Philosophy, Literature and Art

Immortal River: The Upper Mississippi in Ancient and Modern Times
By Calvin Fremling

This engaging and well-illustrated primer to the Upper Mississippi River presents the basic natural and human history of this magnificent waterway. Immortal River is written for the educated layperson who would like to know more about the river's history and the forces that shape as well as threaten it today. It melds complex information from the fields of geology, ecology, geography, anthropology, and history into a readable, chronological story that spans some 500 million years of the earth's history.

Calvin Fremling is professor emeritus of biology at Winona State University and former aquatic ecologist at the Resources Studies Center, St. Mary's University of Minnesota. He has written numerous articles on the environment and the Mississippi River.

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BOOKS.ONTHEWEB.COM Listing of books about the Mississippi River

As Wendell Berry Celebrates His 70th Year, he Remains a Champion of Agrarian Ideals
With scores of essays, books and poems championing democracy, peace, and the agrarian ideals to his credit, Wendell Berry remains one of the preeminent voices of true patriotism in America. The writer, farmer, poet, novelist, and teacher offers some of his best work in Citizenship Papers (Shoemaker & Hoard; Sept., 2003). While challenging the conservation movement to find a new rural economy, he pointedly cites the global industrial economy for its rapacious treatment of democracy, the land, and the people. Berry calls for a local consumers' and small farmers' revolt to revive rural areas with a viable and sustaining local economy. One of the principal essays, “A Citizen’s Response to the National Security Strategy of the United States of America” appeared as a full page ad placed by the Orion Society in the New York Times in February of 2003. In his most recent publication For Love of the Land: A farmer and conservationist is tired of being on two losing sides ( Sierra Magazine - July/August 2004) Wendell Berry continues to speak out as the conscience of rural America, an ever-hopeful agrarian, determined to do the right thing in the face of significant evidence of considerable decline in rural communities, rural quality of life, and the health of working lands. This book should be on the 'must read' list of every land manager in the nation.
Agrarians of the World, Unite!
Wendell Berry's vision, and how Christians should respond to it.
By Eric Miller, Christianity Today, 06/10/02
Mr. Wendell Berry of Kentucky
Internet Resources Page by Bro. Tom Murphy, Order of Carmelites
The New Patriotism Series
Orion Society; three books, two by Wendell Berry
Go Ahead, Mr. Wendell: At 70, Wendell Berry remains a champion of agrarian ideals By Mark Engler -Grist Magazine- 8/5/04
Compromise, Hell!Economic WMD's are Being Used Against Our Own People in a Version of "Freedom" That Makes Greed the Dominant Economic Virtue. By Wendell Berry -Orion Magazine- November/December 2004

A Ding Darling Sampler
Ding Darling's editorial cartoons provide a rare common sense insight into history, politics, and the environment that gives us a better understanding of our lives today. Ding's cartoons and commentary have helped to shape national public opinion for most of a century and are as meaningful today as they were in the days before television and even radio. Ding's cartoons provide us with a unique perspective on contemporary issues that we may have assumed too be unique to our times. Each cartoon in this collection is reproduced in high resolution on good quality paper, with one cartoon per 8.5” by 11” page. Editorial comments are provided to assist in interpretation. Chapter headings include: Human Nature, Conservation, Economics, Problems, Bigots, the Ordinary Citizen, Holidays, Presidents, Politics and Politicians, and War and Peace. Price: $14.95 plus shipping. Call Publication Distribution at the University of Iowa (1-800-235-2665) to order. Monday-Friday, 7am-3pm Central Time.

Recently Featured Ding Darling Cartoons on UMBSN website.

 

EarthScan Provides Links to Literature on Sustainable Living/Industry
With the multitude of books out there, it might be truly difficult to pick out a few good ones to give you and introduction to sustainable practices and philosophy. EarthScan provides a handy resource to help you find the literature you need to understand emerging philosophies and policies that will guide the future of our society. When you visit EarthScan, you can find titles such as "The Living Land", "Future Positive", "Natural Capitalism", "Earth in the Balance", and "Blueprint for a Sustainable Economy".

 

Upper Basin Poetry By Paul Czaja
I first met Paul when he was telling stories to a class of Montessori School children at Whitewater State Park here in southeastern Minnesota. His story, like his poetry, seemed to capture a bit of the magic and wonder that this land we live in evokes in my being. I hope that those school children took a little piece of the natural wisdom contained in Paul's story home with them. We all could probably stand to learn, or at least be reminded, of the deep connection that we have with the land and waters that make this region so special. With that, I offer you a small sampling of Paul's poetry.

River
Redwing Blackbird
Lightness of Being
Morning's Seeing
Turtle