We Took to the Woods

We Took to the Woods is a memoir chronicling Louise Dickinson Rich's life in the Maine wilderness during the 1930s and 1940s. The author answers common questions about her unconventional choice to live in the remote Rangeley Lakes region with her husband Ralph and their children. Rich details the practical realities of existing far from civilization - from food preservation and power generation to medical care and winter isolation. She documents the seasonal rhythms of Maine backwoods life, including logging operations, hunting, fishing, and interactions with the few other inhabitants of the region. The narrative provides insight into how one family adapted to and found contentment in a lifestyle that many considered extreme. Rich's account explores themes of self-sufficiency, the relationship between humans and nature, and the meaning of "civilization" versus "wilderness."

Readers praise Rich's honest, humorous account of living off-grid in 1930s Maine. They connect with her practical descriptions of daily life, candid assessment of challenges, and lack of romanticism about wilderness living. Readers liked: - Rich's writing style and wit - Details about food preservation and homesteading - Balance of adventure with reality - Strong sense of place - Relatability despite the remote setting Readers disliked: - Some found the pacing slow in certain chapters - A few felt the Q&A format sections disrupted flow Review stats: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (240+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "She makes you feel like you're sitting at her kitchen table" - Goodreads reviewer "No sugar-coating of the difficulties, but still makes you want to try it" - Amazon review "Her humor and intelligence shine through every page" - LibraryThing review

Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. A park ranger's account of living alone in Utah's wilderness contains observations of nature and reflections on solitude that mirror Rich's experiences in the Maine woods.

The Outermost House by Henry Beston. This chronicle of a year spent in a small house on Cape Cod's Great Beach captures the author's connection to nature and isolation from society.

One Man's Wilderness by Richard Proenneke. The journals and photographs of a man who built a cabin by hand and lived alone in the Alaskan wilderness demonstrate the self-reliance and appreciation for nature that Rich describes.

The Twenty-Ninth Day by Alex Messenger. This first-hand account of surviving in the Canadian wilderness focuses on the relationship between humans and nature in remote settings.

Woodswoman by Anne LaBastille. A woman builds her own cabin and creates a life in the Adirondack wilderness, echoing Rich's experience of choosing an unconventional path in the woods.

🌲 Louise Dickinson Rich wrote this memoir in 1942 while living in a remote logging settlement called Middle Dam in the Rangeley Lakes region of Maine, documenting her unconventional life away from civilization. 🏠 The author lived without electricity, running water, or modern conveniences, and the nearest town was 13 miles away by boat or 24 miles by rough logging road. 📚 The book's success led to Rich becoming a regular contributor to The Atlantic Monthly and other publications, launching her career as a professional writer. 🌿 The settlement where Rich lived, Middle Dam, was originally built to control water flow for log drives and still exists today as a historic site, though it's now primarily a destination for outdoor enthusiasts. 💑 Rich moved to the woods in 1933 with her husband Ralph, whom she met when her car broke down near his cabin during a vacation. They married three weeks later and decided to make the wilderness their permanent home.