Do you have a non-permaculture book you think all permies should read?

Do you have a non-permaculture book you think all permits should read?

I do. It's The Other Game: how Life Is Played in Mexican Villages by Philip Dahl

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3304550-the-other-game?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=xii7jUKOfB&rank=1

Fierce individualism and separating ourselves from society is not the only way to get back to the land--in fact it's not at all how those who have always been on the land live.
The title is ever so slightly misleading. This is not applicable to Mexico in general, but to southern Mexico.

What are your books?
I'll read them if you read mine!

I would recommend any books by Stephen H Buhner, I have his "Herbal Antibiotics" and here is another:

https://permies.com/wiki/138006/Herbal-Antivirals-Natural-Remedies-Emerging

Since I already have lived in Mexico I will not read your book though I am sure it is a good one since you are recommending it.

My adventure was a fun experience though that was another lifetime.

Since I am not taking you up on your deal I'll not expect you to read these though they are by some of our forum members:

https://permies.com/wiki/133426/Acres-Dream-Book-Leigh-Tate

https://permies.com/t/168155/Acres-Dream-Sequel-Leigh-Tate

https://permies.com/wiki/152738/Year-Grid-Kitchen-Kate-Downham

https://permies.com/wiki/158032/Herbal-Medicine-Herbs-Dr-Sharol

https://permies.com/wiki/157447/kitchen/Herbal-Formulas-Proven-Recipes-Radiant

You might find some other ones on our Book Review Grid:

https://permies.com/w/book-reviews

Anne Miller wrote:I would recommend any books by Stephen H Buhner, I have his "Herbal Antibiotics" and here is another:

https://permies.com/wiki/138006/Herbal-Antivirals-Natural-Remedies-Emerging

Since I already have lived in Mexico I will not read your book though I am sure it is a good one since you are recommending it.

My adventure was a fun experience though that was another lifetime.

Since I am not taking you up on your deal I'll not expect you to read these though they are by some of our forum members:

https://permies.com/wiki/133426/Acres-Dream-Book-Leigh-Tate

https://permies.com/t/168155/Acres-Dream-Sequel-Leigh-Tate

https://permies.com/wiki/152738/Year-Grid-Kitchen-Kate-Downham

https://permies.com/wiki/158032/Herbal-Medicine-Herbs-Dr-Sharol

https://permies.com/wiki/157447/kitchen/Herbal-Formulas-Proven-Recipes-Radiant

You might find some other ones on our Book Review Grid:

https://permies.com/w/book-reviews

Thanks,
I'm an avid reader, and with growing antibiotic resistance and having had a resistant infection on my leg a few years back, I will certainly look into your book recommendation! Very important for everyone.

I don't think having lived in Mexico or even having no desire to ever live in Mexico takes away from the lessons this book has to teach about Democracy, living in community, taking care of the land, and stepping out of the consumerism and individualism that is pushed on people from the "western" world.

It's fun how many people start off in permaculture or survivalism or going back to the land or... whatever, often do it from a desire for independence or nonreliance on the civilisation around them. But the more experienced people, like Paul Wheaton or Ross Raven (C5), go through that to, or come back around to, building community. Building community is hard and one of the best ways we can do that is by understanding the community that people have come from.

My book recommendation is "Foreign to Familiar: A Guide to Understanding Hot- And Cold-Climate Cultures" by Sarah Lanier.

It's a short, simple introduction to understanding, or at least giving grace, others in order to build community.

I don't think this is a book for all permies, I think it is a book for all people. This isn't for someone planning to move from New York to Rio or Addis Ababa to London. We all have a slightly different way of looking at the world and have built up some basic rules (cultural norms) while trying to navigate through life. This book is for anyone who interacts with anyone else.

It's not comprehensive or perfect but as someone living in a community of 300 people from 40 different countries, it's an invaluable start.

Oooh! James thanks you.
I think that books would be great for my work, I teach English as a Foreign Language and work in a department with 15 native English speakers from around the world, and the purpose of our classes is not just to teach our students English but to prep them to do business with people from around the world. I think I will check this book out with an eye of looking for exerpts that I can use with my students.

There are a few that come to mind. Upon reading the title to this thread, the first one that popped in my mind is Nourishment by Fred Provenza. It's a remarkable account of Dr. Provenza's doctorate thesis that amazed him so that it was a pivotal turning point and launched his career down a path he wasn't expecting. It's a fantastic read and discusses in part how animals know what to eat and what to avoid eating and also discusses nutrition and more. This book was a joy for me to read and was one that I was always looking forward to with anticipation to continue reading where I had left off and the book left an impression on me.

Glancing over my bookshelf, another delightful book is The Untold History of Healing by Wolf D. Storl Dr. Storl has put together an amazing report of how peoples of the past used plants for healing. I enjoy reading about history and lore and I think it's a wonderful read and I believe many others here on Permies would enjoy this one too.

Those both sound great James, I will look for them. I particularly would like to read Nourishment together with my son, he loves animals and is just about to the age where he will start to make his own food choices outside of the home.

A couple of books that come to mind are "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year Of Food Life" by Barbara Kingsolver and "How To Opt-Out Of The Technocratic State" by Derrick Broze.  I Highly recommend both and they're intertwined with Permaculture thoughts and principles.

The book:
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Also this article, which I first saw when it was published on the PRI website:
Why Your Least Visible Work is Your Most Important Work

The encyclopedia of country living by Carla Emery is one I'd recommend. It's a fantastic overview of homesteading and farming

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
Case studies of societies that failed or succeeded from an environmental point of view.

We Took to the Woods by Louise Dickinson Rich. It's non fiction but her writing style is witty and engaging, not dry. I've re read this a few times and kept my copy though moves.

"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"

Anything and everything by Charles Bukowski

These are books I think everyone should read, not just permies.

Wow!
How great to come into the office on a slow day and find book recommendations. Thanks,  I've noted them all and they all look great.