Ben Waber reviewed A Revolution Down on the Farm by Paul K. Conkin
An Absolute Classic
5 stars
This is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read, building an incredibly insightful picture of the arc of farming in the US from 1929 - 2008, with Conkin combining his personal history, deep case studies, macro history, and economic and scientific research on the sector. This combination of different analytical techniques is extremely rare, and Conkin makes it extremely engaging with his brilliant writing style and deft combination of different approaches in each chapter. The depth of technical and sectoral change over this period is difficult to overstate, with Conkin convincingly arguing that productivity improvements in agriculture have long been underappreciated by both academics and society more broadly. Understanding this core industry is absolutely essential for thinking about work and productivity, and this book is the perfect entry point. Highly recommend
This is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read, building an incredibly insightful picture of the arc of farming in the US from 1929 - 2008, with Conkin combining his personal history, deep case studies, macro history, and economic and scientific research on the sector. This combination of different analytical techniques is extremely rare, and Conkin makes it extremely engaging with his brilliant writing style and deft combination of different approaches in each chapter. The depth of technical and sectoral change over this period is difficult to overstate, with Conkin convincingly arguing that productivity improvements in agriculture have long been underappreciated by both academics and society more broadly. Understanding this core industry is absolutely essential for thinking about work and productivity, and this book is the perfect entry point. Highly recommend