The Downsides of Upward Mobility: An In-Depth Conversation with a Writer You Should Know
You know the trope from countless movies and books—and maybe you even lived it:
The talented, ambitious young person eager to escape hometown life and make it big out in the world.
Gracy Olmstead knows that story well.
Born and raised in a small Idaho farm town, she now lives outside of Washington, D.C., where she has built a career as an acclaimed journalist and author.
Olmstead is far from alone, of course. But she stands out for the insights she offers on the experience—and especially its costs.
You’ll hear those insights in this live episode of Conservative Conversations with ISI.
On Thursday, May 6, at 7 pm ET, hear Gracy Olmstead talk with Johnny Burtka and James Davenport about her new book, Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We’ve Left Behind.
The American Spectator hails Uprooted as “an indispensable guide for those who are wrestling with their place in an increasingly rootless world.” National Review calls it a “beautiful book.”
And you’ll see why when you tune in to this conversation.
Olmstead, who is often compared to Wendell Berry, will discuss:
- What “rootedness” means in a rootless world
- How to resist the dangerous temptation of nostalgia
- What we sacrifice for profit and “progress”
- Why efficiency and low consumer prices aren’t the only values worth defending
- . . . and much more!
Because this is a live episode, you’ll be able to submit your own questions in real time.
So reserve your spot now!
Grace Olmstead is the author of the new book Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We’ve Left Behind. The book has been excerpted in the Wall Street Journal, and Kirkus Reviews hails it as “a superior exploration of the consequences of the hollowing out of our agricultural heartlands.” Focusing on farming, localism, and family, Olmstead has written for the American Conservative, The Week, the New York Times, the Washington Post, National Review, the Wall Street Journal, and Christianity Today, among other publications. In June, she will be honored as one of ISI’s Top 20 Alumni Under 30. A native of rural Idaho, she now lives outside of Washington, D.C., with her husband and three children.