How to Build a Village (Relying on Each Other in an Unreliable World)

From bestselling Substack author and journalist Rosie Spinks, an exciting new look at how the key to our survival in a changing, chaotic world is to embrace an ancient piece of human infrastructure: the village.

You’ve likely heard the expression before: “it takes a village” to raise children, to sustain a life, to get things done. But in a time of unprecedented disconnection and loneliness, how exactly do we build the village we need?

For much of her adult life, journalist Rosie Spinks operated on a model of frictionless hyper-independence that fueled a generation. Anything that she needed, she could order; anything that needed to happen, she could find the most direct and seamless route to achieve it. But when she had her first child and confronted the work of caregiving for the first time, that model suddenly stopped working. She quickly realized that “the village” wasn’t just something that appeared the moment you needed it. It had to be built over time, throughout different stages of life.

Now, in How to Build a Village, Spinks blends reporting, personal experience, and practical tools to take a deeper look at how we lost "the village" in our modern world, and how new parents, single urbanites, elder folks, and young adults alike can reclaim it through a radical—but attainable—embrace of mutual reliance and care. Along the way, she explores how humans approach the project of sharing care, from around the world to her own backyard, and offers key takeaways for how we can create the networks of hands-on support we so desperately crave. The result is an eye-opening reframe in how we might view our role in the world, and a critical tool for building a better future for ourselves, and each other.

While major retailers like Amazon may carry How to Build a Village (Relying on Each Other in an Unreliable World), we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.

We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.

Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of How to Build a Village (Relying on Each Other in an Unreliable World).