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Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic (Bk Currents) [ILLUSTRATED] (平装)
by John de Graaf , David Wann , Thomas H Naylor
| Category:
Life guide Money & values American way of living Life style |
| Market price: ¥ 198.00
MSL price:
¥ 168.00
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Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
MSL Pointer Review:
A necessary book and a valuable introduction to some of the perils of our consumer driven way of living.
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 7 items |
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Amazon.com (MSL quote), USA
<2008-04-02 00:00>
In their eye-opening, soul-prodding look at the excess of American society, the authors of Affluenza include two quotations that encapsulate much of the book: T.S. Eliot's line "We are the hollow men / We are the stuffed men," which opens one of this book's chapters, and a quote from a newspaper article that notes "We are a nation that shouts at a microwave oven to hurry up." If these observations make you grimace at your own ruthless consumption or sigh at the hurried pace of your life, you may already be ill. Read on.
The definition of affluenza, according to de Graaf, Wann, and Naylor, is something akin to "a painful, contagious, socially-transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more." It's a powerful virus running rampant in our society, infecting our souls, affecting our wallets and financial well-being, and threatening to destroy not only the environment but also our families and communities. Having begun life as two PBS programs coproduced by de Graaf, this book takes a hard look at the symptoms of affluenza, the history of its development into an epidemic, and the options for treatment. In examining this pervasive disease in an age when "the urge to splurge continues to surge," the first section is the book's most provocative. According to figures the authors quote and expound upon, Americans each spend more than $21,000 per year on consumer goods, our average rate of saving has fallen from about 10 percent of our income in 1980 to zero in 2000, our credit card indebtedness tripled in the 1990s, more people are filing for bankruptcy each year than graduate from college, and we spend more for trash bags than 90 of the world's 210 countries spend for everything. "To live, we buy," explain the authors--everything from food and good sex to religion and recreation--all the while squelching our intrinsic curiosity, self-motivation, and creativity. They offer historical, political, and socioeconomic reasons that affluenza has taken such strong root in our society, and in the final section, offer practical ideas for change. These use the intriguing stories of those who have already opted for simpler living and who are creatively combating the disease, from making simple habit alterations to taking more in-depth environmental considerations, and from living lightly to managing wealth responsibly.
Many books make you think the author has crammed everything he or she knows into it. The feeling you get reading Affluenza is quite different; the authors appear well-read, well-rounded, and intelligent, knowledgeable beyond the content of their book but smart enough to realize that we need a short, sharp jolt to recognize our current ailment. It's a well-worn cliché that money can't buy happiness, but this book will strike a chord with anyone who realizes that more time is more valuable than toys, and that our relentless quest for the latest stuff is breeding sick individuals and sick societies. Affluenza is, in fact, a clarion call for those interested in being part of the solution. - S. Ketchum |
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Library Journal (MSL quote), USA
<2008-04-02 00:00>
De Graaf, producer of the PBS documentaries Affluenza (1996) and Escape from Affluenza (1998); David Wann, a former EPA staffer and expert on sustainable lifestyles; and Thomas H. Naylor, professor emeritus in economics at Duke, have assembled an updated and more in-depth look at the epidemic of overconsumption sweeping the United States and the rest of the world, based on de Graaf's documentaries. They define "affluenza" as "a painful, contagious, socially-transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more" and examine the spiraling cycle of overconsumption, spending, stress, and broken relationships caused by America's obsession with uncontrolled economic growth at any cost. This witty yet hard-hitting book provides evidence of the social problems caused by the American obsession with acquiring "stuff" and proposes solutions for living more sustainably. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries. Mark Bay, Indiana Univ.
Purdue Univ. Lib., Indianapolis
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. |
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Booklist (MSL quote), USA
<2008-04-02 00:00>
"Affluenza" is more than a clever pun. De Graaf argues that overconsumption is a disease whose symptoms include overload, debt, anxiety, and waste, and he warns of its pathological impact on society and the environment. De Graaf produces documentaries for television. Much of the content in this book was part of a 1997 PBS special with the same title. That show attracted more than 10 million viewers, was widely rebroadcast throughout the world, and is available in video format. De Graaf followed up with a second television special, Escape from Affluenza. He admits that "television, even at its most informative, is still a superficial medium." Therefore, he recruited Thomas Naylor, an economist and author of Downsizing the USA (1997) and more than two dozen other books, and David Wann, author of Biologic: Designing with Nature to Protect the Environment (1994), to provide more depth and offer more examples, more evidence, and updated data. The three explore "affluenza's" symptoms in depth, look for causes, and recommend treatments and cures. David Rouse
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved |
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Fast Company (MSL quote), USA
<2008-04-02 00:00>
The authors have packed their book with stunning facts, searing insights- and they point a path forward.
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Paul Hawken, author of Ecology of Commerce and Natural Capitalism, USA
<2008-04-02 00:00>
The way to end a nightmare is to wake up, and this book is an alarm clock. |
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Peter Barnes, cofounder, Working Assets, USA
<2008-04-02 00:00>
It’s a fantastic book, very funny yet deeply serious.
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Hope Marston (MSL quote), USA
<2008-04-02 00:00>
It's hard sometimes to live a simple life surrounded by "affluenza" and its effects. So for me, the book "Affluenza" has been really helpful in reminding me what's important in my life - it's not the "stuff." It's my life that I value. It's not all that's advertised to make me hungry for what I don't want. It's remembering what I do want in my life, and prioritizing that above those tantalizing baubles that are offered over and over again to deplete my bank account - to put me in debt - to put me in slavery to my possessions.
So, thank the authors for writing this important book that reminds me again and again who I am and why I have chosen to step back from all the glitter and acquisition. It reminds me why I work a 30 hour week, instead of a 40 hour week, and why I even hope to pare that down to a 25 hour week - so that the rest of my time can be spent on my life!
I like it that "Affluenza" isn't preachy or grim. It's light and humorous. It's fast-paced, like a television program - only without commercials. It's stock full of information about how we got to this place where money and things outweigh time with our families and time volunteering to make our communities stronger. And it gives examples and ideas about how to move forward into a place where each of us can get out of debt, and shift our priorities to what we truly value in this life that we only get to live one time.
David Horsey's cartoons are right on the money. They're witty and apt. The writing is visual and well-paced. Can you tell - I like this book! And it couldn't have come at a better time. A lot of us need to see its message. As for me, it's one of those books that I'll keep around to refer to when I feel particularly plagued by the lure of keeping up with any Joneses.
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1 Total 1 pages 7 items |
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