How can you maximize your hours in the field? Listen to an audio book or two. Regardless of your interests, there are great books that can make the hours slip away. For example:
If you’re a history buff …
Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose
Want a story that combines heroism, adventure, hardships and astounding sights? Look no further than this masterful telling of the Lewis and Clark expedition, which covered 8,000 miles in less than three years. Length: 21 hours, 40 minutes
The Wright Brothers by David McCullough
On the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 1903, two brothers changed history. This well-written and well-researched book tells the dramatic story about the brothers who taught the world how to fly. Learn how they reached this achievement. Length: 10 hours, 2 minutes
If you’re a sports fan …
The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
From humble backgrounds, nine men demonstrated every virtue imaginable in their quest to compete at the highest level in an elite sport. Mixed with the politics of Hitler and the 1936 Olympics, this true story couldn’t have been invented with more intensity. Length: 14 hours, 24 minutes
If you want to up your management game …
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
What is your farm’s vision? If it’s not clear or defined, use this book as a guide. “Without vision, you have no traction for your business,” Wickman says. Every time you revisit this book, you’ll get a fresh perspective on your operation. Length: 6 hours, 56 minutes
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Grit is about tenacity and the ability to reach a goal over a long period of time—despite challenges, adversity or external factors. Success is not just about diligence, but also about facing problems and continually coming up with solutions. Sounds like farming, right? Length: 9 hours, 22 minutes
If you like firsthand accounts …
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
This eye-opening book is especially powerful hearing the author read it. It follows J.D. Vance’s life from poor, working-class Appalachia to Yale Law School. He gives an intimate look into the hardships facing the working-class poor who are dealing with the pace of change. Length: 6 hours, 49 minutes
If you’re in need of a few laughs …
Good Clean Fun: Misadventures in Sawdust at Offerman Woodshop by Nick Offerman
If you’re familiar with “Parks and Recreation,” you have an idea of who the character Ron Swanson is in real life. An avid woodworker, Nick Offerman combines his humor with woodworking advice to introduce or reinvigorate the passion woodworkers celebrate in their craft. Length: 6 hours, 7 minutes
If you have a really long planting season ahead of you …
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
A love story, an adventure and an epic of the frontier, this cowboy classic might be just what you need to face a marathon planting season. Journey to the dusty Texas town of Lonesome Dove and meet an unforgettable assortment of heroes and outlaws. Length: 36 hours, 47 minutes
