For over fifty years, Wendell Berry has argued that our most pressing
ecological and cultural need is a renewed formal intelligence -- a mode
of thinking and acting that fosters the health of the earth and its
beings. Yet the present industrial economy prioritizes a technical,
self-centered way of relating to the world that often demands and
rewards busyness over thoughtful observation, independence over
relationships, and replacing over repairing. Such a system is both
unsustainable and results in destructive, far-reaching consequences for
our society and land.
In Virtues of Renewal: Wendell Berry's Sustainable Forms, Jeffrey
Bilbro combines textual analysis and cultural criticism to explain how
Berry's literary forms encourage readers to practice virtues of renewal.
While the written word alone cannot enact change, Bilbro asserts that
Berry's poetry, essays, and fiction can inspire people to, as Berry
writes, "practice resurrection." Bilbro examines the distinct, yet
symbiotic, features of these three genres, demonstrating the importance
of the humanities in supporting tenable economies. He uses Berry's
pieces to suggest the need for more robust language for discussing
conservation, ecology, and the natural -- and regenerative -- process of
death. Bilbro additionally translates Berry's literature to a wider
audience, putting him in conversation with philosophers and theologians
such as Ivan Illich, Willie Jennings, Charles Taylor, and Augustine.
The lessons that Berry and his work have to offer are not only for those
interested in cultivating the land, but also for those who cultivate
their communities and live mindfully. In short, these lessons are
pertinent to all who are willing to make an effort to live the examined
life. Such formative work is not dramatic or quick, but it can foster
the deep and lasting transformation necessary to develop a more
sustainable culture and economy.
