In A LONG WAY FROM ANYWHERE: LIVING OFF-GRID IN THE AMERICAN WEST Norah Esty takes readers on her surprising journey from math prodigy and tenured professor to a homesteader in the rugged landscapes of Eastern Oregon. With a Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley and a stable academic career in Boston, Norah and her husband Jim left behind urban comforts for a life off the grid, inspired by the works of Michael Pollan and Wendell Berry. Trading their city condo for an isolated homestead, they leapt into rural life with little experience or preparation.
With sheer determination as their guide, Norah and Jim faced the trials of homesteading head-on, from raising animals and butchering rabbits to handling heavy machinery and troubleshooting generators. Each day brought unforeseen challenges, from predators lurking nearby to the isolation that made every medical emergency a risk. Yet, moments of wonder—like wolves howling in the hills and mountain lions padding through snowy trails—balanced the realities of rural survival. In this reflective, honest account, Norah shares the trials, triumphs, and life-changing insights of leaving the familiar to embrace the wilderness and the unknown.
In A LONG WAY FROM ANYWHERE: LIVING OFF-GRID IN THE AMERICAN WEST Norah Esty takes readers on her surprising journey from math prodigy and tenured professor to a homesteader in the rugged landscapes of Eastern Oregon. With a Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley and a stable academic career in Boston, Norah and her husband Jim left behind urban comforts for a life off the grid, inspired by the works of Michael Pollan and Wendell Berry. Trading their city condo for an isolated homestead, they leapt into rural life with little experience or preparation.
With sheer determination as their guide, Norah and Jim faced the trials of homesteading head-on, from raising animals and butchering rabbits to handling heavy machinery and troubleshooting generators. Each day brought unforeseen challenges, from predators lurking nearby to the isolation that made every medical emergency a risk. Yet, moments of wonder—like wolves howling in the hills and mountain lions padding through snowy trails—balanced the realities of rural survival. In this reflective, honest account, Norah shares the trials, triumphs, and life-changing insights of leaving the familiar to embrace the wilderness and the unknown.
Raised in Montana, Norah Esty started out as a math geek. She studied topological dynamics at Berkeley, co-authored a textbook in West Virginia, and won teaching awards in Boston. She now lives off-grid in Oregon writing poetry, raising sheep, and trying to learn Icelandic.
Genre: Nonfiction
ISBN: 978-1-963115-48-2
Publication Date: July 8, 2025
