Published on what would have been his 105th birthday, Chopping Wood is Pete Seeger up close and personal like never before. Derived from years of conversations between Seeger and his close friend and collaborator David Bernz, it takes readers on a uniquely personal journey through his remarkable life and career.

For years, Woody had a sign on his guitar, ‘This Machine Kills Fascists,’ and we’d say, ‘Woody, Hitler’s dead—why don’t you take the sign off?’ And he’d say, ‘Oh, this fascism comes along whenever the rich people get the generals to do what they want.’ It’s a good definition of fascism. But then Woody went into the hospital, and that’s when I decided to put something on my banjo, but I thought it should be a little different. ‘This Machine Surrounds Hate And Forces It To Surrender.’ PETE SEEGER

Through its transcriptions and stories, Chopping Wood allows readers to hear the voice of the legendary folksinger and songwriter Pete Seeger once more as we journey with him through his remarkable life. Listen in as he shares historical and family stories; tells of learning the banjo, traveling with Woody Guthrie, and finding commercial success with The Weavers; explains how he wrote books and put together songs; delves into controversial subjects like communism and the Peekskill Riots; and highlights those he admired and respected, including Bruce Springsteen, who honored Pete with his Seeger Sessions album in 2006.

Minimally edited to preserve Seeger’s trademark cadence, the book is punctuated by historical images and additional commentary by David Bernz, as well as remembrances from other musicians and friends and a foreword by Arlo Guthrie. Readers will come to know Pete more deeply as they hear this gentle, principled man’s voice resonate in their own heads and bear witness to his humility and willingness to respect those whose opinions differed greatly from his own—vital qualities in these troubled and divisive times.

The agricultural revolution took thousands of years. The industrial revolution took hundreds of years. Now, the information revolution is only taking decades. But, if we use the brains God gave us, we will have the revolution that must come if there’s going to be a human race here next century. I call it the non-violent revolution. Some may call it the love revolution, or the willingness to communicate revolution. Who knows? If we learn to grow—not in size, but grow in generosity, or grow in a sense of humor, or grow in the ability to talk with people we disagree with—we will still have great-grandchildren here by the time the twenty-second century comes along. PETE SEEGER

Pete enjoyed playing, innovating, being social, and loving solitude—but he was more than any one thing. The myth that lived in Pete lives in us all. But his true self was closer to the surface than most. I, for one, am a witness to it. ARLO GUTHRIE, from his foreword to this book

About the authors

Pete Seeger was America’s best-known folksinger and storyteller whose career spanned more than seven decades. Starting out in the union movement of the 1940s and continuing through the blacklist, the civil rights and peace movements of the 1950s and 60s, the environmental movement of the 1970s and 80s, and beyond, Pete stayed current to multiple generations, standing out as a voice for justice and human dignity. His groups The Almanac Singers and The Weavers brought folk music onto the national airwaves for the first time, and his songs ‘If I Had A Hammer’ and ‘Turn, Turn, Turn’ became hugely popular after being recorded by artists such as Peter, Paul & Mary and The Byrds. Pete’s almost constant touring of schools and camps with his legendary banjo on his back inspired countless young musicians to follow in his footsteps writing and singing songs of substance. He spent his later years striving to find ways for people to understand their human commonality in an increasingly divided world. His accolades include multiple Grammy Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

David Bernz is a Hudson Valley folksinger and a two-time Grammy-winning producer (‘Best Folk Album’ 2008, ‘Best Children’s Album’ 2010).  Born in 1958, David has a BA in history from Boston University (1980) and a Juris Doctorate from CUNY Law School (1991). His parents were heavily involved in the folk movement of the 1940s and 50s and were family friends of the Seegers. David grew up knowing Pete and eventually became his producer, recording both music and spoken word with him. David currently owns Main Street Music, a stringed-instrument shop in Beacon, New York, together with his son and business partner Jacob Bernz, who is also a gifted songwriter and performer.

Chopping Wood by Pete Seeger with David Bernz

Published May 3rd, 2024, by Jawbone Press (www.jawbonepress.com)

312pp softcover with 24pp plate inserts, including rare and previously unseen images

ISBN 978-1-916829-02-2 / $24.95 US / $32.95 CAN / £16.95 UK