Online Great Books Podcast
We discuss the great books, the great ideas and the process of liberal education.
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#179- Burckhardt's The Greeks and Greek Civilization
10/12/2023
#179- Burckhardt's The Greeks and Greek Civilization
Scott and Karl read "The Greeks and Greek Civilization" which sums up the relevant lectures the notable Swiss historian Jacob Burckhardt first gave in 1872. Karl says, "I now have a little portable guide to all the Greek literature that I want to read." Scott adds, "Burckhardt explains what might be going on around the world around Socrates that allows him to drink the hemlock." The duo acknowledges Jacob Burckhardt's ability to research and analyze Greek culture at great length, but whether or not he fully admires the ancient Greeks is up for debate. Tune in to learn more about the true 'Greek spirit' of the ancient world that Burckhardt provides. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#178- Faraday’s The Chemical History of a Candle
09/29/2023
#178- Faraday’s The Chemical History of a Candle
Beyond producing a body of pioneering research in thermodynamics, Faraday left an educational legacy: his great lectures on the “Chemical History of a Candle.” Originally published in 1861, this series of six lectures showcases Faraday's ability to clearly display scientific principles to a general population, landing him the reputation of one of the first 'popular scientists.' Scott says, "When people say to trust the science these days, they aren’t doing Faraday's type of science." Why a candle? Faraday believes that choosing a candle as the topic of investigation is the best way to introduce viewers to the nature of science. Scott adds, "In terms of physical investigations, a candle is about as close as you can get to the beginning." Karl says, "There are wonders around you that you should be gobsmacked by every time you see it. A candle is one of those things." The duo agrees, this book would be a good addition to your home library collection, especially if you are interested in homeschooling. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#177- Hilaire du Berrier's Background to Betrayal: The Tragedy of Vietnam Part 2
09/14/2023
#177- Hilaire du Berrier's Background to Betrayal: The Tragedy of Vietnam Part 2
Tune in for Part Two of Scott and Karl's discussion on Hilaire du Berrier's Background to Betrayal. Published in 1965, it remains the only book du Berrier ever produced and a crucial resource on the history of Indochina and our government's policies in Vietnam. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#176- Hilaire du Berrier's Background to Betrayal: The Tragedy of Vietnam Part 1
08/24/2023
#176- Hilaire du Berrier's Background to Betrayal: The Tragedy of Vietnam Part 1
In 1965, the Birch Society's publishing house, Western Islands, printed du Berrier's Background to Betrayal: The Tragedy of Vietnam. While hard to come by, it remains the most authoritative source in English on the crucial history of Indochina up to that point and is indispensable for an understanding of the tragic consequences of our government's policies in Vietnam. Scott and Karl believe that du Berrier's book on Vietnam has stood up against the test of time while so many of the experts who opposed him have been vanquished by the truth of history. Tune in as the duo begins their discussion of this hard-to-find book and the equally fascinating author.
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#175- Taylor's Poetic Knowledge: The Recovery of Education
07/17/2023
#175- Taylor's Poetic Knowledge: The Recovery of Education
Scott and Karl read and discuss James S. Taylor's 1998 book, Poetic Knowledge: The Recovery of Education. Taylor describes his work as an “attempt to resuscitate a nearly forgotten mode of knowledge.” This "poetic knowledge" is not the knowledge of poetry. Rather, it is an intuitive, obscure, mysterious way of knowing reality. As Karl points out, "Poētēs in Greek means making... you're a maker of things. I think that's a reasonable way to think about it." The author traces the history of poetic knowledge through Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas, Benedict, and the beginning of its demise with Descartes. Tune in for a fascinating look at what has been and what might be again when we turn theoretical into practical knowledge. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#174- Kunstler's World Made by Hand Part 1
05/05/2023
#174- Kunstler's World Made by Hand Part 1
Scott and Karl delve into James Howard Kunstler's 2008 end-of-days novel, World Made by Hand. James Howard Kunstler is an American author, social critic, public speaker, and blogger, perhaps best known for his 2005 novel, The Long Emergency. He has an active podcast, KunstlerCast, where you can find more of his honest urban commentary. World Made by Hand is from your typical post-apocalyptic novel. Scott says, "It's not an unpleasant world that he pictures for us after the simplification." Karl believes that Kunstler is even optimistic despite the novel being set in a post-oil American future. Scott points out, "This is a world where everything feels big. They grieve more, there's more death and it's closer, but they care more about the people that they do have, too." Tune in to hear the duo's discussion of this dystopian science-fiction novel. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#173- John Senior and the Restoration of Realism Part 2
03/27/2023
#173- John Senior and the Restoration of Realism Part 2
Scott and Karl finish their discussion of Father Francis Bethel's biography, John Senior and the Restoration of Realism. According to Scott, if you have concerns about yourself, how you interact with the world, and where the world is going— you need to read some John Senior as well as this biography. In his works, John Senior discusses how there are ways of life that actually require realism. The duo talks about the pockets of our world where realism exists versus a way of life where unreality rules. Tune in to finish Scott and Karl's discussion on what a full restoration of realism would look like, or if it's even possible. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#172- John Senior and the Restoration of Realism Part 1
03/17/2023
#172- John Senior and the Restoration of Realism Part 1
Scott and Karl begin their discussion of Father Francis Bethel's biography that examines the life and thought of "cultural critic, university professor, and sometime cowboy," John Senior. John Senior is the founder of Clear Creek Abbey, a Benedictine Abbey in Cherokee County, Oklahoma. He is the author of both The Death of Christian Culture and The Restoration of Christian Culture. As Karl points out, this biography doesn't so much delve into the details of Senior's life but focuses on his ideas. Scott says, "One of [Senior's] assumptions, and I think he's right, is that Proper Christian culture is the underpinning behind the real metaphysics that built the West and the metaphysics that tied, past tense, science to reality. Senior thinks we are getting away from being tied to the real world and that our metaphysics is busted." It's clear to see how John Senior is one of Scott's heroes. Tune in to the first half of the duo's discussion on the restoration of realism. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#171- Shelby Foote's The Civil War Part 1
12/29/2022
#171- Shelby Foote's The Civil War Part 1
To round out 2022, Scott and Karl decided to revisit Shelby Foote's 2,968-page, 1.2 million-word history of the American Civil War. Collectively, Foote's history of the Civil War includes three compelling volumes: Fort Sumter to Perryville, Fredericksburg to Meridian, and Red River to Appomattox. Scott and Karl begin talking about the tenuous nature of history yet how Foote still manages to bring his narrative power to this great epic. Scott says, "Shelby Foote made Ken Burn's career... Shelby Foote talks about things that happened 120 years ago like it was this morning." The duo agrees—there are great lessons to be learned in these books. Tune in to hear more of Scott and Karl's take on this monumental trilogy. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#170- The Good Life: Helen and Scott Nearing's Sixty Years of Self-Sufficient Living
11/03/2022
#170- The Good Life: Helen and Scott Nearing's Sixty Years of Self-Sufficient Living
We're back! Scott and Karl explore Helen and Scott Nearing's The Good Life (1954) and Continuing the Good Life (1979) in a new, long-form podcast. In the 20th century, Scott and Helen Nearing became the new models of self-sufficient lifestyles and rural homesteading. Having abandoned their life in New York City in 1932, rural Vermont became the place the couple could escape a capitalist life. Scott says, “They were trying to live out the 1930s communist ideal.” Over the next 60 years, the Nearings developed a system of living called the good life, inspiring others who are city-weary to do the same. But as Karl points out, "This is not Walden." Tune in to learn more about Scott and Karl's take on the back-to-the-land movement. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#169- Koontz's Odd Thomas Part 2
09/22/2022
#169- Koontz's Odd Thomas Part 2
Scott and Karl are back after a brief hiatus to finish their discussion of Dean Koontz's 2003 thriller, Odd Thomas. While the ending might make you emotional, this book satisfies its genre— it's suspenseful, memorable, and thoroughly entertaining. Still, Scott points out that reading this type of fiction in the present times is getting harder and harder. Tune in for Part Two of the duo's conversation. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com
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#168- Koontz's Odd Thomas Part 1
07/14/2022
#168- Koontz's Odd Thomas Part 1
This week, Scott and Karl begin their discussion of Dean Koontz's Odd Thomas, a best-selling thriller novel published in 2003. Koontz is known for being a masterful storyteller with a talent for creating richly drawn characters. While this novel is definitely a thriller, Scott points out it reads like a noir detective story. If you are looking for an entertaining read, this book checks all the boxes for the duo. As Karl points out, "[Koontz] appears to have reasonably good metaphysics. Evil is evil, it's understandable, and the good guys are actually good." Tune if for Part One of Scott and Karl's conversation. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#167- Asimov's Foundation Part 2
07/07/2022
#167- Asimov's Foundation Part 2
Scott and Karl finish their discussion of the first novel in Isaac Asimov’s classic science-fiction masterpiece, Foundation. The novel is set in the future, when the world is barely remembered, and humans have colonized the galaxy. While this series helped to redefine the science-fiction genre, the duo takes issue with the ways this make-believe society responds to the problems Asimov lays out and the use of mathematics and probability to predict the future. As Karl points out, "Scientific progress as a moral good makes no sense." Tune in to hear Part Two of Scott and Karl's conversation. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#166- Asimov's Foundation Part 1
06/30/2022
#166- Asimov's Foundation Part 1
This week, the duo tackles Karl's pick— the first novel in Isaac Asimov’s classic science-fiction masterpiece. Largely regarded as a launch pad for space-age science fiction, Foundation is a collection of five short stories which were first published together as a book by Gnome Press in 1951. The series tells the story of the Foundation, an institute founded by psychohistorian Hari Seldon to preserve the best of galactic civilization after the collapse of the Galactic Empire. Scott says, "Asimov and all that stuff from this era is one of the reasons the boomers are the way they are. They were inculcated with a worldview that is out of fiction. They think everything is always going to improve, that science has the answer, and they see that history and the scope of time is a character and acts in and of itself so they don't have a responsibility." Tune in to hear Part One of the duo's conversation and learn why Karl calls this "a good bad book." Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#165- Johnson's Indian Country Part 2
06/23/2022
#165- Johnson's Indian Country Part 2
Scott and Karl finish their discussion of Dorothy M. Johnson’s Indian Country, a collection of some of the greatest short stories about the American West. Scott says, "I don't want to talk about the book too much because it's that good. I love the characters, I love the setting, I love Dorothy Johnson, I love the themes, I love the style." While this work is out of print, the duo agrees it is worth your while to hunt down a used copy and have a read. Each of the eleven tales shines with implicity, Karl calls them "iceberg stories" because there is so much in them that isn't written. Tune in to hear the rest of Scott and Karl's conversation about Dorothy Johnson's skillful presentation of early frontier life. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#164- Johnson's Indian Country Part 1
06/16/2022
#164- Johnson's Indian Country Part 1
This week, Scott and Karl read Dorothy M. Johnson’s Indian Country, a collection of eleven stories showing a frontier alive with complex struggles. You may be familiar with two of her most famous stories, “A Man Called Horse” and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” which are included in this collection. Johnson, a Montana-based author, brings to western fiction a clear ideal of individuality and honor. Scott says, "The sense of life that comes out of this book and right into your face is astounding to me. The character of the author is all over the thing, I couldn't imagine her writing anything other than a western.” Tune in to learn more about a book that Karl classifies as "desert literature"— set in a mysterious, forgotten place where all of one's actions become magnified. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#163- Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Part 2
06/02/2022
#163- Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Part 2
This week, Scott and Karl finish their discussion of Edward Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire which follows the Roman Empire over thirteen centuries - its rulers, wars and society, and, of course, the events that led to its collapse. Towards the beginning of the show, Karl asks, "how do lasting emporiums last?" The duo unpacks thought-provoking questions about the idea of an empire whose history touches on nearly any imaginable type of human occurrence and serves up parallels for modern events. Tune in for Part Two of the duo's conversation. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#162- Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Part 1
05/26/2022
#162- Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Part 1
This week, Scott and Karl tackle a massive narrative of one of the world's greatest civilizations. Edward Gibbon's The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire follows the Roman Empire over thirteen centuries - its rulers, wars and society, and, of course, the events that led to its collapse. Published between 1776 and 1788 in six volumes, Gibbon gained himself the reputation of being the first modern historian of ancient Rome. But does he belong on the Great Books list? Scott says, "If you are putting together this list, there are things that have happened that you must have books about. The fall of Rome, there needs to be something that covers it. What would it be? I guess this." Gibbon, who devoted most of his life to this project, scored immediate success that was resounding. Speaking about Gibbon's influence, Karl says, "This is a sellout book informing educated Europeans about ideas of empire." Scott adds, "I think modern people carry ideas about the Romans that came from Gibbon even if they haven't read this book. He's very influential." Tune in for Part One of the duo's conversation. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#161- Aquinas's Commentary On The Metaphysics (2 of 2)
05/19/2022
#161- Aquinas's Commentary On The Metaphysics (2 of 2)
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#160- Aquinas’s Commentary on the Metaphysics (1 of 2)
05/11/2022
#160- Aquinas’s Commentary on the Metaphysics (1 of 2)
Scott and Karl test out an alternative format, and enjoy huge success! Also, enrollment is open, now through this weekend. Visit to learn more.
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#159- Filling the Trough
05/05/2022
#159- Filling the Trough
This week, Scott and Karl are off, so we'll flashback to July 2019, for a very relevant conversation from a very different world. Scott and OGB producer Brett discuss pedagogy and dominant learning theories, as Scott aspires to be a better Starting Strength coach and a more effective interlocutor at Online Great Books. We begin our discussion with an exploration of the common learning theories practiced in public school and higher education, along with a cost/benefit analysis of each: behaviorism, cognitivism, and (social) constructivism. We also touch on connectivism and mindset theory. Originally recorded for School Sucks Podcast.
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#158- Tolkien's The Silmarillion Part 2
04/21/2022
#158- Tolkien's The Silmarillion Part 2
This week, Scott and Karl finish their discussion of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, a heavy fandom collection of mythopoeic stories that form a complete history of Middle Earth. The duo agrees— don't read this unless you’ve read the big trilogy first. Karl adds, “I think it’s very good. If Tolkien is as big of a part of your life as it is in mine, then you’ve got to read The Silmarillion.” Will Tolkien eventually make the Great Books list? Scott says, "I think that through the fog of time and through bit rot that will destroy a lot of histories, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion will take on a historical aspect." Tune in for Part Two of Scott and Karl's conversation, brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#157- Tolkien's The Silmarillion Part 1
04/14/2022
#157- Tolkien's The Silmarillion Part 1
This week, Scott and Karl begin their discussion of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, a collection of mythopoeic stories that form a complete history of Middle Earth. Until 1977, these manuscripts were unpublished until his son, Christopher Tolkien, edited them posthumously. Producer Brett warns, "If you don't know what The Silmarillion is, you might be stepping into a rabbit hole... but you'll be better for it." The Silmarillion is actually Tolkien's first book and also his last. It shows us the ancient history to which characters in The Lord of the Rings look back, talk, rhyme, and sing about. Tolkien worked on it, changed it, and enlarged it throughout his entire life. Tune in for Part One of the duo's conversation, brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#156- Dewey's "Challenge to Liberal Thought" Part 2
04/07/2022
#156- Dewey's "Challenge to Liberal Thought" Part 2
This week, Scott and Karl finish their discussion of John Dewey's essay, "Challenge to Liberal Thought." Written in his later life, Dewey expands on his criticisms of the Great Books of Western Civilization enterprise and a liberal arts education. The duo agrees— this is shoddy work to say the least. At the end of their conversation, Scott says, “This is just not very good. I wonder, how did these people get the traction that they got? Why do our intellectual overlords keep telling us we need to read Dewey?" Tune in to hear the rest of Scott and Karl's response to Dewey's essay. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#156- Dewey's "Challenge to Liberal Thought" Part 2
04/07/2022
#156- Dewey's "Challenge to Liberal Thought" Part 2
This week, Scott and Karl finish their discussion of John Dewey's essay, "Challenge to Liberal Thought." Written in his later life, Dewey expands on his criticisms of the Great Books of Western Civilization enterprise and a liberal arts education. The duo agrees— this is shoddy work to say the least. At the end of their conversation, Scott says, “This is just not very good. I wonder, how did these people get the traction that they got? Why do our intellectual overlords keep telling us we need to read Dewey?" Tune in to hear the rest of Scott and Karl's response to Dewey's essay. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#155- Dewey's "Challenge to Liberal Thought" Part 1
03/31/2022
#155- Dewey's "Challenge to Liberal Thought" Part 1
In the tradition of intellectual fairness, Scott and Karl read from someone they don’t agree with this week. Toted as the 'King of Progressive Philosophers', John Dewey was an educational reformer active throughout the first half of the 20th century. He left a very significant, progressive mark on the public school system. His essay "Challenge to Liberal Thought" can be found in The Later Works of John Dewey, Volume 15 which focuses on his writings between the years 1942 to 1948. This particular essay expands on his criticisms of the Great Books of Western Civilization enterprise and a liberal arts education. Scott says, “This is a utopian, managerial approach to social sciences that’s pretty gross.... If you've never read Dewey, this encapsulates progressives' whole attitude and approach to managing people." Tune in to hear Scott and Karl's response to Dewey's essay, and be sure to tune in next week for Part Two. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#154- Hutchins' "The Great Conversation" Part 2
03/24/2022
#154- Hutchins' "The Great Conversation" Part 2
Scott and Karl finish their two-part discussion of Robert Maynard Hutchins' 1952 essay "The Great Conversation: Substance of a Liberal Education." The Great Conversation is the ongoing process of the best writers and thinkers of Western Civilization referencing, building on, and refining the work of their predecessors. According to Hutchins, "The tradition of the West is embodied in the Great Conversation that began in the dawn of history and that continues to the present day." Tune in to hear Scott and Karl's hot takes surrounding this essay. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#153- Hutchins' "The Great Conversation" Part 1
03/17/2022
#153- Hutchins' "The Great Conversation" Part 1
In 1943, two University of Chicago educators, Robert Maynard Hutchins and Mortimer Adler, launched a series of Great Books seminars with prominent Chicagoans. By 1952, Hutchins had penned "The Great Conversation," an essay promoting the Great Books of the Western World published by Encyclopædia Britannica and intended for the masses. The Great Conversation embodies the tradition of the West that began in the dawn of history and continues to the present day— a tradition Online Great Books strives to keep alive. Both Alder and Hutchins point out that these books act as a principal instrument of liberal education. “Until lately the West has regarded it as self-evident that the road to education lay through great books,” Hutchins writes. However, Scott and Karl disagree on Hutchins' metaphysical judgment of the books lodged in his salesmanship. Scott says, "I think they need to be read because there is something divine and special about these books and they are edifying to the individual." Karl adds, "I think you should read the Great Books, dear listener. I don't think necessarily everyone ought to read the Great Books. More people ought to read them than do, but a lot of people can't read." Tune in to learn more about the substance of a liberal education. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#152- Salatin's Polyface Micro: Success with Livestock on a Homestead Scale Part 2
03/10/2022
#152- Salatin's Polyface Micro: Success with Livestock on a Homestead Scale Part 2
Scott and Karl finish their discussion of Joel Salatin's book Polyface Micro: Success with Livestock on a Homestead Scale. Success with domestic livestock does not require large land bases. Salatin's goal is to raise animals that yield integrity edible food as evidence of his family's Polyface Farm in Virginia. Scott says, "He's an efficiency expert." Karl continues, "It's like reading Aristotle. Of course that's the way logic is! But you didn't know it until you read it." Salatin leaves everything on the table— no trade secrets, no locked doors. Whether you’re a new or seasoned homesteader, you’ll find tips and inspiration as Joel coaches you toward success and abundance. This conversation is brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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#151- Salatin's Polyface Micro: Success with Livestock on a Homestead Scale Part 1
03/03/2022
#151- Salatin's Polyface Micro: Success with Livestock on a Homestead Scale Part 1
This week and next, Scott and Karl explore Joel Salatin's book Polyface Micro: Success with Livestock on a Homestead Scale. Joel Salatin and his family own and operate Polyface Farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. The farm produces pastured beef, pork, chicken, eggs, turkeys, rabbits, lamb, and ducks, servicing roughly 6,000 families and 50 restaurants in the farm’s bioregion. Karl says, "His absolute conviction and his brilliance at systems come through. He figures out a way that it can work." Salatin believes that success with domestic livestock does not require large land bases. Whether you live in an apartment in a big city or on a farm as a seasoned homesteader, you’ll find tips and inspiration as Joel coaches you towards more abundant living. Brought to you by onlinegreatbooks.com.
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