Prologue: A delimitation and justification of the subject ; Some remarks on method ; Self-defense, self-criticism, and aims -- Note concerning the second edition -- Three beginnings: The mountain landscape ; An early history of construction and destruction ; A society of cowboys -- Part one. Half a century in search of communion: The ranchos (1861-1882): The subdivision and sale of the Cojumatlán Hacienda; Economics of the ranchos; Ranching society; Religion, games, and insecurity ; The town (1883-1900): The generation of the snowstorm; The founding of San José de Gracia; The great fright of 1900 ; The ranchos and the town (1901-1910): The business world and social life; Amusements and religions duties in Padre Othón's small world; Winds from the outside world; All in all, half a century of peaceful and orderly progress -- Part two. Thirty years of suffering: The Mexican Revolution: (1910-1924): The Madero Revolution; The agents of revolution in San José; The Puntada Gang, José Inés Chávez García, and the Spanish Influenza; Gathering clouds ; The Cristero Revolution (1925-1932): A few months before; The uprising; After Tizapán; San José de Gracia lifts its head again ; The Agrarian Revolution (1933-1943): The petitioners, the petitioned, and the apportioners of land; The origin of nine ejidos; Padre Federico returns and President Cárdenas comes to call; Incipit vita nova; Thirty years of turmoil: statistics and concepts -- Part three. Twenty-five years of change: Withdrawal and expansion (1943-1956): At the mercy of the outside world; The symptoms of transformation; Seasonal migration to the United States; The permanent move to Mexico City ; From yesterday to today (1957-1967): Priority of the economic factor; Health, water, electricity, education, telephones, and television; Two hundred words more about change; New aspects of the landscape and the town ; The upper crust: The rich and the middle-income group; Politics from the top down and vice versa; Religion and some of its environs; Pleasurable occasions and a digression concerning happiness ; The underdogs: Small landowners and men who work for other men; The woman produces children, meals, and art; Today many youngsters go to school; Human pests and other sources of annoyance ; Three conclusions: Timeless things; Sayings of yesterday and today; A small epilogue and a postscript ; Glossary.