I received the book Durable Trades: Family-Centered Economies That Have Stood the Test of Time by Rory Groves to review. This 293-page book is divided into three parts: Brittle Systems, Durable Trades, and Durable Foundations. The cost of the book on Amazon is $19.88.

This book is not a homeschool curriculum, but I believe high school students would greatly benefit from this book, whether being homeschooled or in public school. The book's premise is to detail prevalent issues in our society and how these are affecting families. The book then lists 63 trades that have stood the test of time. These trades are graded on their Historical Stability, Resiliency, Family Centeredness, Income, and Ease of Entry. Mr. Groves did a remarkable amount of research on each trade. As a young person choosing a career, I think this book could be valuable in offering alternative options.

My family recently purchased a 12-acre farm in the hopes of becoming more self-sufficient. This book was helpful to me in showing some trades that could be possible to run from our homestead that would include my family. I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone planning for a new career or concerned about the current state of the economy.

-Product review by Heather Wise, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, May 2021