"John and Beth knew that they were somewhat naive when they moved to Iowa, but Hoffman is very skilled (and eloquent) about turning that ignorance into observation and learning...her book is so precise and well-thought-out...Read her book - and listen."
Jane Smiley, The Washington Post
"An honest account...We sometimes read news about farming, but this is a much more detailed description of how dangerous and alluring it is, both physically and financially."
Jane Smiley, The New York Times
"Bet the Farm is the best book... Malcolm Gladwell could [not] have done what Hoffman has done to explain present-day agriculture's policies."
Des Moines Register
"Recommended... a clear-eyed analyses of everything from the history of commodities, factory farming and Black landloss, to the intricacies of farm finance, why it's so hard for farmers to make a fair living, and why most farm families have at least one off-farm job."
Farm Aid
"This wide-ranging discussion personalizes the farmer's current milieu in a manner that connects national perspectives and situations with individual pursuits. Bet the Farm is a powerful presentation that should be a mainstay of any agriculture book collection or discussion of farming's future."
Donovan's Literary Services
"If you know someone who was farming sustainably and got out of it, this book will help you understand why. And if you're doing it, the book will be a friendly voice of commiseration to ratify the hard lessons you've already learned."
Acres USA
"Hoffman talks frankly about the struggles of being a beginner farmer ... It's a book about succession and determination, but it's also about just how fragile the future of family farms is in America."
Modern Farmer
"Highly recommended . The sustainable agriculture movement focuses on social, moral, and ecological facets of farming. Hoffman reminds readers that without also looking at the economics, such efforts will not succeed."
Choice
