The Family Economy: Discovering the Family as It Was Designed to Work

by Rory Groves, Allan C. Carlson (contributor)

Centuries after the “triumph of industrialism,” we find ourselves wrestling through a paradox of wealth and loss, of abundance and loneliness. The home, once the principle “factory” of society, stands now as a mere shell of its former function and authority. The family, once the bedrock of civilization, is more divided today than it has been at any point in human history.

In the face of such monumental shifts, corrupt philosophies, and entrenched interests, what can one family possibly do? Quite a bit, actually. We believe the answer can only come from families, and it can only start at home. The family economy is a concept so foreign to the modern industrial mind that it needs to be re-introduced and defined again as the solution that it has been for thousands of years.That is what this book intends to do.

Genres: Nonfiction, Family, Economics

80 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2024

About the author

Rory and his wife Becca reside on a farm in southern Minnesota where they grow food, raise animals, host homesteading workshops, and homeschool their five children. He is author of Durable Trades: Family-Centered Economies That Have Stood the Test of Time .

Reviews

[Lydia Bethay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an informative book and one that plants ideas into your heart as you long for something more than what modernity has to offer for you and your family. The Industrial Revolution has replaced the family economy for an individual economy where money and self-interest are King. It is shocking to realize that only in the last 200 years have parents and children been so separated throughout their day. Not only this, but our society celebrates the fracturing of the family, saying it creates independence, freedom, and prosperity.

The Industrial Revolution sought money over relationships, success over people. It tore the family economy into pieces, promising a better life for all because you would have more money. We have money but we have lost more than we may ever know. We are poor in relationships because we have bought the lie that parents and children need their independence and individuality from each other in order to grow as a person, citizen, and worker. This lie has bought us less time with our parents and children. We no longer care for aging parents and grandparents, because the State can do that. We no longer educate our children, because the State can do that. We no longer work with our spouses and children in a vocation, because the State doesn’t need that.

It was sad and beautiful to read about what the family used to look like pre-Industrial Revolution. Sad because we are so far from that beautiful representation of the family in our society and because in order to go back to that it will take intense work and intentionality. Beautiful because the crux of society and the church is the family. There is great power in the family, as William Gouge said, “The family is a little commonwealth…” This book gives you a vision for how a family economy should run and why it is so beneficial for your marriage, children, and society. I loved it and it gave Josh and I practical ways on how to begin reforming and pursing a better family economy. It even gave me a better understanding of why our culture doesn’t value children and why in a family economy, children are essential and invaluable.

[Joshua Bethay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The erasure of the family as a meaningful social unit today is not the result of the sexual revolution, Marxism, feminism, the Enlightenment, nor social media. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the family unit was a cohesive, close-proximity band of producers that relied on one another for discipleship, education, and sustenance.

For the many material goods that the Industrial Revolution produced, it laid utter waste to how the family unit had constituted itself since Adam. Time together was sacrificed for higher wages; fathers were taken out of the home, as were the mother and the children; institutions replaced parents as the source of education and culture; the father-son relationship was irrevocably marred; a nation of producers were turned into a mass of consumers; and the family unit as the basic building block of the nation gave way to the individual.

In his book, Rory doesn’t seek to resurrect “a previous era, or a primitive mode of living, but to an ancient way of thinking.” He defines the family economy as “the family working together [rather than separated] to provide the things that they need.” Fundamentally, a family economy includes worship, work, and wisdom: family worship, working together as a family, and passing on wisdom through household (homeschool) education.

The vision that Rory offers is the family economy that starts with small steps, growing over time to a family trade that dovetails with the unique gifts present in the parents and the children, and that the fruit of these labors is not only a stronger marriage, but generations of children who know and love their parents and the faith that those parents passed down via worship, work, and wisdom shared together.

[Wesley Rinehart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. It’s not a long book, but I suppose it summarizes parts of his longer work. I definitely want to read his first book now.
Prominent idea: the Industrial Revolution cost us far more than we were ready to pay in terms of human flourishing.

[Ian Keim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think: perfect primer to the person who has the following thoughts or feelings:

1. I wonder how I should think of my kids education?
2. How do I think of how my family spends time together?
3. How do I think of many of the concepts presented to me in fiction like Wendell Berry?
4. How do I make my home not just a hub of consumerism but a place that produces something?

[Leonardo Antonio · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would recommend his first book

While reading this book I felt like reading a simplified version of the first one and at 80 pages it shows why. The original book has triple the size of pages and a better exposition of what it was about.

This book was more motivational and less aplicable than expected. Is not I didn’t enjoy the book but that it didn’t show really new. It seems more like the transition of the writer to live out of the internet.

The book is just an entry point to consume more articles, conferences, other books and of course the author website where we can get more content of the “dream” which I think is somewhat disappointing.

I really hope the best for the author and I was really impressed by his first book, I saw a bunch of his interviews on YouTube and conference presentations. Let’s hope the next book provides more to the conversation.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book summarizing a Biblical family economy. It pairs well with his previous work, Durable Trades Provides resources for further study.

[Chad Molen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, Rory gets to the heart of the reason for decline in western countries, the dissolution of the family and specifically the family economy. With the Industrial Revolution we traded a tremendous amount of the secret sauce that made western culture strong for hundreds of years for cheap goods, dependence on large corporate and government influence and outsourcing of the key parental responsibilities to someone who may/may not and most likely will not share our values. Rory tells his own story and gives practical advice/tools on how to lead your family back to a strong, integrated Christian family skilled and able to weather life’s storms and build an economic engine to prosper the family for generations to come.

[Tyler Schmorleitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This puts to words perfectly some of the root causes of the status of the modern splintered family. We are currently in the process of attempting the transition to a family economy and this is extremely encouraging and inspiring. I also plan to send a copy to some family and friends to help explain our goals and give them a clearer vision. And it's short which makes it possible that people will actually read it! Highly recommend to anyone, especially fathers.

[Alix St Amant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d call this one a must read for those who are working hard to preserve their family values and are in search of a better way to live and earn a living, rather than remaining trapped on the Industrial Revolution/slavery capitalism train. It’s a short and sweet book, but gets right to the point and packs a punch.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short but very interesting book. I think my kids and grandkids all need to read it. And then read Durable Trades which I am currently reading.

Not a difficult read but it gave me some ideas on things I could do at home that could bring in some money and help us not spend so much money too.

[Luke Boyden · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who is planning to be an 8-5 office engineer for the next 40 years, the thought of one day forming a “family economy” is a comfort to my soul.

My biggest takeaway from this book is that every child has a unique talent and purpose given to them by God, it is the parents job to recognize that skill and harvest it into something productive.

Work, Worship, Wisdom

[Brittany Futrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short read that really made me think about things related to the family that I have never thought about before. I found the history fascinating and sobering. I will not be making a drastic life change and become a self sustaining farmer as a result of this book, but am walking away with eye opening insights I’ll be chewing on for awhile.

[blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the history of the family economy (which is almost all we've ever had) and how to start recovering some of what our families have lost without it. I'm going to recommend this to my friends and members of my church, especially dads.

[Liz Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read! It's thought provoking and encouraging and clearly lays out the importance and need for raising families centered on biblical principles and avoiding getting lost in the secular, industrial age. Very much enjoyed it!

[Katie Marvel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m interested to read his source material on the Industrial Revolution and its effects on society, specifically family life. A worthwhile read if you’re thinking of withdrawing from the corporate world and building a family-centered enterprise.

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Small book with alot of food for thought.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short. To the point. Compelling. A great starter on this topic.

[Ginny Yurich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting premise!!!!!

[Blake C Pfaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and to the point!
Hits the history, the what, the why, and some beginning steps as to how to build a family economy.

Great read for people to grasp the idea quickly

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short book but well worth the time to read.