The Challenge of the Country: A Study of Country Life Opportunity

"The Challenge of the Country: A Study of Country Life Opportunity" by George Walter Fiske examines the state of rural America during a period of increasing urbanization. It pinpoints the issues that plague these communities, such as a dwindling population and feelings of isolation, while advocating for a renewed appreciation for rural life. With an early 20th-century lens, the narrative emphasizes the urgent need for skilled leaders to revitalize these areas and calls upon young adults to recognize the value and promise inherent in country living, suggesting that the strength of the nation relies on the well-being of its rural heartland. The book opens by looking at prominent city dwellers who came from rural areas, highlighting the importance of where they came from and then moves on to the problems that affected the countryside and urging a change of heart in how people viewed life outside of the city.