A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens - and a Better World

Joel Salatin is a national treasure who somehow finds time to run Polyface Farm (with the able help of generations of family) and spread the word about our despoiled food sources and what we can do about them. After reading it myself, I gave this book to my brother, as he's recently discovered the value of real and whole foods.

One of the best written, well thought out defenses for natural food systems I have ever read. Some chapters offer politicised critique relevant to USA which as a non US resident was boring but did not detract from the overall impression of this book. I will be buying this book as presents.

Joel Salatin is a God of permaculture and farming organically.
This is his very thorough analysis of what is wrong and right with food production in this and virtually every modern country in the world.
An eye opening (and often frightening) examination of our culture today.

Salatin's books are inspiring, practical and funny. He gives every reader reason to question their lifestyles and the means to make positive changes. This book is a primer for human beings who want to make better, more knowledgeable decisions to improve their lives and the health of the planet.

Although this is very much an American experience, he has a number of extremely important points for everyone. My only concern so far is that he becomes a little "preachy", but I think this reflects his sincere concern for our future. Very interesting book, has given me a lot to think about.

If you believe that you should be allowed to make your life decisions for yourself and not be cared for by the nanny state of our government, this book is for you. With great humor, much relevant insight, and just plain good information, this fine treatise is a real eye opener!

I've been "preaching what he is teaching " in this book for decades. Of course, he has facts, good reasoning, and truth to back up his claims (as opposed to me just saying/believing without any practical proofs). Great book to help you rethink your life and redefine living "green".

This book should be titled "Folks you need to read this". In many of Mr Salatin's works the content is aimed more for those that would seek a life in the country farming or at least running a few acres in the hope of being more self sustaining. Not so with this account of why many of the things we are taking for granted today are not historically normal and why continuing on the path that we as humans have set ourselves may well cause us more problems in the future. This book is delightfully written with a good dose of dry humour and some challenging thoughts for readers to ponder. If you take nothing else away from the book it is worth the read just for some points of history and the many laughs you will have reading it.

So opinionated. You will not agree with everything he writes - some will leave you shaking your head and smiling in incredulity. Yet he is gutsy and intelligent. Incredibly intelligent, in that rich wise sense that comes not only from books but from experience. Specifically farming experience. A brilliant read from a fearless, cogent writer.

This book discusses agriculture as the author feels it should be done. It is done in a very funny, sometimes controversial manner.

The author is a very interesting man, which the book demonstrates.

So opinionated. You will not agree with everything he writes - some will leave you shaking your head and smiling in incredulity. Yet he is gutsy and intelligent. Incredibly intelligent, in that rich wise sense that comes not only from books but from experience. Specifically farming experience. A brilliant read from a fearless, cogent writer.

This book discusses agriculture as the author feels it should be done. It is done in a very funny, sometimes controversial manner.

The author is a very interesting man, which the book demonstrates.

Fantastic book. He's able to shed light on tragic realities of the state of things today in at least a slightly humorous way. The book was informative and a great source to other names and sources for those looking to improve their health, their homestead, their pets, or their gardens.

A well written critique of the government, society and our food system. The book is easy to read but so densely packed with information that it's difficult to read in a sitting. Includes tons of reference, empirical evidence to support his well thought out arguments. A joy to read my be the wrong way to describe it due to the harsh reevaluation I did of my lifestyle while reading it and after finishing.

Joel Salatin has a way of humorizing serious topics to make them more palatable and digestable! Another grass farmer recently criticized him for making more money from his books than his farming and I responded that someone has to spread the word and who could do it better?!?

People seem to ignore or overlook the basics and fundamentals of living, Joel Salitin has reminded us all of what is really important in life. Fun to read and full of (un)common sense most of us have forgotten, or in the case of the young folks, never heard before. I think this book would make a great gift for your child, grandchild, or anyone you would like to enfluence to a simpler, more enjoyable way of life.

Joel Salatin is one of the most impactful, insightful speakers and authors I've met and read. His book is like sitting down by the fire at his farmhouse and discussing all things regarding raising kids, animals and improving our world. I cannot get ENOUGH copies to give out as gifts to my foodie friends

This book was intended to be a Christmas gift for my husband this year. However, my husband was off the entire week before Christmas, and it just made sense to give it to him so he could delve into it while he had some spare time. As it turned out, he has read (outloud) to me most of what he has read now, because he doesn't want me to miss anything (and, folks...it's not that I can't read). It's just that there is so much Joel has packed in this book that makes the reader take a hard look at how our lifestyles has gotten away from where we've come from. We got off the boat of 'impressing people we don't know, or like' in our life years ago because, "Folks, This ain't Normal". In recent years have expanded our egg-laying flock, smoking our roosters, and enjoyed our first farm raised turkey this year at Thanksgiving. We are working hard to raising natural fed and raised heritage breed turkeys for many of the reasons Joel covers in his book. Buy it, read it, and share it with your loved one and be encouraged to enjoy and make this world a better place!

This book is awesome. This guy is loaded with common sense knowledge of practical living. I've read it once already and I'm reading it again. You can't put it down and when you get done, you feel like you need to read it again so you don't miss anything.

Totally buy this!

This is a great book. Salatin shows that our food system is screwed up and encourages people to eat natural local food. Crazy, but it's time for Americans to stop eating garbage and start getting some local natural organic fruits, meat, and veggies from local farms.

Joel Salatin is nothing if not honest about his political leanings, which bothers some folks. BUT, he ing on about the nature of agriculture in this country and if you don't read this book, then you are missing out on alot of important info, and some good old fashioned belly laughs.

I have watched more environmental documentaries than I can count, but I never really "got it" till I read this book -- perhaps because Joel Salatin is the first person who calls himself an "environmentalist" that I identify with. So many "green" or "organic" products seem like fluff to me, like they are co-opting the language just to inflate prices or ease a guilty conscience. This book presents a coherent vision for sustainable living, different from anything I have seen before, (Hint: you will not hear about it in mainstream media). While not everyone wants to be a farmer or live in a rural setting, we can all pay more attention to the downstream effects of our habits and the food we eat. Since reading "Folks, This Ain't Normal" I have started patronizing local farmers, it is so much fun! Too many environmental thinkers shake a stick at human beings for screwing up the planet, but instead Joel Salatin offers us a carrot. : - ) It is up to us to eat it or not. I, for one, intend to.

In a word, this book was eye-opening. Salatin recounts American History from the perspective of a family farmer, which is not a always pretty picture. Basically, he gives a litany of resources lost, degraded, or eroded over time. Can the damage be reversed? Without a doubt, it can. But it will require each of us doing our part to take back responsibility for our knowing where our food comes from. And, if we don't agree with how that food is produced, voting with our pocketbook.

Great book, full of common sense. Good insights on how to live a more "normal" life. If you wanna learn more about farming and our food system that's the right books for you. A lot of interesting anecdotes also.

This was my favorite book of 2012. Joel Salatin, who has decades of experience on the subject matter, pinpoints the problems with our food system with highly-entertaining writing. A must-read for anyone who is concerned about health and happiness (and, as the title states, a better world).

Very educational, and entertaining. I just cannot get enough of this type of info, looking forward to reading Joel Salatin's newest book, Field of Farmers. Thank you Mr. Salatin for preaching the gospel of normalcy.

Well worth the read. So much relevant information to our health and future that's not being offered through traditional channels (like news media). Thank you, Joel Salatin, for reminding us what is historically normal and sustainable, and doing so with much humor and good grace.

The information in this book is presented in a down-to-earth, folksy way, but folks, it is packed full of pure wisdom. I, for one, will be trying to implement many of Salatin's suggestions at the end of each chapter in my own day-to-day living. I am recommending this book to all of my friends because it clearly tells the "big picture" story of what is happening on a society level, while at the same time offering advice for realistic change on small scale.

Well written and informative. Because I own a small local food business I have had to deal with various problems with inspectors and their rules and regulations. Hopefully this book will help open people's eyes and minds and help continue to expand the local food movement that is beginning to evolve in this country!