I think I was lucky to come of age in a place and time - the American South in the 1960s and '70s - when the machine hadn't completely taken over life. The natural world was still the world, and machines - TV, telephone, cars - were still more or less ancillary, and computers were unheard of in everyday life.

The quote "I think I was lucky to come of age in a place and time - the American South in the 1960s and '70s - when the machine hadn't completely taken over life. The natural world was still the world, and machines - TV, telephone, cars - were still more or less ancillary, and computers were unheard of in everyday life" by Ben Fountain reflects a nostalgic view of the simpler, less technologically driven world of the past. Fountain is expressing gratitude for growing up in an era when technology and machines had not yet pervaded every aspect of daily life, particularly in the American South. In the 1960s and 1970s, natural experiences and direct human interactions were still the primary mode of existence, and machines like TV, telephones, and cars were present but not overwhelming.

Fountain’s reflection contrasts the pace of life during his youth with the technological dominance of the present day. He describes a time when the natural world—the outdoors, personal interactions, and simpler ways of living—still held a central place in people's lives, and machines, while important, were secondary tools rather than dominant forces. By mentioning that computers were unheard of in everyday life, he points to a time before the digital age transformed the way people communicate, work, and live.

The origin of this quote comes from Fountain's memoir-like reflection on his upbringing in a region and era that shaped his worldview. Born and raised in the American South, Fountain has often explored themes related to the culture and changes in American life. His writing reflects a tension between a romanticized past and the fast-paced, technology-driven present. This quote is a personal acknowledgment of how the absence of pervasive technology allowed for a different kind of connection to nature and community.

Ultimately, Fountain’s quote serves as a reminder of how rapidly the world has changed in terms of technology and its influence on daily life. He expresses a longing for a time when life was simpler, and machines were tools rather than drivers of society. His nostalgia reflects a common sentiment among people who grew up in an era before the digital revolution, where human interaction and a closer connection to the natural world were still central to experience.