Title: Lessons of Nature, from a Modern-Day Shepherd
Author: Don F. Pickett
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 978-1-5462-2016-9
Pages: 118
Genre: Religion, Spirituality, Self-Help
Reviewed by: Jessica Schmidt
Pacific Book Review
The book begins with a letter to today’s youth in the United States with the hope readers will benefit from the poems, Bible-based stories and wisdom about reconnecting with the Earth and revisiting simpler times.
Author Don F. Pickett delivers a lot of interesting and meaningful content to the reader. Bible passages and stories are interwoven with lessons from everyday life and wisdom gained over a lifetime of living the solitary life of a shepherd. Each chapter is a lesson that begins with a poem which gives the reader an overview of what to expect in the pages that follow. Mr. Picket is a talented poet and author who is generous in sharing his views on living a meaningful life and respecting the many gifts our creator has provided. He delivers more than he promised and shares stories which will stay in one’s mind. While reading his book, the reader will enjoy imagining the life of a shepherd whose work is in many ways timeless and unchanged through the centuries. He adds interesting stories about modern additions to the solitary lifestyle of a shepherd as well as tips and tricks for minimizing wear and tear on one’s tent and equipment.
Lessons of Nature, from a Modern-Day Shepherd is a book in which readers of all ages will enjoy. As mentioned in the introductory letter to the reader, the book is dedicated to today’s youth living in the United States with an invitation from the author to learn about nature and to take better care of our environment. He teaches how to be better stewards to the Earth and its animals as we are here to care for having dominion over them; in turn getting our basic needs met. Readers who have grown up attending church or who have studied religion or have an interest in learning more about Christianity will benefit most from reading the book, as they will be able to relate to many of the Bible-based stories. However, it would also be an interesting read for people who are searching for answers and meaning in our busy and Topsy-Turvy modern times.
I, personally, have a lot of related background which made reading this book an enjoyable experience. A few years after college, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay, South America and lived in a small rural agricultural community where I had my first introduction to living on a farm. I lived without running water or electricity for those two years and they remain some of the best years of my life. I experienced life that was stripped free from excess stuff and unnecessary trappings, yet full of connection to family and neighbors, and focused on the essentials to life such as growing food and caring for animals. Because of my varied experiences, I enjoyed reading this book and loved the visual imagery swirling around in my mind as I read and even now as I think about the poetry and stories.
Overall, this book is very well written. There are a handful of minor typos which are noticeable but not too distracting for the reader. I recommend this book as a great selection for book groups and Bible studies. I agree with the author that today’s youth in America would benefit from a month living on a farm and caring for animals in order to learn about where our food comes from and what goes into the process of producing it and getting it from the farm to the table. Experiential learning is extremely beneficial and as an adult who still wishes she had grown up on a farm, I see the countless life lessons and benefits of appreciating the gifts we have been given.
