The Good Life, Chapters Seven and Eight Summary and Analysis

In chapter seven, "Living in a Community," the Nearings are not really certain whether they will be accepted into the community. The author says that there are lengthy and heated discussions regarding their diet and that the result is that no one—including the Nearings—change their habits or opinions. Though the Nearings believe cooperative efforts such as sawmills and nurseries would benefit the community, there is little long-term and practical interest in the ideas. The author says there are limited incidents of cooperative endeavors and none that last. There are regular endeavors to gather for recreation that are more successful, a point the author puts down to the fact that these have none of the organizational feel of the work enterprises. Attempts at holding meetings to...