One Man's Meat by e.b. white

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

The New Yorker lauds it as superb reading, yet I would describe it as transcendent.

E.B. White has this remarkable ability to make the idea of owning a saltwater farm in the remote reaches of Maine seem like the single most wonderful thing one could ever undertake in a lifetime. And I find myself more than halfway convinced by him.

The essays commence in the late 1930s and extend through the mid-1940s. This provides an almost month-by-month progression of White's thoughts regarding the impending World War.

While his conceptual writing on nationalism, civic duty, democracy, and manhood is excellent, the true sparkle and passion emerge when he is engaged in activities such as tending to the sheep, delivering mail to a neighbor, or attempting to write on a Sunday morning while his son plays with toys in the adjacent room.

One doesn't simply drink in these essays; one gulps them down. Suffice it to say, if there were more works by E.B. White available, I would surely become a literary alcoholic.

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Dianime

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I listened to this during the final days of my extensive post-law school, pre-real life euro trip. Initially, I regarded it as rather twee and artificial, seemingly just navel-gazing for the sake of it. However, as World War II loomed large on the horizon and White started to add some substance (ha) to the bones of his essay, I began to warm to it. After having completed it, I can understand why it is so highly regarded, although it may not yet enter my personal literary canon. I will probably revisit it, especially if I ever find myself with a lazy day in midcoast Maine. It's a piece that has the power to draw you in and make you reflect on various aspects of life, history, and human nature. The way White weaves his story and thoughts together is quite captivating, and it leaves you with a sense of both nostalgia and a newfound appreciation for the simple things in life.

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Miisaka10032

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

This essay collection, which is arranged chronologically, commences in July 1938. At that time, E.B. White and his wife, Kathryn Angell, both of whom were working for the New Yorker, left New York City to relocate to a saltwater farm in Maine. It extends until 1942 when America was fully embroiled in World War II. White persisted in writing, Kathryn continued with editing, and they became farmers. White was approaching 40 years old then, and the specter of war loomed large.

The essays encompass his experiences in farming as well as the actions of Nazi Germany as the war drew closer and closer. The essays are relatively brief yet are concise and replete with reflections on what freedom implies, how fascism operates, and when, in farming terms, White would be qualified to possess a cow. Most of them were published as White's weekly column for Harper's Magazine.

Although the essays are short, they carry weight. I perused them, one each night at bedtime, over a span of several months so that I could relish each one. The writing is extraordinarily straightforward, uncomplicated, and impactful, and White gets to the core of the matter, irrespective of the subject. Some of his ponderings on freedom and democracy and the threats to it from within feel highly relevant to the present political landscape. I deeply regret that I did not pen a fan letter to White upon initially reading this book many years ago when he was still alive.

A sample excerpted from the essay "Freedom":

To be free, in a planetary sense, is to have the sensation that you belong to the earth. To be free, in a social sense, is to feel at ease within a democratic framework. In Adolf Hitler, although he is a freely flourishing individual, we do not perceive either kind of sensibility.....His perception of men is not that they coexist, but rather that they are capable of being organized and standardized by a superior intellect -- that their existence implies not the fulfillment of their personalities but the submergence of their personalities in the common racial destiny....To him, the ordinary man is a primitive, capable only of being utilized and led. He constantly refers to people as sheep, halfwits, and impudent fools -- the same people from whom he demands the utmost in loyalty and to whom he promises the ultimate in rewards.

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dankchungus

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I never used to be a fan of essays.

Maybe it was because in school, the process of writing them seemed so cumbersome and straining. I naively assumed that reading essays would have a similar effect.

However, after delving into Ex Libris, The Library at Night, A History of Reading, Essays of Elia, and several others that escape my immediate recall, I've been completely convinced.

As long as the topic holds enough romance for me, essays can be just as enjoyable as, if not even more so than, reading fiction.

I adored this collection. Some parts were a bit challenging for me to follow, like when he delved deeply into the logistics of farming.

But the sentiment underlying it all, and his arguments regarding the benefits of traveling by horse rather than by automobile, consolidated schoolhouses instead of one-room schoolhouses, and the necessity of people being directly involved in food production and farming - so much of what E.B. White wrote about in the late 1930s and early 1940s truly resonates with my own way of thinking.

It would be quite easy to write a paragraph expounding on the virtues of each and every essay.

So, I'll stop myself here. Suffice it to say that this is one of those books that I long to take with me on holiday to some northeast American lake in midsummer and read without any interruptions from the outside, modern world.

Or perhaps to Vermont in the autumn? Or even better, to White's saltwater farm.

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Bigaku

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

Quintessentially American:

It is economical and practical in both style and nature. The American way of life emphasizes efficiency and getting the most out of resources. This practicality is also reflected in their architecture, design, and daily habits.

Americans are known for being friendly. They are quick to smile, strike up a conversation, and offer help to those in need. This friendliness extends beyond their own countrymen and is often shown to foreigners as well.

There is also a touch of sentimentality in the American character. They have a deep appreciation for their history, traditions, and values. This sentimentality can be seen in their love for classic movies, music, and literature.

Finally, Americans are a moral people. They believe in doing what is right, standing up for justice, and helping those less fortunate. This moral compass guides them in their personal and professional lives.

If I wanted a foreigner to truly understand the best of the American spirit, I would highly recommend experiencing these aspects of American life.

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DimsTheImmortal

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I have an unwavering affection for each and every book penned by E. B. White. It has always been a source of great regret for me that there aren't more works from his talented pen. Although I am no longer in the appropriate age group to relish his children's books, I hold a deep love for all the other volumes he has created. This particular one is no exception.

If only there were a Kindle version available, I would have毫不犹豫地 purchased it. Regrettably, the only digital format that I can obtain is this audible one. The writing is so exquisitely beautiful that I find myself longing to listen to it a second or even a third time, should I have the luxury of time. The topics covered within its pages span a wide range, from the seemingly mundane tasks of taking care of farm animals to the far more serious issues of war, race, and profit-sharing.

As I reach the end of the book, I can't help but smile when I come across the passage in which he so artfully avoids using the word "socialism" to express his admiration for his profit-sharing scheme. It is a testament to his literary finesse and his ability to convey complex ideas in a subtle and engaging manner.

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PsyjiicOrder

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

A very unique collection of essays awaits you. Some of the essays may seem just so so at first glance, lacking that extra sparkle. However, within this collection, there are truly moments of literary brilliance that will take your breath away. The subjects covered in these essays are incredibly diverse. They range from profound thoughts on world affairs, delving into the complex issues that shape our global society. To the more down-to-earth topics such as raising chickens, sharing practical tips and interesting anecdotes. And even the design of automobiles, exploring the aesthetics and functionality of these modern machines. This collection offers a rich tapestry of ideas and perspectives, sure to engage and inspire readers from all walks of life.

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Dianime

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

An excellent piece of non-fiction.

Although each "chapter" presents a vignette of White's life on a farm in Maine, many of them touch upon the impending entrance of America into WW2. The time immediately after Pearl Harbor is also explored, showing how life on a farm in a small town on the coast of Maine was still affected.

Surprisingly, several chapters have a relevance to today's political climate. They discuss how many isolationists in America, before the country's formal entrance into the war, dismissed, intellectualized, or justified Hitler's activities in Europe. They simply put their heads in the sand, either because they didn't realize or were unwilling to realize the horrors he was capable of and, in fact, had yet to bring about.

This work not only provides a fascinating look at a bygone era but also offers valuable insights into the human condition and the importance of being vigilant in the face of danger.

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One Man's Meat

e.b. white roger angell

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