I think this fits under Healthy Living the best, though there might be other categories that would work as well.

I found this book really interesting--I read a review of it and eventually got curious enough about it that I looked it up again. The author (an MIT grad student) and his new wife went to live in an Amish community for 18 months. No electricity, a hand pump outside for water, very minimal and deliberate use of technology. He wanted to discover how much technology was enough, and how much was too much. He wanted to consider the technology he was using and whether it was really a help or actually creating new demands for power, space, and time. He came to the conclusion that he actually had more time with less technology because work and socialization overlapped, the socialization and cooperation making everything much more bearable (and possible, in some cases), and because he didn't have to work as hard to pay bills (since he'd cut most of them out).

I don't see myself going this basic (no hot water heater? no health insurance? no car?) and I think the author's a little starry-eyed, but I think he's onto something with the cooperation and aid among neighbors. I've often thought it would be great if I could trade a day of work with someone, with him or her coming over to work with me one day and me going over to help another day. We'd likely get more done and enjoy it more, too. No idea how to find anyone willing to give that a try, though.

Anyone else read this book?