Rural

by Michael Woods

The division of ‘rural’ and ‘urban’ is one of the oldest ideas in Geography and is deeply engrained in our culture. Throughout history, the rural has been attributed with many as a source of food and energy; as a pristine wilderness, or as a bucolic idyll; as a playground, or a place of escape; as a fragile space of nature, in need of protection; and as a primitive place, in need of modernization. But is the idea of the rural still relevant today? Rural provides an advanced introduction to the study of rural places and processes in Geography and related disciplines. Drawing extensively on the latest research in rural geography, this book explores the diverse meanings that have been attached to the rural, examines how ideas of the rural have been produced and reproduced, and investigates the influence of different ideas in shaping the social and economic structure of rural localities and the everyday lives of people who live, work or play in rural areas. This authoritative book contains case studies drawn from both the developed and developing world to introduce and illustrate conceptual ideas and approaches, as well as suggested further reading. Written in an engaging and lively style, Rural challenges the reader to think differently about the rural.

Genres: Geography

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2010

Reviews

[Tyler Swanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woods does a fantastic job summarizing the reasons why the rural is such an important field of study. From agriculture to the environment and everything in between, Woods captures the reasons why we care about the rural, and then explores the reasons for why those cares come about and how they shape rural space. This is a must read for anyone interested in rural studies.

[Jessica DeWitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and Woods provides a number of though-provoking analytic models and analyses that will definitely assist and shape my work on parks, particularly urban farm parks.

[isakyaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

it’s an okay introduction to rural studies. too focused on global north though.