A Bold Return to Giving a Damn

One Farm, Six Generations, and the Future of Food

By: Will Harris

Narrated by: Will Harris

"If I could have one wish it is that every eater in America would read this book."—Ruth Reichl

From a pioneer of the regenerative agriculture movement, a memoir-meets-manifesto on betting the farm on a better future for our food, animals, land, local communities, and our climate

Raised as a fourth-generation farmer, when Will Harris inherited White Oak Pastures he was a full-time commodity cowboy who played hard and fast with every tool the system offered–chemicals, antibiotics, steroids, and more. His ancestors had built a highly profitable, conventionally run machine, but over time he found himself disgusted with the excess, cruelty, and smalltown devastation this system entailed. So he bet the farm on forging a different way of doing things. One that works with nature not against it, and bridges the quickly widening delta between consumers and their food. Armed with tenacity, conviction and an outsized tolerance for risk, Harris called his approach “radical traditional” and it made him the pioneer of regenerative agriculture long before the phrase existed.

At once an intimate, multi-generational memoir and a microcosm of American agriculture at large, A BOLD RETURN TO GIVING A DAMN offers a pathway back to producing food the right way. At a time when food supply chains are straining, climate-induced catastrophes are playing havoc with harvests, and concern around who owns America’s farmland are more prescient than ever, Will Harris urges us to consider where the food we eat really comes from, and to re-connect to the places and people who raise what we eat each day. With keen storytelling, a good dose of irreverence, and an unflinching willingness to speak truth to power, Harris shows us why it’s never been more important to know your farmer than now.

Featured in Food and Country directed by Laura Gabbert and Ruth Reichl

©2023 Will Harris (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"There’s a lot to like about the book — Harris’s cheeky sense of humor, for one. And his exploration of his family’s roots, their sacrifices and hard-earned victories...But it’s Harris’s dogged insistence on explaining the hidden costs of the “abhorrently cheap food”...that makes the book so necessary."—The Washington Post

"A Bold Return to Giving a Damn is more than a memoir—it is a full exploration of the history of food production in this country, with all its beautiful and ugly aspects. It’s the education we all need to embrace."—NY Journal of Books

"A solution-based offering from a Georgia farmer who has practiced regenerative agriculture for over three decades...Throughout, Harris pushes readers to have the courage to give a damn about the future. Two of his adult daughters came back home to farm; inspired readers will want to join them."—Booklist

Loaded with personal life experience and wisdom!

I truly enjoyed this heart felt witness to Will Harris farm life. His explanation’s to why we as human beings need to take note to why industry is NOT the answer to world problems in farming and animal health is remarkable.

Educational and entertaining

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It was both educational and insightful as a new small farmer and also entertaining as a book lover.

An unbelievable story that resets your mind

I’ve always been upset with the food industry and felt we are getting ripped off, this book confirms that, explains why and how, and gives you the remediation for it. Will’s voice alone is one of the best narrating voices I ever had the pleasure to listening to, and has changed my life completely. A well written book with the perfect amount of humor, anger, and education.

Well Written...

Speaking truth to truth... We can save the soil and save us at the same time...

How to stop fighting nature

Incredible detail on how his thinking evolved to return to natural farming and overcoming challenges

Wonderful

I’m a Georgia boy born and raised, and I am looking for the time to find my way to White Oak pastures this year just to stick my head and see everything that Mr. Harris talked about. Your book was fantastic and your southern brogue was refreshing. Keep up the good work, theintelligent are listening and the stupid are learning.

Relevant

An absolute gem of a book, information and narration by Will Harris. Transformative and necessary for all to understand.

Incredibly important message

I believe I have fallen in love with Mr. Will Harris. His passion, grit, honesty, and tenacity are inspiring and rare. I hope I do justice to the 38 acres of land I steward and the heartbeats that live here.

Absolutely must read!

This message should be shared to every American & human being on this beautiful planet. Not only is Will Harris’s message about our food origins profound, it is necessary to understand before it’s too late. I recommend this to everyone who cares about Earth & cares to do the work needed to make our food healthy again.

Amazing Story!

Amazing story narrated by the author. This is the real deal! Anyone who wants to learn about Regenerative Agriculture, Holistic Management and the transition from the previous modern industrial agriculture system. This book tells the non-sugar coated truths of it all first hand.