Ralph Borsodi (1886–1977)

This book presents a critique of modern economism, and particularly industrial capitalism at the turn of the century. It does not present socialism as an alternative, but instead proposes independence and self-sufficiency. Part homesteading manual and part Nietzschean hymn to the 1 in a thousand "quality-minded man", against the "herd minded" mass and the "quantity minded" exploiter, it's an engaging read and a lost gem.

This is an entertaining and thought-provoking book! One of those books where I have my phone in my hand while I read it so that I can take pictures of great little passages and quotable bits.

It's hard to pick my favorite part, but I really enjoyed the short passage about a fictional 6-day vacation at an eating resort. It was written like a 19th-century progressive advertisement for the wonderful world of tomorrow, but the author was clearly revolted. I loved the phrase "the most delicate and pleasing modernizations of the old Roman vomitoriums", and it's awesome that the word "vomitoriums" is in the index.

What a treat! The third, practical section of the book can get a little dry in places - there is a list of electrical appliances on a farm, following a table of kilowatt-hours/month/family of typical electrical devices in the 1920s, but that kind very pragmatic approach distinguishes this book from a generic "modernity.. Ewww!" book. The author clearly had an alternative in mind and he's clearly done his homework!

Thanks to Underworld Amusements for giving this neglected gem a new audience!… (meer)