World Made by Hand: A Novel
by James Howard Kunstler
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Book Reviews of World Made by Hand: A Novel
Book Review: A Different Emberverse!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a fan of S. M. Stirling';s Emberverse series
since Dies The Fire first came out. World Made By Hand,
since it involves the collapse of the world (though set in
the U.S.) follows in the same vein. The narrative easily and
readily engages you -- I had the traditional problem with
good books of 'can't put it down.'Techical details (at
least in areas I know something about) seem good and the
description of such governmental systems (read feudalism
complete with serfs) as have emerged seems sadly too accurate.
I do find myself wishing for a Juniper McKenzie!
Good book, if like Emberverse, you will enjoy this book.
Book Review: A real look at what life could become
Summary: 4 Stars
World Made By Hand is an easy to read account of what community means in times of economic and at least partial social collapse. The story itself is a bit threadbare in spots but is interesting enough to keep you reading, the real reason to purchase this book is the subject matter. The details that are given regarding what society will revert to in times of economic collapse is riveting and important. I would rate this book as one of my top picks to read in these unstable times. Read this and see if your mind isn't opened up to the concepts presented here. I particularly enjoyed the author's depiction of religion and its place in an unstable community.Book Review: Really terrible, really
Summary: 1 Stars
This little piece of dreck should be allowed to fade into obscurity. No rush into obscurity.
The premise is valid, and there have been some good post oil futures written, this just isn't a good story. It has internal inconsistencies, (random electrical power, complete with radio broadcasting preachers? why would they bother, and where did this electricity come from?)
He treats women as chattel, men are always in charge. It's sexist, racist, and classist. (is that a word?).
Save your money, really. I got it from our library. I'm sorry I used biodiesel to drive to town for it.
Book Review: An interesting read
Summary: 3 Stars
"World Made by Hand" is an above average book. It does a good job of conveying the pace of a collapsed world trying to get itself back up on its feet. This pace includes a description of the full menu of every meal, a labor of love that the author will hopefully avoid in any sequel. Notions of morality are bumped into with everyday encounters, as well as spiritual contradictions and even the paranormal. It is interesting that the good guys ultimately resolved their thorniest issues in similar manner as the bad guys. And it is amusing that the narrator should have carried a stick to keep away all the babes who can't resist him.Book Review: A Good Yarn About What's Left of the World
Summary: 4 Stars
A great read is not what I expected, having known Kunstler for his non-fiction (the wonderful "Geography of Nowhere" among others) and his acerbic blog. "World Made by Hand" is an old fashioned page-turner about the not so distant future near the Vermont/New York border. It's hot, down, and uncrowded, and the chief industries are local organic farming and trading scavenged goods. Despite the probable futurism, it's the well drawn characters in a high-stakes jam that make this story a gotta-read. When a curmudgeon comes up with a plausible hope-filled ending, I'm ready to sign up for his next work on the spot.