This book really pits two of my beliefs against one another. On the one hand, I believe the value of specific, physical places and our relationships with them is vastly underrated. It provides meaning, connects us to the past and encourages a deep respect for people and places that is a necessary counterweight to the obvious trends of the ephemeral, impersonal nature of our modern digitized lives. It is the place from which all efforts at conservation should begin. Unfortunately, there is almost by definition an old-fashioned, nostalgic element to this view, which is probably one of the reasons it is often not to taken seriously. Berry articulates this vision much better than I can and does it in beautitul fashion.
I also think the accomplishments of the human species over the last two centuries are irrefutable and incredibly inspiring. Enormous reductions in poverty and violence, an incredible increase in material well-being and health, communications, etc. These are major accomplishments. Of course, alongside these achievements have been enormous challenges, catastrophes and tragedies, many of which are difficult to disentangle from the accomplishments. There is a tendency to feel that one has to take a side on this - either you are for the last two hundred years or against them. Or in more commonly adopted language, for capitalism (western cultre) or against it. I find this tendency tiresome, reductive and disingenuous.
Unfortunately, Berry is strongly in the anti-western camp, to the extent that his thoughts on western culture and progress come across as naive caricatures of what they are meant to represent. The prose that renders such beautiful reflections on nature, life and self, paints naive, overly simplified caricatures of modern life and its consequences.
I will keep reading for the insights into place, purpose, religion, and land, and for the beautiful prose, cringing my way through the anti-globalist, anti-growth, anti-western sections.