Inspired by Rod Dreher’s interview with Michael Pollan, young progressive Steven White recalls the horror of once having read Wendell Berry:

I was struck by the invocation of Wendell Berry. I had the general displeasure of reading some of the man’s works in a class called the Contested American Countryside. Berry is only difficult to label politically because he doesn’t, ultimately, care about economics. He cares about traditionalism. Which for him depends stringently on gender roles and a glorification of rural life and values, despite however many comments he’s made over the years that make back-to-the-earth leftie types nod their heads in approval. If the paleoconservatives want him, I say let them have him.

I am willing to accept Wendell Berry on behalf of paleoconservatives (whatever that might mean) but I find White’s ideological rigidity disturbing. Is it really so horrible for a young progressive to be confronted with the words of someone who supposedly doesn’t care about economics and does care about traditionalism? I can only imagine how dull White’s bookshelves are.