করতে থাকা বায়বীয় দুনিয়াতেও নিঃশ্বাস নিয়েছে। সবজান্তা বিজ্ঞ পণ্ডিতদের ভিড়ে মিশে নিজেও প্রায় সেরকম হয়ে গেছে। সিনেমার নায়িকার ব্রেকআপ হলে নিজের "বিশিষ্ট মতামত"টুকু সোশ্যাল মিডিয়ার মাছের বাজারে ছেড়ে আসতে হাত চুলকায়। আমার মতের সঙ্গে যাদের মেলেনা, আমার পছন্দের সিনেমা যারা দ্যাখে না, আমার পছন্দের গান শোনেনা, বই পড়েনা, যাদের "ক্লাস" আমার থেকে নিচু, তাদের তাচ্ছিল্য করতে না পারলে ভাত হজম হয়না। আস্তিক হলে নাস্তিকদের, নাস্তিক হলে আস্তিকদের চোদ্দোগুষ্টিকে ভার্চুয়াল ডান্ডাপেটা না করলে সকালে হাগু পরিষ্কার হয়না। আর আছে স্বঘোষিত সমালোচকদের দল। সিনেমা থেকে শুরু করে বাতের ঔষধ, কবিতা থেকে শুরু করে কন্ডোমের স্থিতিস্থাপকতা— বিনিপয়সার এই ওস্তাদ সমালোচকদের হাবভাব দেখলে অঞ্জন দত্তের গান মনে পড়ে যায়।

তুমি না থাকলে দেবদাস কবে হয়ে যেত ক্ষুদিরাম
তুমি না থাকলে শুধু ডানদিক থাকত না কোনো বাম,
ধর্মতলায় লেগে যেত রোজ ধর্মের যুদ্ধ
তুমি না থাকলে বেচত বিড়ি গৌতম বুদ্ধ,
তুমি না থাকলে রবীন্দ্রনাথ
কালির দোয়াত মাথায় ঠুকে হত কুপোকাত!

সত্যি, আপনারা না থাকলে আমাদের মতো অসহায়দের কী যে মুশকিল হতো। আপনাদের জন্যেও রইলো আমার তরফ থেকে একপিস সশ্রদ্ধ লাভ রিয়্যাক্ট। ♥️

যখন মানুষের হাতে হাতে কম্পিউটার (এবং তার মেজোবোন স্মার্টফোন) ছিলো না, তখন কি মানুষ সত্যিই এখনকার মানুষদের চেয়ে বেশি স্মার্ট ছিলো? বেশি ক্রিয়েটিভ ছিলো? (বালের ওই meme তৈরির ক্রিয়েটিভিটির কথা বলছি না।) বেশি চিন্তাশীল ছিলো? ধৈর্যশীল ছিলো? বেশি সহনশীল ছিলো?

প্রশ্নগুলো সহজ, আর উত্তরও তো জানা!

[Shreya ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first essay was phenomenal and it was enough by itself to prove its point-

"If the use of a computer is a new idea, then a newer idea is not to use one."

But the second essay which the author wrote about family and feminism and other things, in retaliation for the backlash he received regarding the first essay, was rather unnecessary, misleading..and self incriminating.

Five stars for the first essay and two for the second one. :")

[Paula Mota · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should ask, in the first place, whether or not I wish to purchase a solution to a problem that I do not have.

Além de escritor, Wendell Berry é também agricultor e activista ambiental, o que transparece claramente neste pequeno ensaio publicado na revista Harper’s em 1987. Instigado a comprar um computador, Berry explica que não o fará porque não pretende depender ainda mais de combustíveis fósseis, porque gosta de usar caneta e, depois, a mulher lhe passa e corrige os textos na máquina de escrever e, finalmente, porque não crê que isso o vá tornar melhor escritor. Publicam-se em seguida neste pequeno livro algumas cartas com críticas aos argumentos do escritor, onde o acusam de ser machista, explorador, fanático e retrógrada.

Wife meets all of Berry’s uncompromising standards for technological innovation: she’s cheap, repairable near home, and good for the family structure. Best of all, Wife is politically correct because she breaks a writer’s ‘direct dependence on strip-mined coal’.

Wendell Berry defende-se bem de todas as acusações e, passados dois anos, escreve “Feminism, the Body and the Machine”, onde desenvolve melhor várias das ideias enunciadas antes, com ênfase no feminismo, na preservação do meio-ambiente e no consumo.

It is plain to me that the line ought to be drawn without fail wherever it can be drawn easily. And it ought to be easy (though many do not find it so) to refuse to buy what one does not need.

Ainda que este autor possa parecer apenas um Velho do Restelo que se opõe ao progresso e mostra resistência a uma nova tecnologia que não domina, lendo-o hoje, quando se fala tanto da transição digital, da redução do consumo e das questões ambientais, estes textos parecem-me pertinentes e actuais, tendo-me feito reflectir bastante. É lógico que não vou livrar-me do meu computador, que é a minha ferramenta de trabalho, mas tenho a plena consciência de que muitas das nossas aquisições não são necessárias e que somos sobretudo nós que criamos as nossas próprias necessidades.

But each one of us, by ‘insignificant’ individual abuse of the world, contributes to a general abuse that is devastating. (...) Thoreau gave the definitive reply to the folly of ‘significant numbers’ a long time ago: Why should anybody wait to do what is right until everybody does it?

Chega um ponto em que Wendell Berry se torna demasiado rabugento e quase intolerante, mas são várias as vezes que põe o dedo na ferida e expõe muitos do males da sociedade moderna.

The modern household is the place where the consumptive couple do their consuming. Nothing productive is done there. (...) For entertainment, the inmates consume television or purchase other consumable diversion elsewhere.

[Bloodorange · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading, even if only to see how a paradigm can be questioned, how it was questioned, or to entertain the idea of questioning it.

If you are already solving your problem with the equipment you have - a pencil, say - why solve it with something more expensive and more damaging? If you don't have a problem, why pay for a solution? If you love the freedom and elegance of simple tools, why encumber yourself with something complicated?

(Odd fact: I have recently heard a YouTuber saying they teach their children to read the newspapers, instead of the Internet, for news.)

[Octavia Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally wrote this review by hand, putting pen to paper in a notebook furthest from my laptop as I can get in my apartment. I did so because this book really frightened me, which, funnily enough was quite the opposite effect of what I had initially predicted my reaction to be as I had begun reading it to justify trading my iPhone for a flip phone. This book instead frightened me due to the fact that almost every point it made, while arguably rebuttable, resonated deeply with my secret fear that technology and "progress" is, in fact, killing us. Killing us not in the literal sense, as Berry rightly highlights that technology has accelerated the pursuit of increased life expectancy greatly, but killing us in a more humanist sense through its intensification of what can be described as our attempt to circumvent our own bodies, trading them over for machinery we see better fit for extending and expressing the supposed computation of our minds. It is in this way we have traded a "good" life, for a long life.

I am not entirely sure what can be done with this information. Ideally, one could intend to drop all dependence on technology with great immediacy in order to reclaim one's connection between the mind and the body, and to resist the progress liable for much, if not all, of the degradation of our land in pursuit of our flags (a paradox most interestingly pointed out by Berry). However, to what I am sure is much to Berry's regret, since the publication of this book in 1989, technological progress has spread with such speed and unboundedness that it is somewhat unthinkable, if not impossible, to entirely commit to opting-out. These days I not only use my computer to write, but furthermore to connect with friends and family, to attend my University classes, and to carry out any work I can get during a global pandemic. To some, this seems like an argument against Berry's, nonetheless I believe it is instead highly demonstrative of his work. Ask any one of my friends and we will tell you we have never felt more alienated from ourselves, and from our bodies. I feel it would be much more natural to be relinquished of all such responsibilities during this period, rather than delve deeper into a technological dependence that I, for one, fear we will be unable to reverse.

Then again, perhaps I am being too quixotic. I just can't seem to shake this idea of understanding technology by its net effect, rather than merely its positives. The fact that we very rarely connect the speed and "ease" of living technology has brought us with the spoilage of our planet in any meaningful way is distressing. And I liked what Berry had to say about how while our individual abuses of the world are rather insignificant, undeniably they do "contribute to a general abuse that is devastating." I like being reminded of this as it's fairly easy these days to wash our hands of any individual responsibility because "corporations bad." Like, yes, corporations are incomparably worse than individuals, but why not practice what you preach where you have the opportunity to do so?

I recommend reading this book after dropping your iPhone into the toilet and consequently being forced to buy a Nokia in order to be able to Whatsapp your family who will not allow you to completely drop off the face of this digital earth.

[Emma Angeline · Rating 2 out of 5]

he had some good points, just wish he’d lead more with we’re a culture of over-consumption and convenience and it’s killing our planet, but he didn’t, he lead with waaaah feminist attacks of me not getting a computer and instead using my wife’s unpaid labour bruh…where for you is the line between a critic and attack…like my dude, chill). So it landed more on the preachy, defensive and holier than thou side of things. I also felt like he really misinterpreted the letters written in response to his original essay. It’s rather unbecoming.

AND HE DOESNT SAY IF HIS WIFE IS COMPENSATED FOR THE WORK SHE DOES

yeah I went it optimistic and was disappointed. definitely better people to read on this

[Michael Kotsarinis]

I found out about this short book (an essay rather) from a fellow bookstagrammer and it seemed intriguing.

The texts are now 30 years old and one has to take that into account when it comes to criticising technology. I can't say I agree with all the arguments and the overall line of thought but that's exactly what essays are about, to promote thinking, arguments and discussion.

Some of the thoughts in the essay have indeed become very relevant in the next decades and the arguments on the way technological progress doesn't actually promote the well-being of society offer plenty of food for thought and it would be foolish just to brush them aside and not think critically about the direction society is going.

[Nicky · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book kind of read like an internet comment fight between some strangers, which is a shame because the author makes some valid points.

[Adeeb · Rating 5 out of 5]

How refreshing is it to read a book that critically discusses things from both sides of the argument, and in essay format?

I hadn't known about this author or this new collection of books, but then Ariel Bissett on her Instagram posted it and I was so intrigued. And this is probably one of the best books that I've read this year. With less than 50 pages, the book raises so many questions and arguments that cultivate deep thought.

This book was written in late 1980s I believe, but the questions raised remain just as relevant today, perhaps even more.

If I had to give you an overview about what this book talks about, picture this: Did you ever feel overwhelmed by social media? Did you ever feel so much noise, and felt like quality of content has gone down? Did you, more than ever before need to go on a digital detox?

If you answered yes to one or all of those, then you must read it. If not, you still have to read it.

[Nat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could be persuaded to go up to a 2.5 stars. The ideas presented were interesting, and certainly well worth some more thought. But 1. I do not agree with most of them (however important they might be for a broad, wide sided look and discussion on the issue) and 2. I could not stand the tone of this. Berry seemed very self-righteous. He criticised his critics that they could not accept a single argument to be brought against their issue, and then proceeded to minutely lay down every arguments they brought against his issue. He critised their tone, and proceeded to sound very sarcastic and full of himself. I might have been okay with his first essay, and his answer to some critics, but the second essay was too much for me. Again, the discussion in his (even though it's fairly dated now) is an important one to have. But I think I would hate to discuss it with someone who talks the way Berry does, seemingly always looking down on everyone who does not share his opinions.

[Austra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ļoti interesanta lasāmviela, kas būs man sagādājusi gana daudz vielas pārdomām. Tēma ļoti aktuāla arī pēc 30 gadiem, jo patēriņa kults tikai turpina uzņemt apgriezienus. Ja tā padomā, dators ir visļaunākais izgudrojums, jo pēc autora esejas izlasīšanas 1987. gadā uz laikrakstu viedokļu vēstules atsūtīja tikai 20 cilvēki. Šodien, pateicoties datoram un internetam, mēs jau zinām, kas notiktu - pie tāda raksta mājaslapā savu gudrību iepļūtītu tūkstoši un vēl tūkstoši, kuri autoram nevis vnk nepiekrīt, bet nepiekrīt ar "tu esi idiots, un tava māte ir mauka" standartu.

Nav jāpiekrīt visam, ko autors saka, un arī es nepiekrītu visam, bet ir vērts padomāt un izvērtēt, vai tās lietas, kas ir mums apkārt, padara mūsu dzīvi labāku un vērtīgāku, to pašu jautājumu uzdodot arī par savu darbu.

“If you don't have a problem, why pay for a solution?”

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Uhhhhhh. Na mnogo frontova se ne slažem sa autorom. Svesna sam da moram da uzmem u obzir i da je ovo napisano odavno. Ali ton kojim je sve napisano i način na koji je autor prezentovao svoje ideje me je posebno iziritirao.
Prvi esej razumem. Ne želi da koristi kompjuter. Ok, slobodna zemlja batice, radi šta hoćeš. Pred kraj eseja je dao neke slabe argumente na konto toga kako tehnologija uništava prirodu i kako uništava porodice, pa su kompjuteri za to jadni krivi i zato neće da ih koristi.
Nakon toga sledi nekoliko pisama ljudi koji su ga kritikovali. Da bi nakon toga usledila njegova (slaba) odbrana.
Poslednji deo čini njegov drugi esej gde na vrlo laički način povezuje svoje ideje o tehnologiji, telu i feminizmu. Od svega toga jedino sam se složila sa idejom o pisanju rukom, jer pisanjem na kompjuteru nećemo bolje pisati. I to je istina. Neće kompjuter, a bogami ni papir ni olovka od tebe napraviti pisca ako nemaš talenta za to.

[Madara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oksfordas grāmatu veikalā pēdējā brīdi paķertā, vienu mārciņu teorētiski vērtā.

Sienu tapešu vietā noklāt ar šīs esejas lapām un nemitīgi pārlasīt; katrs teikums ir izstrādāts un iesit Tev pa pieri un Tev jāsāk dzīvot citādāk.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though these essays talk of computers, there are lots of good quotes that could be applicable to our reliance on AI and the discourse surrounding AI at the moment, especially when thinking about the creative industries.

"Do I, then, want to write faster, easier, more? No. My standards are not speed, ease, and quantity. I have already left behind too much evidence that, writing with a pencil, I have written too fast, too easily, and too much. I would like to be a *better* writer, and for that, I need help from other humans, not a machine."

"we must save ourselves from the products that we are asked to buy in order, ultimately, to replace ourselves."

"but the rest of us had better be warned: they are going to cause a lot of dangerous commotion on their way out."

[Anete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Es neesmu pazīstama ar Berry kunga daiļradi. Un mūsu iepazīšanās ir diezgan vētraina.

Grāmatiņa maza, bet tai ir pat 3 daļas: oriģinālā eseja, kuru lasot es pieķēru sevi iekrītam autora pieminētajās feminisma lamatās un norāju sevi: "Factfulness!" Tad lasu 2. daļu - lasītāju atbildes vēstules un autora atbildi tām- OK ir daži jautājumi kur viņiem piekrītu. Bet tad 3. daļa, jauna eseja par feminismu, datoriem un cilvēces un tehnikas attīstību, kuru lasot man gribējās sapurināt autoru un iesaukties: "Factfulness!" Un jā, grāmatas nosaukums ir ieviesies mānā dzīvē, kā ikdienā lietots termins.

Izskatās, ka, autoraprāt, tehnikas progress norisinās tikai pēdējos cilvēces 150 gadus, ir visa ļaunuma sakne, un visi, kas nestrādā mājās, strādā ļaunajās, cilvēkus aprijošajās, korporācijās.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fiftieth, and final, Penguin Modern is Wendell Berry's Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer, which features two essays. The title essay was published for the first time in Harper's magazine in 1987, and the second - 'Feminism, the Body and the Machine', which provides a reflection upon it - in 1990.

In the first essay, as is evident in its title, Berry argues his case for writing 'in the day time, without electric light', and with only paper and a pencil. He says, of his decision: 'I do not see that computers are bringing us one step nearer to anything that does matter to me: peace, economic justice, ecological health, political honesty, family and community stability, good work.' He also points out that he very much enjoys the collaborative experience which he shares with his wife, who types up his work on a Royal Standard typewriter: 'Thus (and I think this is typical of present-day technological innovation), what would be superseded would be not only something, but somebody. In order to be technologically up-to-date as a writer, I would have to sacrifice an association that I am dependent upon and that I treasure.'

This first essay ends with a transcription of several responses received after its publication, and Berry's quite witty response. In the second, and more extended response essay, Berry writes in a measured way of those who chose to send letters to him, and the overriding view that he was both exploiting and oppressing his wife by getting her to type his work. Here, he reflects: 'That feminists or any other advocates of human liberty and dignity should resort to insult and injustice is regrettable. It is also regrettable that all of the feminist attacks on my essay implicitly deny the validity of two decent and probably necessary possibilities: marriage as a state of mutual help, and the household as an economy.'

I found this short collection easy to read, and found that Berry argues his various points succinctly, although perhaps a little briefly at times, throughout. His reasoning, in some ways, feels quite ahead of its time. He touches upon many themes here, from materialism and relationships to technology and values. Berry's essays have such a nice message at their heart: 'My wish simply is to live my life as fully as I can. In both our work and our leisure, I think, we should be so employed. And in our time this means that we must save ourselves from the products that we are asked to buy in order, ultimately, to replace ourselves.'

[Lauma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Man ir grūti respektēt autora viedokli, ja autors nav spējīgs respektēt citu viedokli.
Man ļoti nepatīk, ja autors manipulē ar lasītāju.
Man pilnīgi noteikti nepatika autora provokācija, kuras izraisītās reakcijas viņš ļoti prasmīgi izmantoja par labu sev.
Autors izsaka viedokli par tēmu, neizkāpjot ārpus sava nelielā rakstnieka burbuļa, un pilnīgi noteikti nav ieinteresēts neko mainīt šajā ziņā.
Viņam bija daudz labu ideju un argumentu, bet bija arī "visi, kas nedzīvo tāpat kā es, nemāk dzīvi".
Izniekots potenciāls. Pie šādas tēmas gan lasītājs, gan pats autors varēja iemācīties kaut ko jaunu, bet kāpēc gan censties...

[T P Kennedy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't disagree with the central thesis but there's notihng very new here. The framing of a brief article followed by taking issue with letters written in response to it is irritating. This series is fantastic in terms of sampling unfamiliar authors but this is one sample I disliked.

[Elena Manole · Rating 4 out of 5]

an essay written 30 years ago that is much more relevant today; even though I didn't agree with every point he made, it was still a very interesting and thought-provoking read.

We are going to have to learn to give up things that we have learned (in only a few years, after all) to ‘need.’

[Karolina Zych · Rating 3 out of 5]

the topic was very interesting but the way of explaining his opinion was weird.

[KD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! It was written in 1987/89 but it’s already talking about ecological issues. Why didn’t we listen then, when we knew?

[Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

such an enjoyable little book — fantastic thoughts on gender, labor, and consumerism

ty

[Åsne Andersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5!
Jeg måtte selvfølgelig Google «did Wendell Berry ever buy a computer?» og det kan jeg forsikre om at han ikke gjorde. Takk og lov!

Aner ikke om dette 30 år gamle manifestet - som det jo er - er helt spot on når det gjelder teknologisk utviklings negative påvirkning på individ/samfunn, eller om det er mediepanikk (mener å huske at man på et tidspunkt i historien var redde for at skriften skulle føre til dumskap fordi man ikke kom til å lagre like mye informasjon i hodet). MEN man kan faktisk ta utgangspunkt i denne boka, bytte ut datamaskin med KI og det blir skremmende treffende:

«The text on the computer screen, and the computer printout too, has a sterile, untouched, factorymade look, like that of a plastic whistle or a new car.»

Med KI er det ikke tekstens utseende, men selve innholdet, som har dette generiske, sterile over seg. Derfor sier Berry noe veldig viktig:

«if we are ever again to have a world fit and pleasant for little children, we are surely going to have to draw the line where it is not easily drawn»


Enig i det! Hilsen lærer som er lei av å lese KI-genererte oppgaver som er kjedelige, innholdsløse, intetsigende, tappet for kreativitet, slurvefeil og alt annet som er menneskelig.

[Broke Bibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever spoken to an old person on a bus or train journey? Or an old relative at a family gathering? Some of them are filled with nothing but contempt for younger generations. That's exactly what you should expect from these essays.

But I will be fair to the author. He does make an effort by replying to his detractors. Some of his views on marriage being a state of "mutual help" and the household being a "private economy" are good ideas. His take on corporate greed and industrial exploitation are not far from reality, either. However, all of his opinions come from a place of privilege and a sense of righteousness. Berry is not ready to accept, even to a small extent, how industrialisation or technological progress has lifted people out of poverty, given a sense of independence to women etc. He just treats all of those statistics and narratives as ideas which are based on a false premise of subservience to corporate culture. How do you take another person seriously if they treat you with such condescension?

His dedication for conservation is great. But his solutions for the average person are impractical. Dismantling a system overnight is not possible. Humans are wired to make technological progress. The solution lies in how to do go about it in a sustainable manner, not to revert to the author's romanticised view of a pre-industrial society.

Berry wrote these essays decades ago. I wonder if he has changed his views. If he hasn't, I hope he still finds solace in handwritten letters and cutting wood with an axe.

[Vienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars. Really makes you think and glad I picked it up (Thanks to Ariel Bissett, haha)

[Kristīne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If the use of a computer is a new idea, then a newer idea is not to use one."

[Liam O'Leary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished! All 50 of the Penguin Moderns!! But Wendell Berry DOES use his wife like a computer? Did anyone find his defense convincing? That by deciding to respond himself, not only on behalf of his wife, and on behalf of women and marital norms (how he believes women have a voice) is so ironic on his part I couldn't help find it funny. Why didn't he let his wife write anything? Why doesn't he type for them? Surely that would be demonstrating at most parity, at least respect, for the situation?

He doesn't explain to what all the single men and women who love writing by hand are supposed to do without someone to type up their writing? Virginia Woolf expresses clearly in A Room Of One's Own that independence requires one to have their own space to write, yet Berry is suggesting that they might also need to be married too unless they are unethically risking the environment. He poses no solution or balance to the argument, it comes across as a humble brag that goes nowhere?

In fairness, I do like his idea, but he doesn't go far enough with it to meet its importance, so it just seems like a farce. Wendell is unintentionally hilarious and sassy. Spiritual texts, Walden, philosophy essays on freedom and happiness, all have so much relevant guidance for anyone wishing to disconnect from technology and processes that harm the world. There is a lot of deeper guidance and wisdom out there, yet Berry forgoes it all to focus on his personal circumstances without acknowledgement of the wider situation or research into the problem or solution. It's a charming read but also a bit silly, like some of the columnist pieces that for some reason were printed in this boxset like Javier Marias #44 (big mistake Penguin!).

However silly and incomplete this was, it was a great finale to an unpredictable and sometimes too uneventful and sombre boxset by Penguin. I think I'm on a hiatus from boxsets, and it's liberating to regain my DNF power and ability to choose only my highest priority read. Perhaps this feeling is very much like what Wendell feels by refusing to use a computer.

[Chris J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this short book at my wife's request. If I am going to adhere to my standard that a 5-star rating means I believe everyone should read that book then this is a 5-star. Regarding the book: the title essay is only five pages long. It is followed by five or so letters (highly critical) written in response to Berry's essay, which was published in Harper's. The next few pages contain his retort to those letters. The remainder of the book (and the lion's share) is another essay of Berry's that relates the themes he addresses in the first essay - a call for prudent, wise, wary and cautious attitudes toward technological adoption.
You don't have to agree with Berry on his views toward the computer or computer ownership to appreciate this book. But, I do believe it to be important that we, like Berry, be even a little thoughtful about our adoption of technologies of all kind. I am thankful that there is a strong, logic-fueled voice that resists the "if we can do it we obviously should mentality" driving our society.

[Amy]

I had heard some great things about this and the title had me super interested about it. So when I finally got around to it I was surprised because i actually liked this one.

Although I didn't agree with all the points that Wendell Berry makes, I did connect to his writing style. I would therefore really like to read more from him in the future as I know that he is an environmentalist so would like to see his opinions.

[tee · Rating 3 out of 5]

4/50 penguin modern (#50)