From the Farm to Fast Food: My Adventures During the Great Depression and Beyond

by Raymond C. Schmidt

Have you ever had to plant explosives to mine your own coal to heat your house? Climb up some posts to keep your neighborhood’s phone lines up and running? How about dig your own well or cut ice out of a river to cool your food? Kill, skin, dry, and can animals to feed your family? You never know. In a post-apocalyptic world like the one in the HUNGER GAMES (or the one we may face in the future) this is information you might want to know. Believe it or not, there are people living in the modern world today who do know how to do these things. Ray Schmidt is one of them. While growing up on a farm in western North Dakota, Schmidt experienced the hardships of the Great Depression firsthand. Like his parents, he became a farmer. Then in the 1960s, he took a chance on the next big thing: fast food. FROM THE FARM TO FAST FOOD: MY ADVENTURES DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND BEYOND is a compilation of stories about the funny and fascinating events Schmidt experienced. Like no history book could do, it explains in a humorous and lively way how people really lived.

132 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some people live very everyday lives and then there's this guy. It's a darn interesting everyday life because a) stuff happened and b) he's seems pretty honest about it so if you read this book, listen up. Born in 1922 the author relates his earliest memories and boyhood adventures growing up in an isolated area where everyone pretty much roughed it. He takes time to explain exactly how things were done in those days. Once he grows up, his adulthood also proved eventful. From his boyhood farm, he does end up with a fast food restaurant with a lot of interesting stuff in between. One thing the author is not is a polished writer so this book is more a collection of what happened in this life than told with the flow one expects from books. However, life does progress in bits and spurts so I find this forgivable although it may not be for everyone. I found this to be an enjoyable and interesting look back.

[Poorna Rajaraman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, this is a great book. The author goes about as if "you may be able to learn something out of this", but this is great. This is how my grandfather lived in India. My dad has seen days like this, when he did help out in some farming and things like that.

Its great to know how a farmer lived in those days in the US. 20s rural america was not much different from our 60s India. I have read stories about the WWII and depression by city people. This one was a much different perspective.

I would have loved to also hear from Raymond if his family's lifestyle / eating habits changed with ownership of the fastfood franchise.

[Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book because the author is a regular guy who had some unique experiences that he let us peek into. The book is not at all pretentious and he doesn't claim to be a writer.

A good editor could have helped him make the stories shine for a broader audience, but I gather that wasn't so important to the author. I liked the personal recollection on the Great Depression.

Also, the book could have used an ending as far as a conclusion or closer. I was a little surprised that it was over when it was. (Reading the Kindle version)

[Eleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like sitting down with your grandfather and having him tell you of his life growing up. In fact, my father-in-law said this was very similar to his life on a farm in Nebraska. The drawback to the book is that it is just like sitting down with grandpa: it's jumpy, and not always well edited. But it is definitely worth the read.

[Tracey · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little bit of Americana.. Grass roots of America.

[Nell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting, great read

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories were told as if you were listening to your grandfather talk about "back in the day". It was really nice.

[Mediafunhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read

This book is full of fascinating anecdotes that will keep you interested from the first page to the last. I highly recommend it.