1. Berry’s critique of technology and advocacy for human‑scale, community‑centered life
Many commenters highlighted Wendell Berry’s warning that unchecked technological growth erodes personal virtues and local bonds.
“The corporate mind at work overthrows all the virtues of the personal mind… it knows no affection, no desire that is not greedy…” – nephihaha (quoting Wendell Berry)
2. The personal, inspirational impact of Berry’s writing on readers
Numerous users described how Berry’s work reshaped their views on technology, agriculture, and what constitutes a good life.
“His book ‘The Unsettling of America’ really had an impact on me. He was a leader who lived what he preached.” – grantpitt
“Among (many) other things, he wrote a fair amount of criticism of technology and computers… it helped me reconsider whether it was always good for us as humans to make things easier and more convenient via technology.” – schoen
3. Skepticism about the romanticism and practicality of Berry’s agrarian ideal
A recurring counter‑argument pointed out that pre‑industrial farming was harsh, that Berry’s vision may not scale, and that his reliance on others (e.g., his wife typing manuscripts) complicates claims of self‑sufficiency.
“I grew up in rural Texas, descended from sharecroppers. He's romanticizing a kind of farming that hasn't existed in the US in 70+ years, one that would make it impossible to feed the country.” – ChickeNES
“Just 4 generations ago… they were at constant risk of starvation from a single low‑yield harvest. It's a very hard life.” – burnt‑resistor