Thoughts on: Loving and Leaving the Good Life by Helen Nearing This isn't a well edited or carefully packaged literary review meant to give some concise synopsis of the book or cast a critical light on the author. I simply want to to share a free-form journal entry and few closing thoughts after finishing this book. Think of it as rough sawn timber - not dimensional lumber: My background connection to Helen and Scott Nearing include reading their works The Good Life and Continuing The Good Life - each of which read as much more matter-of-fact homesteading journals and manuals. I was amazed and pleasantly surprised by the sheer worldly-ness and diverging context of both Helen and Scott's lives before settling into their work together in Vermont and Maine. Their personal connections to turn of the century class struggle and class consciousness, esoteric religion and astrology had me hooked - if not fascinated and enraptured. The literary, philosophical and religious influence and...
