Why Wendell Berry Didn’t Worry About the Future
The article profiles the late writer and farmer Wendell Berry, known for his rejection of modern technology and his focus on living a principled, present-focused life. It explores his philosophy of 'radical abstention' and his commitment to local, manual labor.
Why it matters
Berry's life serves as a counter-cultural critique of modern digital dependency and the constant pressure to be connected.
His life as a writer and farmer was informed by a simple, clarifying idea: Forget tomorrow, and work toward what is good today.
Kate Mount / Bridgeman Images September 5, 2026, 8 AM ET Share Save Wendell Berry was not an easy man to reach. When I wanted to interview him for this magazine in the spring of 2015, his publicist warned me that a press request would take some doing. Berry didn’t have a cellphone. He didn’t use email. He didn’t even have a computer. He wrote most of his drafts by hand during the day, without electric light. And he definitely didn’t make himself available to any old reporter who wanted to talk.
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