Book Review - Arn? Narn – (Any Fish? No Fish)-Bruce Meisterman

I would like to begin this review with a quote from the book

““Arn? Narn.” It is said to be the shortest conversation in Newfoundland. It’s also a prescient description of this culture’s future. Two fishing boats in a harbor are approaching one another, one departing, the other returning. The captain of the departing boat yells out to the captain of the returning boat, “Arn?” The other captains reply “Narn”. Translated “Any fish?” “No fish”.”

This book is mostly a photographic depiction of rural Newfoundland in decline. For over 500 years these people fished for cod which is how they sustained their economy and their families—now the cod are gone. A lot of the population is leaving for the big cities in order to find jobs.

Rural Newfoundland is a cold, somewhat barren landscape-but according to the author are a warm and friendly people who help each other and strangers. For part of the year the ice comes down from the Arctic and they become ice-locked.

The Canadian government (who, according to the author put a moratorium on cod fishing too late) is now trying to convince these people to allow offshore drilling-it seems that just offshore there is oil—which would revitalize the area. But these are fisherman—and the ones that are left keep hoping the cod will return.

Nothing will last forever is the warning this book is trying to tell us—and in my opinion—we had better heed the warning before it is too late. I am adding the following although it is not mentioned in the book—never forget:

The Four Laws of Ecology
• Everything is connected to everything else.
• Everything must go somewhere.
• Nature knows best.
• There is no such thing as a free lunch

If you would like to learn more about this book and Bruce Meisterman go here http://arnnarn.com/about/

This book can be purchased at Barnes & Noble and other fine book stores.

I was not paid cash for this post. I did receive a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own honest opinions. For more information please check my Disclosure Statement.