I gave this book 3 stars, but I added an extra star because Camden gifted it to me.

The writing in this book is very good. The author, White, has a talent for making simple life seem profound. He is able to extract a lot from very little, which is something that a good writer can and should do.

However, at times, the book can be a bit too uneventful. Some of the short essays really stood out to me and I would rate them 5/5, but there were also some that I didn't really care for. This makes it difficult to give the book a fair overall rating.

Despite this, I still enjoyed reading the book. I had never read "Charlotte's Web" before because I didn't start reading books until 2018, but after reading this collection of essays, I might have to give it a try.

I'm curious to see if White's writing style in "Charlotte's Web" is as engaging and thought-provoking as it is in this book. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written essays and wants to explore the beauty and simplicity of life.

Though I was a bit young to fully appreciate it when I read it,

I do remember this book having several good quotes.

One being about how tyrants don't fear anything more than a comedian.

That particular quote really stuck with me and has remained in my mind ever since.

I also truly enjoyed reading about the world through E.B White's eyes.

His descriptions and perspectives were so unique and engaging.

It was as if he was able to open up a whole new world for me to explore and understand.

Even though I may not have grasped all the deeper meanings and nuances at that young age,

the overall experience of reading his work was still very memorable and enjoyable.

I am glad that I had the opportunity to read this book and discover these wonderful quotes and insights.

It has definitely had an impact on me and my love for literature.

I have been engrossed in this book throughout the winter. On those nights when sleep eludes me, I find myself rereading the essays I have bookmarked. First published in 1942, this collection has remained continuously in print, which intrigues me. Why do so many people find the observations about life on a salt farm so relevant? My edition, published in 1997, features a forward by his stepson, Roger Angell, and an introduction dated May 1982 by E. B. White. Holding this book in my hands, I feel as if I am holding a little piece of history.
In 1938, E.B. White made an impulsive decision. He moved his wife, Katherine, and their young son, Joel, from Manhattan to a saltwater farm they owned in Maine. He gave up his employment without much thought about the impact on his wife's career and his son's transition from a private school to a two-room schoolhouse.
The essays in this collection originated from his monthly columns for Harper's, which began in 1938, and three essays first published in "The New Yorker" with practical topics. These include "Hot Weather," "The Flocks We Watch by Night," and "A Shepherd's Life." They cover the mundane repairs and tasks of farm life, the careful observations and descriptions, and then, the reflections on the war, with its building and exploding, and the changes in the wind. "War comes to each of us in his own fashion."
I look at the dates and think about what was happening at the time, not only in the world but also for my parents. There is a dichotomy between the functional tasks of the farm and a world that is changing. What must it have been like to repair a roof, milk the cows, or send a child off to school while the Russians were falling back, the Germans were advancing, and "all the civilized world at war, in every continent warring"? I have reread the final three or four essays numerous times, finding comfort in his writing style as he discovers beauty in the ordinary. January 1943's "Cold Weather" is the final essay, but my favorite is "Morningtime and Eveningtime," written in August 1942, which is his account of manning a plane spotting post.

E. B. White is truly a master essayist, and this collection serves as a wonderful reminder of that fact.

His Collected Essays is among my all-time favorite books, and this particular one presents more essays, which are shorter in length and span across different eras rather than being confined to a specific period.

Most of the essays are set during the 1930s and 1940s, and it is truly fascinating to observe his perspectives on life during that time.

From his experiences of living on a farm in Maine (not in a way that makes living in Maine seem overly appealing) to his thoughts regarding the US's involvement before and during WW2, White not only tells his own story but also weaves in an American narrative.

With minimal issues, he emerges as anti-racism, anti-Jim Crow, anti-fascism, and against hyper-nationalism, among many other things.

The ease in his writing voice, combined with his matter-of-factness, is always comforting to read or listen to.

It makes for an engaging and thought-provoking read that offers valuable insights into the past and the human condition.

I have an intense passion for reading EB White's essays, and this particular collection has been especially delightful. The essays were penned between 1938 and 1943, providing a vivid picture of what life was like in rural America during the early years of the war. My father spent his childhood on a small farm in upstate NY, and numerous of these essays brought back memories of the stories my dad would share about that era. It's truly a remarkable book that I will continuously return to and read repeatedly. Each time I open its pages, I am transported to a different time and place, experiencing the joys and hardships of rural life through White's masterful writing. This collection is not just a book; it's a treasure trove of memories and a testament to the power of the written word.

This is an absolutely amazing read that will truly captivate you.

His prose is not only compelling but also highly addictive, drawing you in and making you eager to turn the page.

The most astonishing aspect, and perhaps a significant warning for us all, lies in his journal entries spanning from 1939 through 1941.

It is truly remarkable how these entries could almost be written about America in the present day.

His vivid description of right wing sentiment in Europe during that time seems to eerily foreshadow the subsequent rise of right wing extremism in the US.

It makes one stop and think about the parallels and the potential implications for our society.

Overall, this is a thought-provoking and eye-opening piece of work that is well worth the read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this remarkable book by E.B. White that delved into his daily life while residing in Maine.

Surprisingly, many of his profound thoughts had the uncanny ability to make you feel as if he was penning about the present times, despite the fact that the time period he was writing about was during World War II.

He vividly described life in Maine and how it was affected by the war.

The stories he shared about his farm were truly humorous and added a lighthearted touch to the overall narrative.

It was truly a pleasure to read this book, and I found myself completely engrossed in E.B. White's world.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about life in a different era and wants to experience the charm and wit of E.B. White's writing.

I loved this book!

E. B. White's writing is a remarkable demonstration of the perfect equilibrium between intelligence, simplicity, and musicality.

His works are a treasure trove for anyone seeking to have a great time. Whether one chooses to read any of his essays, any of his children's books, or indeed anything that he has written, they are in for a treat.

White's ability to convey complex ideas with such clarity and elegance is truly astonishing. His words seem to dance on the page, creating a rhythm and melody that engages the reader from start to finish.

His essays are thought-provoking and incisive, offering unique perspectives on a wide range of topics. His children's books, on the other hand, are charming and delightful, filled with memorable characters and heartwarming stories.

In short, E. B. White is a master of the written word, and his works are a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature.

I've essentially been dipping in and out of this collection since I picked up a copy in, eh, 2003?

This year, rather than simply dipping into it here and there, I decided to read it cover to cover.

The experience was truly eye-opening and fulfilling.

I found myself completely immersed in the stories and ideas presented within the pages.

It made me realize how much I had been missing by not giving the collection my full attention before.

Now, I'm seriously tempted to make this a yearly tradition.

Every year, I could set aside some dedicated time to read through this collection and discover new insights and perspectives.

It would be a wonderful way to continuously expand my knowledge and understanding.

Moreover, it would allow me to build a deeper connection with the material and perhaps even notice things that I missed in previous readings.

I can't wait to see what new treasures I'll uncover in the years to come.

1968 was indubitably the worst year ever.

It witnessed the tragic assassinations of MLK and RFK, along with widespread riots and the ongoing turmoil of the Viet Nam War.

For a mostly clueless college junior who was turning 21 that summer and constantly pondering about the kind of world he would graduate into the following year (thankfully, a much better one!), the outlook was unrelentingly bad.

Drugs and beer, instead of bringing relief during that fateful summer of '68, only exacerbated paranoia and plunged him into a deeper depression.

Thankfully, books and music came to the rescue. Among them was E.B. White's "One Man's Meat", a beautiful celebration of life, filled with natural peacefulness and great writing.

I had read Strunk and White in Freshman English, and "Omit needless words" had become a mantra for me. I aspired to pursue clear and concise writing that could convey something meaningful in an elegant and graceful manner.

"One Man's Meat" quickly became my paragon for prose and has remained so ever since. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone, especially those who have a passion for good writing and are in need of some healing.

I am extremely impatient with those who advocate going back to a so-called better time in America. In reality, times don't change all that much. However, our perception of them apparently does.

White was an intelligent observer of some truly awful events in the 30s and early 40s, yet he provided us with a clear, untinted lens through which we can view world events in any era.

Today, it is incredibly hard to find this kind of seer. So, read "One Man's Meat" and then return to reading the news and today's observers. Compare and contrast, and repeat as needed.

The first three-fourths of it was rather dull, with only an occasional nugget emerging.

For instance, it said, "Asterisk? So soon? It is a hot-weather sign, the asterisk. The cicada of the typewriter, telling the long steaming noons."

However, after that, there was so much beauty. All of the elements such as Songbirds, Aunt Poo, Morningtime and Eveningtime, and Cold Weather were described in a captivating way.

I am certain that I will return to these parts again. They have left a profound impression on me, and I look forward to exploring them further and uncovering more of their hidden charm and significance.

It's as if these later sections of the text have opened up a new world of wonder and inspiration, making me eager to delve deeper into its pages and experience all that it has to offer.

A deeply perplexing long-short little book, 'One Man's Meat', has left me in a state of constant mental turmoil. I would repeatedly put it down, only to have it nag at the back of my mind. So, in a determined mood, I persevered and finished it, allowing myself to skip and skim through a few of the many essays.

This anthology consists of columns written by White for 'Harper's Magazine' under the same name, along with three essays from the New Yorker, spanning from July 1938 to January 1943.

As White himself writes in the introduction, 'One Man's Meat' is a personal record. It is a collection of essays penned by him while engaged in seemingly trivial and peaceful pursuits on a salt water farm in Maine, all the while being acutely aware that the world had not achieved true peace and that no one could afford to indulge in trivialities for long.

White was not only running a functioning farm but also maintaining his editorial role at the New Yorker and writing for Harpers. He lived in Maine with his wife, Katherine Angall White (also a New Yorker editor working remotely), and their young son, Joel.

The early essays have a somewhat fey tone, as if White is playacting for the reader. This is exemplified by a humorous listing of the costs associated with his goose, from the 30 cents for the egg to attributing a tenth of the cost of installing low-pressure steam heat in the dwelling house to it. In total, his goose ends up costing him a whopping $402.85.

As the years pass, White's detachment from his farming activities seems to wane, and his skills and experience grow. One of the chapters I particularly enjoyed was about his preparations for bringing a cow home, four years after moving to the farm.

White felt the need for a personal probationary period. He believed that if he expected his cow to have freshened before he got her, she had a right to expect some significant change in him as well. His first move was to purchase fifteen sheep and a case of dynamite. The sheep were to improve the pasture and serve as practice for him ('I had no desire to have a cow on the place until I had learned how an udder worked, and my first lambing taught me a lot about that'). The dynamite was used to blow up large rocks strewn in the pasture for clearing.

From there, White planned and built his cow byre. And then, when the cow finally arrived, leading her out to the paddock made him feel 'the way I did the first time I ever took a girl to the theater - embarrassed but elated'.

As with any regular column, some essays stand out more than others. One, in particular, is a beautiful story about taking Joel back to the freshwater lake where White used to fish as a child with his own father.

The anthology also covers the early years of the war and America's entry after Pearl Harbour. There is a quiet, polite, but insistent voice in the essays, arguing that isolationism is not the right strategy and that a league of democracies is needed to defeat the threats of Hitler. This voice becomes more prominent as the years progress.

In the week America enters the war, White writes, 'To hold America in one's thoughts is like holding a love letter in one's hand - it has so special a meaning'. He also mentions the encouraging sign of scientists, who he believes put the planet first.

Reading the last quote gives one a cold shiver, and it is not easy to read the passages about the Negroes either. However, overall, White's rural idylls, with their philosophical undercurrents, have stood the test of time.

For a reader who first knew White through 'Charlotte's Web', one of the chief delights of this collection is when he makes mentions that seem to prefigure the book. His descriptions of his flock of sheep, their lamb's behavior, his sheds, his geese, his rats, and his runty piglet all feel like little winks to the knowing reader.