If you search the Google Books NGram Viewer, which tracks word usage over the years, you’ll see that “authentic” has been steadily climbing since about 1920. It seems people are more interested in the concept and certainly since the 1990s, it’s become a buzzword.

It can be seen in the trend towards “semigration” from the big centres in search of a more authentic life, in people changing career midstream and in the preference for greener lifestyles as well as artisanal food and drink. ..

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