The Year of the Goat: 40,000 Miles and the Quest for the Perfect Cheese

Hathaway and Schatz were happy living together in New York City—Schatz was Time.com's picture editor, and Hathaway a former manager of Magnolia Bakery. Still, they wondered “what sort of people” they'd be if they lived in the country, and in this offbeat memoir Hathaway narrates their search. The idea of raising cows wasn't affordable or appealing, but goats were intriguing, especially since their cheeses were so tasty. Before long, the couple decided to leave New York for a yearlong “goat odyssey,” searching out everything “goat” that struck their fancy. Starting in New York with a tasting session with maître fromager Max McCalman, they traveled the country visiting goat farms, auctions and shows. While they had a lot to learn—how to milk goats, how to trim their hooves—they were also trying to find a model lifestyle for themselves. Eventually, they realized they wanted a farm with some vegetables and some animals, but not so many that the farm would become a factory. More than anything, they wanted “a modest life” surrounded by people they loved. Back-to-the-land fantasies aren't new, but Hathaway gives theirs a modern twist by emphasizing “terroir ,” the idea that “food is rooted in the land,” and of connecting “the palate to the place.” Local-eating, slow-food activists will find much to chew on here. (Aug.)