A Long Way from Anywhere: Living Off-Grid in the American West

In A Long Way from Anywhere: Living Off-Grid in the American West, Norah Esty shares her unexpected journey from a math prodigy and tenured professor to a homesteader in the remote wilds of Eastern Oregon. After earning her Ph.D. at U.C. Berkeley and securing a comfortable academic career in Boston, Norah and her husband Jim stunned everyone-including themselves-by abandoning urban life for an off-grid existence. Inspired by authors like Michael Pollan and Wendell Berry, they traded their city condo for a rural homestead, despite having no plan, homesteading experience, or background in rural living.

With enthusiasm as their guide, Norah and Jim quickly learned the challenges of living off-grid. From raising livestock to butchering rabbits, operating tractors to troubleshooting generators, every day brought new lessons and unexpected hardships. Life in the wilderness offered moments of wonder-wolves howling in the hills, mountain lions crossing through snow-but also stark realities, like dealing with predators and the isolation of being far from medical help. Through it all, Norah reflects on the joys and perils of off-grid living, offering a candid, insightful look at the challenges of leaving behind the familiar to embrace the unknown.