Masanobu Fukuoka

Masanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese farmer and philosopher whose book The One-Straw Revolution became one of the most influential works in the history of sustainable agriculture and the organic farming movement. First published in 1975, the book describes Fukuoka's revolutionary approach to farming, which he called natural farming, a method that works with nature rather than against it, requiring no ploughing, no chemical fertilisers, no pesticides and minimal weeding. Fukuoka developed his method over decades on his family's farm on the island of Shikoku, achieving yields comparable to conventional agriculture while restoring rather than depleting the soil. His philosophy extended beyond farming to encompass a broader critique of modern civilisation and its disconnection from the natural world. Born in 1913, Fukuoka trained as a microbiologist before returning to farming and spending the rest of his life developing and refining his natural farming methods. He died in 2008. The One-Straw Revolution has been translated into numerous languages and continues to inspire farmers, environmentalists and anyone seeking a more harmonious relationship with the natural world. The audiobook brings his gentle, profound wisdom to new generations of listeners.