{"product_id":"plow-the-dirt-but-watch-martin-kufus-9798987440629","title":"Plow the Dirt but Watch the Sky","description":"\u003cp\u003eDespite--or maybe because of--the repetitious toil, regular exposure to weather extremes, and\u003cbr\u003esmelly proximity of large animals, farm life on the Great Plains was a blessing for Martin Kufus.\u003cbr\u003eIt instilled a work ethic, tolerance for unpleasantness, and appreciation of the outdoors--even if\u003cbr\u003eKufus didn't follow his forefathers into agriculture. The tractor-driving, manure-shoveling farm\u003cbr\u003eboy instead would become a camera-packing newspaper reporter, Russian-speaking Army\u003cbr\u003eparatrooper, foreign correspondent (briefly) in the Middle East, editor of a controversial military\u003cbr\u003emagazine, volunteer firefighter and flood rescuer, homeland-security specialist, and armed guard\u003cbr\u003eon a cargo ship in African-pirate waters. These and other experiences comprise 26 whistle stops, \u003cbr\u003echapters \"A is for America\" through \"Z is for Zodiac,\" in the narrative journey Plow the Dirt but\u003cbr\u003eWatch the Sky. Kufus' unvarnished descriptions of mistakes, tragedies, and family dysfunction\u003cbr\u003eadditionally give this book a self-revelatory quality (perhaps familiar to readers of working-class\u003cbr\u003enonfiction like J.D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy). A well-lived life doesn't require wealth, a famous\u003cbr\u003esurname, or a metropolitan upbringing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Martin Kufus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 8987440621\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798987440629\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Martin Kufus\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/16\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 412\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.21lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.84d","brand":"Martin Kufus","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44598422143231,"sku":"9798987440629","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_5dfe6ee5-3222-4a6f-b9c6-bc07d581080e.jpg?v=1702382423","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/plow-the-dirt-but-watch-martin-kufus-9798987440629","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}