Our deeply embedded (and cherished) desires for property ownership and sense of home and history are torn apart by Mansfield in this honest look at this hidden side of US history.

From the border in the southwest to the Maine shoreline, Mansfield shares vignettes to illustrate how we got here and what was lost by so many to gain it.

I wish there was a light at the end of this book. From the first boat landing, to our current hunger for cheap natural gas energy, Americans have been both victim and oppressor in the story.

I have woken from the American dream. ( )

The Habit of Turning the World Upside Down is an eloquent and occasionally heartbreaking exploration of the American notion of property, a deep dive into how something we take for granted today—the ownership of land—is infinitely more complex. I appreciate especially the historical look at how our legal system, which gives priority to the "exuberantly active" citizen over the quiet one, has shaped everything from the government's disastrous interactions with indigenous peoples (who had a very different relationship to their land) to eminent domain property seizures that are leaving homeowners feeling robbed and defeated, and to the changing boundaries of our land itself as it is already, slowly, quietly, inexorably being altered by a changing climate. I'll join in his lament that our laws favor corporations over individuals, "progress" over stewardship.

This is the first book I've read by Mansfield, and I found it probing and beautifully written, and also deeply caring. A collection of themed essays rather than an overarching narrative or argument, this book gave me so much to think about. After finishing it, I am carrying about with me Mansfield's concluding metaphor that draws on a Buddhist notion of impermanence. This is a long view we need to hear and see more often. It was a pleasure to be in Mansfield's intelligent company, and I look forward to reading other of his books. ( )

This book was a lot harder for me to read now than it would have been 3 months ago. It showcases how we look at land ownership and how that ownership can change, sometimes without the consent of the original owner. It is an important read for anyone who thinks they really own the land they live on.

I have a ten foot-wide swath of grass in the middle of my acre of land that is owned by the electric company. Oh technically I own it as part of the deed, but they have a "right of way" to it. They can do whatever they want, whenever they want without my consent or knowledge. I never thought a lot about it till they started cutting down my trees.

And then the neighbor across the road was gifted a 125 foot tall, high-voltage metal tower in his front yard. He had a right of way also. Now he sees a giant tower instead of green grass and flowers.

I got off lucky.

I think this book is important to show what happens in situations like this, how family land can be turned into a road, or a building or a tower - without anyone really being able to do anything about it.

We in America believe if we own our land that is the end of the story. Sadly, it is not. ( )

I picked up a review copy of this book from the publisher because it sounded like an interesting exposition with eminent domain and global warming and colonial property rights. I'm a real estate geek.

Unfortunately, the book turns out to be a rambling mess with inconsistent viewpoints on the nature of property. We took it from the Native Americans and global warming will take big chunks back from us. Eminent domain takes land for public use. and on and on. ( )

This is a collection of essays with the general theme of what land ownership means in American culture. The essays are grouped into three sections: the historical roots of the American way of thinking about the land, the present day consequences of how Americans value land, and finally, how events outside of human control (e.g. climate change) may have greater influence than our laws or traditions.

A frequent theme is that land has often been valued for the wealth that it can generate through selling, rather than something essential for living on and for deriving a living from. He shows that this attitude was present even in the colonial era. An example was George Washington's failed attempt to turn the Dismal Swamp of Virginia and North Carolina into profitable real estate. When describing some of the present day conflicts between the property rights of the individual and public welfare projects such as highways, utility infrastructure, etc, the author does not provide any practical solutions. Yet throughout this collection of stories, the author seems to be saying that we should first change the way we view these problems, including taking a more honest look at our history as it relates to our relationship with land or property.

The title of the book is derived from a statement made by Alexis De Tocqueville when describing what he witnessed of the American culture. This book is well worth reading. ( )