Even though they are historically one of the smaller immigrant streams; nineteenth-century Dutch migrants and their descendants have made parts of West Michigan their own. The first Dutch in Michigan were religious dissenters whose commitment to Calvinism had long-reaching effects on their communities; even in the face of later waves of radicalized industrial immigrants and the challenges of modern life. From Calvin College to Meijer Thrifty Acres and the Tulip Festival; the Dutch presence has enriched and informed people throughout the state. Larry ten Harmsel skillfully weaves together the strands of history and modern culture to create a balanced and sensitive portrayal of this vibrant community.
#682270 in Books New Society Publishers 2011-05-31Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.04 x .64 x 6.09l; .75 #File Name: 0865716854208 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. You need not suffer from the collapse of the United States.By Douglas BassIf you are an average American; you may take umbrage at Dmitry Orlov's certainty regarding the future collapse of the United States. But the handwriting is on the wall in the form of the collapse of the Soviet Union. That's the idea of this book. No date is given regarding the collapse; but the vibe of the book is "sometime in the not-too-distant future; definitely in the lifetime of your children."If you think America is situated to face an uncertain future with strength; you aren't ready for this book yet. There are so many vulnerabilities to choose from; does it really matter which event is the straw that breaks the camel's back? Choose your poison. Is it Peak Oil? Is it the national debt? A natural disaster? An environmental catastrophe? Some combination thereof?If you think of America as an exceptional nation; you may take umbrage at Orlov's characterization of Americans as overfed with unreal; unnourishing foods; overmedicated with various psychoactive drugs; conditioned to the indentured servitude of mortgages and private health insurance.I consider it valuable that Orlov gave many examples of how ordinary Russians adapted after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Certain aspects of Russian life and culture facilitated that adaptability; and some hindered it. He seems to me to write about a certain kind of inner work; developing the determination to observe; learn the lessons of history; and adapt to rapidly changing situations. He also writes about outer preparation in matters such as food; fuel; transportation and security. You need not suffer from the collapse of the United States. Who knows; you might even thrive with a little advance preparation.One could think of this book as a particular instance of Stein's Law; "Things that can't go on forever; won't."The reason I only gave this book four stars is because I consider it to think of collapse as an economic phenomenon; as opposed to a moral phenomenon. I don't know how long a nation can last with a government that doesn't share its values. And he only thinks about how individuals can adapt to the collapse of the United States; not about any future reconstitution. But as far as it goes; it considers ideas that many Americans would do well to consider.10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. Grounding in reality helps us stretch our imaginationBy Chester ChristopherAs Orlov states himself; his book is an exercise in imagination-stretching. Whatever degree of confidence you may have in the proposition that the economy and society of the USA will collapse soon; from zero (most Americans) to nearly 100 (the author); a few sessions with this volume will assuredly lead you to think things you haven't before.The bedrock Orlov bases his book on is that the economic system of the US; depending as it does on a vast supply of oil and foreign credit; will collapse once this supply thins out. The thesis built on this bedrock is not that we can somehow avoid the collapse; but the more humble (and reasonable; in my opinion) notion that there are particular aspects of the US economy and society that make us particularly vulnerable to disaster when the collapse comes. He compares the United States to a society whose collapse he witnessed firsthand; the former Soviet Union; and finds we come up on the losing side of the "collapse gap".Whether you buy his particular brand of reasonable doomsaying or not; I find it very compelling that the steps he recommends for weathering collapse (live more sustainably; get to know your neighbors; stop concentrating on monetary wealth and build up concrete and social assets; start growing some of your own food; learn valuable; productive skills) are more or less things which would benefit us in any case; whether our economy collapses or not. If he turns out to have been wrong; and we get out of this depression back into the "business as usual" of five years ago; and go back to clearing land for more strip malls and suburban cookie-cutter housing developments; then - oh well - at least it was an interesting read. If he's not wrong; then hopefully it will be slightly less shocking when the collapse comes.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Detroit is Collapse LabBy Kevin D. KimmichIf your mind is trapped in the normalcy bias you won't get much from Orlov's book. But if you can imagine that decades of bad decisions by millions of people and malignant leadership will have consequences; it provides a useful perspective.You can see collapse unfold in a city like Detroit; which is like another lab for Orlov's ideas.Even if a mad max style collapse doesn't unfold; our economy is transforming to local and decentralized and many of the concepts in the book are valuable to contemplate.
