Nearing nirvana?

The Nearings, 1970. A new book says Helen "exaggerated the extent to which [they] were self-sufficient builders." (richard garrett, thoreau institute)

In the 1970s, homesteaders Helen and Scott Nearing were lauded as heroes of the back-to-the-land movement. Their 1954 treatise, "Living the Good Life," became the movement's how-to manual. Two thousand followers a year visited their farm to learn about organic gardening and composting.

Now a new book exposes the reality behind the couple's image of self-sufficiency. In "The Good Life of Helen K. Nearing," published this month by University Press of New England /University of Vermont , Margaret O. Killinger maintains that the Nearings downplayed the extent to which they hired people and enlisted friends and visitors to build 13 structures on their farm.

Furthermore, according to Killinger, the Nearings, who espoused the virtues of a "no-money" economy, neglected to mention the capital they brought to homesteading and the profits they made. In 1932, the Nearings bought close to 1,000 acres in Vermont, later recovering two-thirds of the purchase price by selling less than 10 percent of their land.

While dispelling myths, Killinger upholds the basic integrity of the simple rural life Nearing promoted until her death, in 1995 . To Nearing's skills as a gardener, builder, and writer, Killinger adds another: marketing genius.

The Newburyport Literary Festival , which runs Friday through Sunday , will cover the waterfront, and then some. More than 70 authors -- of children's books, fiction, nonfiction, and poetry -- will discuss subjects such as pirates on the high seas, horse racing, Sammy Davis Jr., and Rachel Carson.

Enjoy a high tea celebrating John P. Marquand of Newburyport, who in 1937 wrote "The Late George Apley ," a Pulitzer Prize-winning satire of Boston Brahmins. Sample desserts inspired by those the pastry chef bakes in Julia Glass's novel "The Whole World Over." And discover 10 titles your book group will love.

This , the second annual festival , will honor Peter Guralnick , biographer of Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, and other American musical greats, with readings, discussions, and a live performance of roots and rock music. The schedule is posted at newbury portliteraryfestival.org .

The exhibit at the Boston Public Library of John Adams's 3,500 books closes next Sunday. The personal library of America's second president is a stirring testament to his intellectual firepower. Among his books are the first English edition of the Koran and a 22-pound volume of Aristotle's works.

A 30-minute audio tour conducted by curator Beth Prindle can be downloaded at johnadams library.org/explore/exhibition/.

"Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid," by Lemony Snicket (HarperCollins)

"Body Surfing," by Anita Shreve (Little, Brown)

"The Big Turnoff: Confessions of a TV-Addicted Mom Trying to Raise a TV-Free Kid," by Ellen Currey-Wilson (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill)

Janet Potter of Brookline Booksmith recommends "The Children's Hospital," by Chris Adrian (McSweeney's): "It's the story of the doctors, med students, patients, and families who alone survive in a floating hospital when the Earth is flooded with seven miles of water. How they attempt to cope with what was lost, and gained, by the destruction of the world they knew is both a gripping story and a modern fable."

Jan Gardner can be reached at JanLGardner@yahoo.com.