This ugly civilization

by Ralph Borsodi

There are three basic themes in Ralph Borsodi’s This Ugly Civilization : a critique of modern industrial civilization, achieving personal economic independence, and maximizing individual potential. Borsodi advocates a lifestyle of self-reliance and decentralized power, and outlines how it can be realized either by one man or by all. The logical steps are given for moving beyond a “victory garden” so that each of us may cultivate a human-scale existence compatible with nature and the pursuit of the good life.Received with great interest upon release in 1929, This Ugly Civilization offered a course of action for those who were soon facing the Great Depression. The book again found an audience during the rationing and instability of World War II. This Ugly Civilization and Borsodi’s subsequent Flight from the City (1933) became “bibles” to many in the successive “back-to-the-land” movements that occur every generation. His ideas gained further momentum among young people looking for answers in the 1960s and 70s. The indefatigable Mildred Loomis, the greatest advocate of Borsodi’s work, even garnered the nickname “grandmother of the counterculture.” Within another decade, the punk-inspired DIY movement would rail against centralizing authority and encourage the creation of a new culture of self-determination—although such radical ideas were hardly new, as Borsodi’s book shows. This Ugly Civilization rejects the reign of quantity over quality in both man and machine, along with the concomitant rise of consumerism and groupthink. Above and beyond mere self-sufficiency, Borsodi champions an appreciation of beauty, uniqueness and craftsmanship over the factory conformity being imposed in every sector of life. He has written a pragmatic, poetic and philosophical work that will speak to every thoughtful nonconformist. It represents an early seed of the Green Revolution that continues to promote health, comfort and independence. It is about living a whole, organic life and developing the potential of the individual, the family and the surrounding community.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics, History, Economics

468 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1929

Reviews

[Jeff B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “This Ugly Civilization,” Ralph Borsodi presents a bleak but accurate view of the modern, industrial world, laying the blame directly at the feet of the state, religious institutions, and most of all, the factory. Borsodi shows us through his own observations after years of research, and the very words of the men like Henry Ford that created the factory system, how we have destroyed ourselves, our environment, and turned civilization into an ugly caricature of itself. However, “This Ugly Civilization” is not a depressing book. On the contrary, it is hopeful, because Borsodi does what so few authors who lampoon the ills of the world do: He offers a viable and realistic solution to the problems our ugly civilization faces.

While the concepts of self-sufficiency and sustainability have been making a half-hearted comeback in recent years, they are generally packaged in the form of collectivism and groupthink. In the rare instances that a truly responsible, and individual, form of this type of lifestyle is presented, it seems daunting and impossible compared with the concerns of day-to-day life in the modern world, whether in urban, suburban, or rural locales. Not so with the non-utopian vision of a better world presented by Borsodi. Not only does the author take us through the factors that led to the destruction of the individual home in favor of the factory in great detail, he also presents as close to a step-by-step guide as possible to how one can cut the factory cord and live truly free. From growing food and raising animals, to preparing for winter and leisure activity, Borsodi lays out almost every aspect of how a family or tribe could survive and thrive COMFORTABLY in a homesteading environment, and why they should.

Borsodi does not stop there, though. In Part V (“This Ugly Civilization” is divided into 5 Parts split between 2 Books), he tackles the ultimate hurdle standing in the way of an individual making the decision to sever themselves from the modern world: “The Philosophical Aspects.” In this section, Borsodi presents every argument we use to talk ourselves out of freedom, and into the cold arms of the system, and gracefully tears it apart by presenting logical and sensible alternatives.

Of course, Ralph Borsodi does not expect that everyone will follow his lead. He divides humans into three categories (The Herd Minded, the Quantity Minded, and the Quality Minded). Borsodi is not truly an idealist because he recognizes that the Herd Minded and Quantity Minded types cannot fathom leaving it all behind. In this sense, he is more of an elitist. However, he also recognizes that individuals do not have to remain in their category. The Herd Minded individual may become Quality Minded, the Quantity Minded may become Herd Minded, etc. He even acknowledges that there are those individuals who are a combination of Quality and Quantity Minded. What Borsodi is firm on, is that only the Quality Minded are suited for creating, and enjoying, the beautiful civilization that could be.

Throughout my life, I have occasionally stumbled across books that are so good, so “pure,” that I cannot put them down. They fundamentally challenge my way of thinking and open a door to a different perspective. Many times, they answer a question I was not even aware I was asking. “This Ugly Civilization” by Ralph Borsodi is one of those books.

“It is an ugly world, my friends. Perhaps it may be made a beautiful world, my friends. It is an evil world, my friends. Perhaps it may be made a good world, my friends. It is a foolish world, my friends. Perhaps it may be made a wise world, my friends. Free yourselves, my friends, and it becomes yours to make it what you will.” -Ralph Borsodi

[final muzak · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m really exhausted of religious anti-civ writing. It all just blends together at a certain point and I’m tired of it.

[Toothy_grin · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, a correction: The version I read was a 1973 "authorized facsimile" of the 1933 second edition. The first edition appeared in 1929. I think "The American utopian adventure" must have been a reprint series, but it's probably hard to find now, too.
The book is Borsodi's analysis of of the damage done to civilization in the aftermath of the industrial revolution, in the context of its increase in the relative influence of "quantity-minded individuals" over "quality-minded individuals." For those of us who think Ned Ludd had it more right than he gets credit for, it's like sitting at grandpa's knee while he "tells it like it is!"

[Joshua]

A mixture of "practical" back-to-the-land, and anti-industrial/religion/statusquo philosophy. The former (and portions of the latter) are not unlike my subsistence gardening schemes of many years ago.

It seems that every 20-30 years, the "back to the land" movement gets reinvented; Borsodi refers to a similar movement in around the time of the of the 1909 stock market crash...fast forward from the 70s back-to-the-landers to today.

http://www.soilandhealth.org/03sov/03...

[Shaun Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by this book. 90 years later and much of it holds true, lending credit to Borsodi's arguments. His explanation of the factory system and how it has taken over our world is eye opening. His solutions are worth exploring, and his closing commentary on culture, politics, and religion is a prize in itself. I'm glad this book wound up in my hands.

[Rob Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book presents a critique of modern economism, and particularly industrial capitalism at the turn of the century. It does not present socialism as an alternative, but instead proposes independence and self-sufficiency. Part homesteading manual and part Nietzschean hymn to the 1 in a thousand "quality-minded man", against the "herd minded" mass and the "quantity minded" exploiter, it's an engaging read and a lost gem.

This is an entertaining and thought-provoking book! One of those books where I have my phone in my hand while I read it so that I can take pictures of great little passages and quotable bits.

It's hard to pick my favorite part, but I really enjoyed the short passage about a fictional 6-day vacation at an eating resort. It was written like a 19th-century progressive advertisement for the wonderful world of tomorrow, but the author was clearly revolted. I loved the phrase "the most delicate and pleasing modernizations of the old Roman vomitoriums", and it's awesome that the word "vomitoriums" is in the index.

What a treat! The third, practical section of the book can get a little dry in places - there is a list of electrical appliances on a farm, following a table of kilowatt-hours/month/family of typical electrical devices in the 1920s, but that kind very pragmatic approach distinguishes this book from a generic "modernity.. Ewww!" book. The author clearly had an alternative in mind and he's clearly done his homework!

Thanks to Underworld Amusements for giving this neglected gem a new audience!

[Michael’ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine if Robert Owen or Pyotr Kropotkin lost a bunch of braincells and confidently spouted platitudes and uninformed opinion. That’s Borsodi. You still get a pretty decent but very outdated critique of modern society but without the dynamism and vigour of the former two. Borsodi’s proposals are so bound up with the technology of his day and so rooted in the 19th century rural spirit that today it is less relevant than The Conquest of Bread, which mentions technologies briefly to illustrate organisational ideas still relevant today. To his credit, Borsodi knew he’d fail but he uses this as a pretext to complain about the “herd”, the elite and the hypocrisy of philanthropy. Whereas Kropotkin was filled with optimism, Borsodi shows a lot of frankly just mean-spirited pessimism and elitism. He’s clearly convinced that he knows best end that everyone should listen to him but he doesn’t even attempt to appeal to a general audience. He prematurely wallows in defeat and frustration with people he’s not even really trying to convince. If he seriously connected his ideas to some movement he could’ve had a positive impact but as it stands, this book is as much testament to self-defeat as it is a moderately interesting critique of modern industry.