14 January 2016

Wendell Berry - "what's the right thing to do?"

I often wish I could send a gift out to everyone who reads here, a gift that would make a real difference to their lives. I think I found it! My words are feeble so I'll dispense with them today and send instead this gift, a simple link to Wendell Berry. Get yourself a drink and settle in, but whatever you do, make sure you click the link below. Wendell Berry rarely gives filmed interviews but here is one that will stop you in your tracks and make you think deeply about your life. I had never heard of the interviewer, Bill Moyers, before but I liked how he handled the interview. He didn't try to do too much or try to ask the big questions. He just listened. And that is what we should all do. 

Wendell Berry on his hopes for humanity.


SHARE:

32 comments

  1. Rhonda - Bill Moyers is big here in the US. He was on public television for decades & just last year retired. He will be missed.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you Rhonda for this. Bill Moyers was Lyndon Johnson's press secretary, is an ordained Baptist minister and has spent his time since the White House speaking and writing on public policy informed by his religious faith and progressive political focus.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bill Moyers has always done excellent interviews and has an amazing background. I look forward to watching this. Thank you.
    And a piece of trivia, it seems Mr. Moyers lives just a few towns away from me :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Joy, Unknown and MissFifi, thanks for giving us that background information. I thought Bill Moyes must have been someone held in high regard and with whom William Berry felt comfortable. He has the knack of being able to bring out the best in the person he's interviewing and that is a rare quality.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Loved that we heard him reading his own poems, very moving. Thank you for the gift !

    ReplyDelete
  6. Two of my favorite gentlemen. What a great interview.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Bill Moyers is famed in the U.S. Thanks for putting up that link. Hey, I love your new picture! Those frames are very flattering!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks, it was wonderful!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely. And thought provoking. Thank you for sharing!

    (And I like your new picture,too! You look peaceful and content... ) :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Berry is an absolutely wonderful writer - and man. I love some of his quotes and they definitely fit in with some of your writings Rhonda

    “Don't own so much clutter that you will be relieved to see your house catch fire.”
    ― Wendell Berry, Farming: a hand book

    “Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you.”
    ― Wendell Berry

    “We have lived our lives by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. We have been wrong. We must change our lives so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption, that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and learn what is good for it.”
    ― Wendell Berry, The Long-Legged House

    SunnyMidnight

    ReplyDelete
  11. I had the pleasure of seeing him speak some years ago. Thank you for sharing this link, Rhonda. He's a gem.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can see that I've got to acquaint myself with this Wendell Berry.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I had never heard of Mr Berry before I read the quote on your blog, Rhonda, then in the same week, at least three other bloggers mentioned him. Thank you for the link.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow thank you for that gift, Rhonda, I too have not heard him before but am impressed. cheers Bobbie

    ReplyDelete
  15. That was brilliant; for some reason I needed to hear that today.
    Thanks
    Norma

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thankyou for sharing this gift with us.

    ReplyDelete
  17. As I sat in the quiet of my home, looking out over acres that have served generations of my husband's family, I listened to Wendell Berry and tears came to my eyes. Being a true servant of the land is a high calling. Rhonda, thank you for the gifts you continually offer to all of us.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Thank you for that wonderful gift Rhonda.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I too admire and profoundly respect Joseph Campbell. Most, if not all, his interviews had something to share that enriched a willing recipient. Wendell Berry certainly was among his more interesting guests. As a poet, and humanitarian Wendell gives us another way of looking at this crazy world and inspires gratitude for what we do have in our lives, Simple pleasures. Another of Moyers interviews I like most is an interview with author, professor, teacher and mythologist Joseph Campbell. Their discussion really gives me 'goosebumps'. It's deep and very enjoyable to listen too. Hope everyone is having a wonderful New Year. Blessings.
    http://billmoyers.com/guest/joseph-campbell/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. correction: Rather then Joseph Campbell read, Bill Moyers in the first sentence.

      Delete
  20. Thank you Rhonda for this link. I listened to it with great interest as I had never seen Mr. Berry before. Wonderful words!

    ReplyDelete
  21. i've never heard of this Wendell Berry before today, what an extraordinary man!
    this was a lovely gift Rhonda but i've always considered your blog my gift thanx
    selina from kilkivan qld

    ReplyDelete
  22. All your posts are gifts Rhonda. All the knowledge that you pass on to us. I sometimes wonder where I would be now, had I not found your blog.
    I just watched Wendell Berry's interview and was very touched by his wisdom. Thank you so much for your gift to us today.
    Corinne.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I've known of Bill Moyers since I was a sophomore in college and I'm 71 now...He was a very young press secretary for President Lyndon Johnson. And Wendell Barry is also very famous and just lives in the state south of me. Both are heroes to me and I'm delighted you are mentioning them here!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you for sharing that interview. I had not heard of Mr Wendell Berry before, what a brilliant man and his views were inspirational and humbling. Thanks again, Guida.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Thank you so much for posting this, indeed it was a gift. I have read some of Wendell Berry but this was fantastic, a real man of integrity and humour, such a statesman like person in the best possible way. Thank heaven for people like him on our planet. I enjoyed it so much and know it will continue to resonate with me....thanks Rhonda

    ReplyDelete
  26. My only problem with Wendell Berry is that I have come to him so late in my life. I really admire his writings.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you for the link, Rhonda. Stephen and I enjoyed this inspiring interview!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I agree with Jill N! What a wonderful gift you have given me. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thank you for the link Rhonda. I am familiar with both Bill Moyers (thoughtful, intelligent man, great interviewer and journalist) and Wendall Berry, but never saw this interview. I agree with everything he said. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Love his accent, love his words , love his thoughts. Thank you for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  31. I have just watched your gift, Rhonda. I have long loved Wendell Berry's words but this is the first time I've seen him interviewed. As I watched, here in my study and heard him talking of place; of knowing and loving a place; I looked out at the tall gums that line the ridge across from my house. I love my place, my home, my piece of this Earth. Thankyou!

    ReplyDelete

Blogger Template by pipdig