Download PDF Twelve by Twelve A OneRoom Cabin Off the Grid and Beyond the American Dream William Powers 9781577318972 Books

Product details Paperback 278 pages Publisher New World Library (May 4, 2010) Language English ISBN-10 9781577318972 ISBN-13 978-1577318972 ASIN 1577318978

Twelve by Twelve A OneRoom Cabin Off the Grid and Beyond the American Dream William Powers 9781577318972 Books Reviews

• What is enough? When I lived in East Africa, I marveled that so many families lived in very small spaces. In the years between the World Wars, an average home in Milwaukee might have enclosed 600 square feet. More recently, McMansions became common. Now the Tiny House movement is reclaiming sane living spaces.
  Yet the point of small homes is not miniaturization. In this memoir of house-sitting in a rural, off-the-grid micro home, Bill Powers reminds us that we can live more simply and more richly by living small. No indulger in wishful thinking, he also elucidates the difficulties of living a simpler life in what he describes as a "flat world." His focus, however, is not about living the simple life--in the manner of Helen and Scott Nearing--it is about our place as part of the whole we call the natural world. By turns provocative and challenging, these pages are not easily put aside and forgotten.
• I loved this book. The author, in my opinion, really put forth an interesting, informative idea for living in a more gentle, back to basics way. Not everyone would want to live without electricity, without indoor plumbing and toilet, but anyone who reads this book is already interested in trying to be more in tune with the earth. I think that you can learn a lot about ecologically safe practices and even if you do not practice this style of living, you can take away some great ideas from the book. The author really threw himself into this bare to the bones lifestyle, even giving up a car to just use a bicycle but he admits that he probably wouldn't live this way forever. It's not for everyone and this book certainly will change the way you think about every day needs. I found it very interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone who already tries to live a simple, earth friendly life and has an open mind about it.
• Powers' book covers so much of interest, from land use, to labor, agriculture, agribusiness, permaculture, His telling of the human relationships is also compelling. He takes us from a 12x12 foot square cabin to issues of world peace and planetary survival with compassion, reflection and rigorous honesty. His spiritual take is offered clearly and without push. I borrowed this from the library, and then purchased the book -- and nominated it for my college's common reading program. Yep. I liked it that much. Timely, too.
• What a great book about living differently. I could really feel the author's experience as he learned to live in this tiny house. I tend to pass along all my books when I am done with them but this one I kept because I'll reread it and because looking at it on my bookshelf reminds me of the lessons I received while reading it.
• Having grown up during the 1930's on a farm that had no electricity and no running water I have experienced the life that Bill Powers lived in that 12 x 12 cabin. Our house was probably 700 sq ft and we had 10 people living in that house. We lived off the land, growing vegetables to eat, and killed hogs and calves, and chickens for meat. I milked cows every morning before I went to school and at night too. We gathered eggs to eat when the chicken would lay them. It was a simple life but a hard life. We all worked in the fields in the summers. We never had a vacation. When we moved on the farm in 1936 my father didn't have a car. We moved to the farm from another farm in a wagon with mules. I was four years old.
  There are pros and cons about this kind of life. It is a simple life to live off the land, but it is a hard life that I don't to repeat. I am 78 years old and I think back to those days, and would take electricity and running water any time! But there has to be a way we can have some of both lives. I don't want the Tyson Chicken farms. I buy my eggs from a local farmer and my vegetables and berries and fruits when I can get them, from local farmers. I buy meat from a small town meat market who buys grass fed meat...local ranchers..and I see the cattle on the farms around here grazing in the fields and it makes me feel good. I buy milk from a local dairy that does not add hormones to the mild. I pay more for it, but I love the taste and I know it is pure.
  There is way to live a simple life. You just have to make up your mind how to do it!
  I liked the book and I liked how Bill Powers intertwines his personal life into the narrative of writing about global warming, permaculture and the environment.
  Lois Zook Wauson
• 12x12 opened the door to a world I know little of - living off the grid. Reading I became entranced with this lifestyle of sustainability and deep listening. The idea of living in a 12x12 appeals to me. There were times years ago when I lived in a yoga ashram where my living quarters were about that size yet the eating and living places were outside my door. The beauty of life, simple and complete, without as many encumbrances as I currently live with continues to call to me. Simplify!!!
• As I am searching for a new book to read I came across this one for sale. I had to write a review. This book is so down to earth and so inspiring. You feel like you are there and can see the entire description as if it is right in front of you. I loved this book and will remember this one forever. I hope to have my own "12 x 12" some day. You wont regret this purchase.
• Great book.