Book Description
A piercing and vital look at how capitalism is consuming U.S. society.
An apt sequel to Benjamin R. Barber's best-selling Jihad vs. McWorld, Consumed offers a wrenching portrait of how adult consumers are infantilized in a global economy that overproduces goods and targets children as consumers in a market where there are never enough shoppers. Driven by a frantic imperative to sell, consumer capitalism specializes today in the manufacture not of goods but of needs.
This provocative culmination of Barber's lifelong study of democracy and capitalism shows how the infantilist ethos deprives society of responsible citizens and displaces public goods with private commodities. Traditional liberal democratic society is colonized by an all-pervasive market imperative. Public space is privatized. Identity is branded. Our world, homogenized. With brilliance and depth, Barber confronts the likely consequences for our children, our liberty, and our citizenship, and shows finally how citizens can resist and transcend the civic schizophrenia with which consumerism has infected them.
Customer Reviews:
Hard read but.......2007-09-24
Benjamin R. Barber's "Consumed" is a hard book to read but a necessary one. Barber tells us how capitalism once met the "needs" of people and that it now just meets what he calls "faux" demand. It's the rise of the protestant ethics and ethos that has made capitalism thrive until today. The rise of infantilization and the dumbing of consumers has given corporations the power to control our so called "wants." Barber doesn't give us a solid solution to this (even he admits it will take a big effort) growing problem but it is a start.
How a book infantilizes adults and swallows citizens whole.......2007-09-03
It seems like there is an endless market for "Marx-lite" books by people who hate America and the West. Here is another example without a new idea in sight. Famous authors, such as Marx, Sombart, and Gaibraith, have previously rebottled this old wine. Like them, Barber hates our movies, our culture, our food, our sports, our consumer products, our free markets, and, of course, the likes of Wall Street, Silicon Valley, Gates, Gilder, Wal-Mart, GM, Google, and on and on. It is depressing just going through all the parts of America he feels are misdirected and even immoral. Is this really a person who loves America?
Where are the positive examples and why this perspective? Because, as the Nobel Prize winning economist Hayek has pointed out, for socialists, "Every activity must derive its justification from conscious social purpose." Thus Barber must tear down all those activities that he feels have either no purpose or the wrong social purpose. This quote by Hayek is a succinct summary of the motivation behind the book. Toward this end, Barber quotes many attention-grabbing sources. For example, on page 51 he asks us to consider, "Karl Marx who presciently explained how `the expansion of production and of needs becomes an ingenious and always calculating subservience to inhuman, depraved, unnatural, and imaginary appetites.'" A question: Does that really describe you or your friends?
Like most socialists, he has no respect for the individual: We are all at the mercy of those terrible companies who want to sucker us into buying things we don't want or need. Hey, but Barber will be happy to decide what we need. He knows the truth -- ask him. But why is he or some other group better qualified to decide what we need?
Barber has no understanding of free markets, the emerging global economy, or even the mom and pop shop on the corner. Like many academics, who have never produced anything but papers and books, he writes with absolute confidence and with noteworthy ignorance, not because he is unintelligent but rather because his starting perspective is wrong.
This is a long tedious book: Barber seems to crank this stuff out by the ton. As he would say, this book is an immoral waste of resources that we as consumers should reject because it has no larger social value. The only thing it has going for it is a mighty ad campaign aimed at corrupting children, infantilizing adults, and swallowing citizens whole. But, then again, each of us will have to decide that.
Right on the mark..........2007-08-16
I see a number of other reviewers belittling the book because of some trivial factual error regarding sports figures or celebrities, but in my eyes those points merely underscores the point that Barber is trying to make. In the end the constant media focus on these types of people is in my eyes a mass distraction. Does it change my life one iota when a drunken celebrity does something stupid? Not at all, but the media covers it for hour on end, and people lap it up.
People defend popular culture such as Harry Potter or Shrek, but these are all pure escapism and have very little relevance to our daily lives. Reviewers of those films make tortured comparisons to try and prove relevance to daily life, but the sad fact is that many people have become conditioned to not expect more, and perhaps not even have the patience to view a more substantive work.
Other reviewers insist that they aren't manipulated and that they have free choice. To an extent that is true, but one can easily argue that many people are making poor choices because they have been so deeply conditioned by advertisers. How can you justify spending 50K$ on a car, and replacing it when it is 3 years old when an inexpensive well-made car will fulfill the basic needs of transportation and may last 5-8 years instead? How can you justify spending money on bottled water when tap water in most areas is just fine? And how can you justify accumulating tens of thousands in consumer debt just to acquire all of this stuff? There are countless such examples all over the place.
And finally, there is the paradigm that runs deeply through our society that having more money and having more material goods will somehow make you happier. The problem is that these desires can never be satisfied - there is always something more, and there is always someone else who has more. In the end all of this materialism leaves people feeling empty, and the only tonic that they know to try and fill the void is to go out and shop some more.
On the other hand, if you can reach a point where you are content with what you have, you may find that many of the things that you do have are completely superfluous and can be donated to Goodwill or sold. Get rid of enough stuff, and that McMansion will seem empty, and a more modest and affordable house may meet your needs quite nicely.
Best Book I've Read in 5 Years.......2007-07-11
This is the best book I've read in 5 years. And I usually read 30 or so a year. It is the most challenging thing I've ever read. Throughout almost every sitting with the book, I would have to walk away and just sit to let it soak in. It was extremely cutting and exposing to me. And I dare say convicting. It's helped me to realize what a hyper-consumer I am and how childish I am in my tastes and entertainment. Even how childish I am in my spending. I never thought there would be a day when I felt like I needed to grow up and be a man, but this book helped me to entertain the possibility. The basic idea of the book focuses on the infantilization (dumbing down) of our society via the means of marketing and advertising. And the hyper-consumerism capitalism that we live with today. I couldn't recommend this book more highly. But I will give one disclaimer. It's 300+ pages of really small type. What makes it worse is that the author writes it like an academic paper. For example the first chapter which is only 35 pages long has 98 footnotes. It's just a really difficult read where reading 20 pages takes you an hour. So you'll either love the book or hate it. If you're a nerd, you might dig it. If you're not a nerd, you won't.
Try something else........2007-06-19
I confess, I didn't read the whole book. A friend gave it to me, and I parked it on the shelf after reading half and skimming the rest. Jeez-Louise! I'd hate to spend a week on an expedition cruise with this guy! He'd be the first one trying to feed the animals and then monopolizing the talk at dinner till everyone wanted to jump overboard. I didn't realize corporate America had captured everyone's free-will. The evil Bill Gates and Steve Jobs must be supressed along with Rupert Murdoch and the Walton family! I suggest reading Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville. He still rings true today. You'll sleep better at night. You want an entertaining picture of rampant consumption in America today, seen through the lens of 1840's when the all-corrupting market swallowed the entire continent of North America...and yes, is still swallowing it...There's a lot to eat out there, bunky! Read Heyday by Kurt Andersen. We may not be perfect but there must be some attraction if 12 million people will risk life and limb to get here one way or another. Mr. Barber and his book would probably be better fare in Venezuala or Cuba.
Book Description
"Eating the Big Fish is on fire with ideas.
Best in the marketplace." -Steve Hayden, President, Worldwide Brand Services, Ogilvy & Mather
"In 1986, the Levi's® Dockers® brand challenged the biggest fish in the men's apparel sea, Haggar. And we beat the pants off them! In his new book, Adam Morgan adroitly presents many of the same fundamental marketing principles which worked so well for us. A must read for marketing professionals." -Steve Goldstein, V.P. Marketing & Research, Levi's Brand U.S.A.
Years ago, Avis was a little fish in the car rental industry. Fearing the company would be swallowed up if they didn't "try harder," Avis boldly announced its #2 status to the world through advertising-and the rest is history. Why has this approach become a marketing legend? Because there are more people who can relate to being #2, 3, or even 4, than can claim they know what it's like to be the Big Fish.
There are plenty of little fish out there, circling in schools around the brand leaders they so desperately wish to surpass. Squeezed by new competition, a retreating consumer, and aggressive retailing practices, marketers of second- and third-rank brands are struggling to survive in a business environment where they have fewer resources and less control than ever before. But instead of watching-and copying-every move the Big Fish makes, these "Challenger" brands need their own set of marketing rules if they have any hopes of staying afloat and competing effectively against the leader.
Eating the Big Fish is the first book that sets out to define those rules. Adam Morgan offers an innovative mental and strategic framework for those who find themselves in this new, hostile middle ground, looking for aggressive growth against the market leader. Morgan, the Joint European Planning Director of TBWA (the international advertising agency behind the campaigns for such brands as Absolut vodka, Apple computers, and Sony Playstation), has examined in detail forty of the most successful Challenger brands of the last ten years -new or relaunched brands which have achieved rapid growth (and fame) with limited marketing resources. He outlines the reasons why Challengers must think differently in order to survive, offering hands-on advice, plentiful examples, and invaluable information to help a Challenger learn how to swim out of the shadow of the Big Fish.
At the heart of the book are the Eight Credos of Challenger Brands -Morgan's analysis of the common marketing strands that these Challengers seem to share, which range in scope from the need to project who you are and what you believe in (#2, Build a Lighthouse Identity) to insights about the organizational structure and focus in such companies and brands (#8, Become Idea-Centered, Rather Than Consumer-Centered). Morgan fully analyzes each Credo, discussing in detail the marketing strategy and behavior of the specific Challenger brands that have shaped the rules. He provides case studies that include both his agency's clients and other well-known brands, such as Lexus, Oakley, Fox TV, Energizer, Virgin Atlantic, Swatch, Nissan, and more. Morgan then draws the Credos together into a "Challenger Strategic Program" that can be applied to the reader's own market and brand challenge, offering a proposed outline for a two-day Off-Site Program that will attempt to kick-start the Challenger process for a core group within any marketing or management team. In addition, Morgan looks at the great Challengers of the last ten years who have gone on to become brand leaders, and shows how even the rules of brand leadership have changed -why staying #1 now means, in fact, thinking and behaving like a #2.
Anyone can follow a leader. It takes a smart company to go up against the Big Fish, and Morgan's innovative, strategic program will show even the littlest fish how to make a meal out of the competition.
Customer Reviews:
fantastic read.......2006-07-21
This book did great things for my understanding of a challenger brands greatest strengths and strategies. Not to turn this into a forum, I have a few questions though: Does anyone know more about Adam Morgan? Did he work for TBWA? Any other agencies? What was his discipline? Any info would help.
one of the best marketing books available .......2005-08-31
I own (oooooh) probably between 80 and 100 books on marketing, some are obligatory read for my masters in marketing, some are handpicked in stores and on amazon and I stand by the title of my review. What can you take out from this book: YOU CAN compete with big brands, there are attitudes and ways of running your business that can knock down the goliath in your industry, and this book explains how, giving numerous examples from various industries. Only negative, if I can call it that, is author's writing style, which was rather hard for me, but then again, I am croatian, so it could be my english, not mr Morgan's :). A MUST!! have.
Demolish the 3-piece suits that stand in your way.......2005-08-09
I don't know how to explain the insightful ideas I have taken from this book.
I have read tens of books on branding and how to gain a competitive advantage, yet none were as ground breaking as "Eating the Big Fish".
While others will tell you "what" marketing approaches they used...this one explains the "why".
I got my copy almost free using a coupon from UnderTag.com
Insightful!.......2004-06-09
Author Adam Morgan went hunting for the second most successful brands. He sought commonalities among them to develop guidelines for those who are challenging the number one brands in their fields. In other words, if you are coming into the battle in the number two slot, here's your strategy for winning the marketing wars. Morgan is very adept at breaking things down into precise action steps. Witty and engaging, he offers a detailed analysis of the current consumer attitude about brands plus strategies you can use to market your second or third rank brand. We recommend this compilation of competitive ideas to those who want to boost their "Challenger" brands.
Insightful!.......2003-10-15
Author Adam Morgan went hunting for the second most successful brands. He sought commonalities among them to develop guidelines for those who are challenging the number one brands in their fields. In other words, if you are coming into the battle in the number two slot, here's your strategy for winning the marketing wars. Morgan is very adept at breaking things down into precise action steps. Witty and engaging, he offers a detailed analysis of the current consumer attitude about brands plus strategies you can use to market your second or third rank brand. We recommend this compilation of competitive ideas to those who want to boost their "Challenger" brands.
Book Description
With a strong empirical and market segmentation approach, this book focuses on how the Internet has changed the way people obtain information about potential purchases, giving readers the most up-to-date material on how technology is changing their lives as consumers. The Thirty-two mini-cases help readers learn by applying the theory, drawing on current business news to demonstrate specific consumer behavior concepts.
This edition now includes thirty-two Active Learning mini-cases. A clear consumer decision making model is set out in each chapter to facilitate learning—presented in the first chapter, this model serves as a structural framework for the concepts—the building blocks—examined in the following chapters. The book's final chapter ties all of these concepts together so readers see the interrelationships and relevance of individual concepts to consumer decision-making.
For those studying consumer behavior and/or marketing.
Book Description
Milady's Standard Professional Barbering brings you the latest in men's haircutting and styling. Designed to help prepare for a successful career in the professional market, this text boasts full-color photos and illustrations that provide better clarity of procedures and accurate visual representations. Procedure photos for mannequin and model work are included to show step-by-step procedures for practice and actual hands-on services, and more ethnic cuts and procedures demonstrate the diversity and application of barbering techniques. New to this edition are chapter key terms and chapter glossaries, which reinforce important terminology and concepts and provide students with easy access to definitions. The new material on the history of the barbering profession and updated material in the science areas make this resource the most interesting and current available for the professional barber. Endorsed by Barbers International, Inc. www.BarbersInternational.com
Book Description
This book employs an "issues approach" to consumer economics. Each chapter has one or two consumer issues that are highlighted through engaging, real world examples. These real world examples are highly applied aspects of everyday consumer situations.
Amazon.com
If getting and spending define our lives, then Juliet Schor now has us covered. Six years ago, her book The Overworked American scrutinized the getting part. It focused public attention on the disappearance of leisure and the harmful effects thereof on families and society. It sparked a debate over whether Americans really work as much as we proudly claim. (If so, how to explain the audience for Monday Night Football?) Nevertheless, Schor can take credit for helping push Congress into passing the Family Leave Act in 1993.
Now she is back with a critique of our spending. Schor notes that, despite rising wealth and incomes, Americans do not feel any better off. In fact, we tell pollsters we do not have enough money to buy everything we need. And we are almost as likely to say so if we make $85,000 a year as we are if we make $35,000. Schor believes that "keeping up with the Joneses" is no longer enough for today's media-savvy office workers. We set our sights on the lifestyles of those higher up the organizational chart. We seek to emulate characters on TV. For teenagers, "enough" is the idle splendor that hardly exists outside of what MTV un-ironically calls The Real World. Schor offers an original and provocative analysis of why many Americans feel driven and unhappy despite our success. As an alternative, she profiles several "downshifters" who've taken up voluntary simplicity in search of a more satisfying way of life. No policy solutions suggest themselves this time, only a change of heart. --Barry Mitzman
Book Description
The Overspent American explores why so many of us feel materially dissatisfied, why we work staggeringly long hours and yet walk around with ever-present mental "wish lists" of things to buy or get, and why Americans save less than virtually anyone in the world. Unlike many experts, Harvard economist Juliet B. Schor does not blame consumers' lack of self-discipline. Nor does she blame advertisers. Instead she analyzes the crisis of the American consumer in a culture where spending has become the ultimate social art.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent analysis of contemporary American.......2007-08-16
The title says it all, doesn't it. We want, want, want, and spend, spend, spend. When I worked in corrections, I often said to the inmates (who lusted after fancy cars, expensive sneakers, and gold jewelry): "We want things we don't need and can't afford, and it gets us into big trouble." This book explains why we are captivated by the spirit of more is more is more.
Interesting book, with a few flaws........2007-05-15
This is a very well researched book and has many interesting ideas on how to spend less and worry less about things we don't really "need" but really "want." My only concerns were in the section about "downshifters" - people who work less and make less, but are happier. The book notes that most people who "downshift" were only making $30,000 a year or so to start with - not a lot of room to maneuver downward. I was interested more in those who made much more but kept spending more, which she also alludes to. Still, a very interesting book, with some intriguing ideas about how to control expenditures.
Good book . . . but it left me hungry.......2006-12-17
I thought this was a very good book, but I guess I was expecting more from the author. Having just read Fast Food Nation and then getting this book right after, the layout and format was similar but what Eric Schlosser did, fell very short in Juliet B. Schor's book.
I wanted so much more but as each chapter came to an end, I felt very let down. I wanted to point my finger at the big corporations and say "see what you did" but I found myself finding fault more with the author than the corporations. I really wanted to read a well researched book on this topic so now I find myself reading the books she cited.
They were a few good parts of the book where the author made reference to the sitcom Friends and how we as americans making $40,000 to $ 60,000 a year are trying to keep up with the Jonese making 1 million per episode. Also that the Jonese are no longer our next door neighbors but with the expanse of the internet and TV our Jones are actors, singers and record producers. I found this to be so true and wanted more, but time and time again her argument ended right there.
It was here that the author's solution would then be picked up, and what is her solution you may ask? (scratching your head) communal living. I found this advantageous because I acutally expected the author to skirt the issue. Juliet B. Schor's example, why have every house buy a lawn mower when one house can and the neighborhood could share it. I found so many arguments to refute this (I live in New York, was one) that I felt the book did not give the topic the right amount of justice. So I'm still searching . . .
The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need.......2006-11-15
Outstanding, the book is very well written and documented. Juliet B. Schor gives very cogent anecdotes in the book concerning consumerism. As a matter of fact, being in the process of "upgrading" the appliances in the house for no apparent reason, the book totally redirected my excesses.
A must read for every hedonist, capitalistic American.
Explores the psychology of spending.......2006-07-03
To change behavior, it helps to understand behavior. This book does a great job exploring the psychology behind why people spend so much money.
Some of the topics it covers include
-the strange need to keep up with "the Joneses"
-how some material goods force you to spend more to maintain and upkeep them (i.e., auto, large house)
-how kids are influenced by peers and advertisements at an early age and subsequently pressure parents to buy stuff
-how certain professions lead you to spend more on clothes and cars in order to succeed in that profession
-the correlation between increased television watching and increased spending
-the willingness of people to spend significantly more for certain brand name items (purses, lipsticks, shoes) that provide no more quality than generic items
The book also gives solid advice about how to break the overspending habit and provides interesting examples of people who have "downshifted" their lives.
Once you understand the etiologies of your thoughts and desires, you are better able to control and redirect them. For anyone who wants to decrease or have more control over their spending behavior, this is a great book for them. Even if you consider yourself frugal already, this is still a very interesting book.
It is very concise at 170 pages (the rest is references) so it doesn't get boring or repetitive. I think it is more effective than the similar book Affluenza.
Book Description
Using the examples of Vioxx, Celebrex, cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, and anti-depressants,
Overdo$ed America shows that at the heart of the current crisis in American medicine lies the commercialization of medical knowledge itself.
Drawing on his background in statistics, epidemiology, and health policy,
John Abramson, M.D., an award-winning family doctor on the clinical faculty at Harvard Medical School, reveals the ways in which the drug companies have misrepresented statistical evidence, misled doctors, and compromised our health. The good news is that the best scientific evidence shows that reclaiming responsibility for your own health is often far more effective than taking the latest blockbuster drug.
You -- and your doctor -- will be stunned by this unflinching exposé of American medicine.
Customer Reviews:
Overdosed America.......2007-09-03
Abramson does a well researched job of explaining why Americans take so many pills, why many of them are not necessary, and how generics are generally as effective as brand names. It is an eyeopener concerning drug research and sales practices. Very useful in most peoples' everyday life.
Exposes the REAL Drug Pushers.......2007-08-12
The author demonstrates how the drug companies have learned how to manipulate the system that approves and recommends their product. As a result, your doctor has no clue that there is very weak scientific support behind many of the expensive drugs that they are telling you to take.
The power of this book can be demonstrated by its ability to predict future events. For example, shortly after I finished reading it, a study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding the popular and expensive blood sugar controlling drug Avandia. Yes, Avandia does control blood sugar, but it also increases the risk of heart attacks by 43%. Whoops!
After reading this book I now understand why the Democrats and Republicans were climbing on top of each other to be the first to pass a drug bill that no one really wanted (except the drug companies). And I know that our health care system is overly expensive and not the best.
This is one of several excellent books that explores this fascinating topic. Cholesterol Myths and Cholesterol Conspiracy are some others that come to mind. But this book is broader in scope, and gives tremendous perspective on the health care system as a whole. It is also quite empowering, because you will learn that it's good to be skeptical of doctors, whether they are pushing expensive treatments and drugs, or simply dishing out hackneyed "lifestyle" advice about changing your diet.
The bottom line is to keep fit and flexible, and you will be doing more for yourself healthwise than all the prescription pads in the world.
Patients BEWARE your doctor might be harming you with bad drugs.......2007-08-04
Thanks Dr. Abramson for being honest enough to write your book and alert the rest of us about how the drug companies have turned our physicians into legalized drug pushers. I had a feeling that this was going on for the past 10 to 15 years when drug ads began appearing on TV, drug reps began swarming around my doctor's office and my own doctor seemed to be recommending too many drugs for my ailments. This book not only made me aware but it angered me to know that there are many patients out there who are literally suffering from the serious side effects of drugs that were recommended by doctors who allowed themselves to be brainwashed by the drug companies. SHAME ON ALL OF THEM for harming us. From now on, I will never trust my doctor completely and I encourage others to do the same. Demand that your doctor recommend natural alternatives and make sure you know ALL of the side effects of a drug before taking it.
classics .......2007-08-02
Overdosed America is a classic amongst books that expose problem of America's pharmaceutical industry. This book helps expose the terrible Vioxx and Celebrex scandal whereby side effects of these drugs were known by the pharmceutical industries and to certain extent by the FDA for years before action was taken to either take the drug off the market or blacklabeled was applied. It detailed how the structure of the pharmacuetical industry (lobbist, relation to medical schools, relation to FDA, relation to doctors) lead to disincentive to reduce cost and improve healthcare industry. This book has sprawn a whole literature related to this topic. If you want to read a book related to this field, start with this one. Other books might be written by industry specialists or reporters (this author was retired family doctor), but reading this book first helps you understand what the newer books are responding to.
When will it all stop?.......2007-06-22
This book has given me reason to believe America is on a downhill spiral. No not because of our lack of Church attendance, or prayer in our schools, or even crime in our streets. No otherwise legitimate businesses are fleecing the American taxpayer, and their partner in crime is the Congress, the Senate, and the President. This to me is a very sad state of affairs. We are allowing people to die just to keep Big Pharma fat.
Revealed here are the reasons for so many of our so called incurables. Diseases for which Medical Science has no solution. At the same time Big Pharma is using it's influences to prevent scientific advances from being achieved, or at best keeping them quiet, simply because it will hurt their bottom line.
Everyone gather around, Big Pharma, is in business to make a "PROFIT," and to keep it's share holders happy. Not I repeat, not to make you well. Again at best these drugs they produce are crutches, nearly permanent crutches. My Grandfather used insulin for nearly 35 years, up until the day of his death, and we are now finding that processed foods are the biggest reason for Diabetes. You know Factory food, instead of Farm fresh food. Even sader the drug industry has the FDA on it's side to help them to continue their ruse, over our medical schools, and our doctors, not to mention the general public. Just watch some of the commercials Big Pharma uses to convince you 'restless leg syndrom' calls for pills, and not exercise. See how Big Pharma seems to have a pill for whatever ailes you. Instead of changing your lifestyle, we have a pill for that. Got a headache, there is a pill. Indigeation, here is another pill. Oh and by the way, one of the side effects of the headache pill, is it will rot your stomache. Do not worry though, we have a pill for that as well. The nausea from the ulcer pill, we have a pill for that as well. Too fat, there is a pill, etc, etc. WHAT A JOKE.
Like most things now days, we as Americans, ask very few questions, and we believe the Government is taking care of us. Believe it or not this is why our knuckle headed president is proposing limits on who you can sue in a court of law, and what your settlement will be. So what if someone died, it controls the population, and our bottom line remains intact.
Todays medications are no better than the Snake Oil, that was sold in the times before the FDA, and we have made little, if any progress.
Please read the book, ask questions, and ask more questions. Become more proactive concerning yours and your family's health.
Amazon.com
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
Book Description
Based on two highly acclaimed PBS documentaries watched by 10 million viewers, "Affluenza uses the whimsical metaphor of a disease to tackle a very serious subject: the damage done -- to our health, our families, our communities, and our environment -- by the obsessive quest for material gain. In cleverly titled chapters like "Swollen Expectations" and "A Rash of Bankruptcies," the authors examine the origins, evolution, and symptoms of the affluenza epidemic. Yet they also explore cures and suggest strategies for rebuilding families and communities and for restoring and respecting the earth.
Demonstrating that now, more than ever, Americans need ways of fighting the affliction, this edition includes a new introduction and updated figures, adds information on the impacts of stress and overwork, and provides an in-depth look at various campaigns and movements offering solutions for today's problems. Engaging, fast-paced, and accessible, it reexamines a serious, far-reaching issue for a wide audience.
Customer Reviews:
Book a of TV show - and it shows.......2007-10-01
I believe strongly in the message that this book is trying to get accross; that our current way of living in the Western world is unsustainable in the long term and it doesn't make us happy anyway. However, much like a TV show this book lacks depth and detail in it's arguments and tries to cover too much ground with too few words. AS the book progresses it feels less like new information and more like a cut and paste job from a whole range of sources, held together with some interesting graphics. On the upside, the book is set out well and it follows a logical order, building on firstly the problems and causes of Affluenza and then suggesting solutions, none of which would mean the end of life as we know it. The world, and more importantly your life, can be better and happier - just stop working so hard and consume less. Thats the general theme of the book.
As a better read, may I suggest 'Affluenza' by Clive Hamilton, which covers a lot of the same ground, but does so with a more cogent argument, albeit with an Australian slant.
Alternatively, watch the TV show.
Misses the mark but an important topic regardless..(2.5 stars).......2007-06-05
Affluenza has its heart in the right place but unfortunately fails in the execution, which is a shame since the message of the book is dead on. Western society has a serious problem with mass consumption brought on by media, politics and societal institutions. Studies have shown that people who simplify their lives and consume less, are actually happier in the long run.
The bulk of Affluenza sums up the issues from various different angles. It delves into the history of consumerism and how interest groups have their hold on the current system. As the book progresses it hints as various solutions to the problems which are pretty much of the buy less, drive less and eat less meat variety.
My problem with Affluenza is twofold. The book is poorly written and I'm referring mostly to the pacing. It will bring up a topic and quickly start describing a fictional family in some hokey situation to try to bring the point home. This gets old before it even begins and just doesn't work. The authors focus too long on most points and the I quickly started scanning through complete chapters that really offered little insight that logical people haven't already concluded.
This brings me to my next point....who is this book meant for? It's very preaching when it should be engaging. The people I know who would be interested in this book would find it too pedestrian because of their high knowledge content of the topic already. The people who should read this probably wouldn't be able to get through a third of it. This brings up the more important question of how to reach the general public on important issues that require people to sacrifice.
Bottom Line: Credits to the authors for the purpose, research and effort, but there is a very selective few I would give this book to.
I wanted it to be better..........2007-05-28
I love the concept of this book, and think it sheds light on a very important epidemic in our society. However, I have to agree with other reviewers that while the idea of Affluenza might have been revolutionary when the show was first aired, in 2007 the book just tells you a lot of stuff that - if you're tuned into the world - you probably already know.
Despite the fact that there isn't anything really groundbreaking in this book, I think it provides a lot of insights into a serious American problem (that we're exporting all over the world), and is a nice, easy read.
American Dream or Global Nightmare.......2007-02-03
"Affluenza" takes on the idea of materialism and survival, although by the time I had reached page fifteen, I wasn't sure it was having the desired effect. A visit to the Mall of America still sounded pretty good although traveling that far to shop seems less appealing in the days of "order it online" instant gratification. In the world of clutter clogged houses, shopping is often used as therapy which in the end can make us feel worse with looming credit card debts.
What does no recess for second graders, depression, bankruptcy and perhaps even suicide have in common? The authors present every possible societal problem for consideration. Is Affluenza the symptom or the problem? The authors would like us to believe that materialism is the disease and spending less money is the cure.
My thought on the matter (after taking the quiz and only having a score of 17 - I'm not yet afflicted even with a serious LUSH beauty product addiction looming :), is...this...Affluenza is a symptom of a society that has forgotten its soul. The book does briefly discuss gaining the world and losing your soul, but I've always thought this to be more of an eternal principle.
Will this book raise your blood pressure? It might in places where you read about the real reason whales seem to be washing up on beaches, why butterflies are dying from genetic engineering and how it could one day become possible to advertise on the moon (please no).
While the book presents problems for society to solve in very creative ways, they leave most of the solutions to the reader. However, if you think about it that is really where the responsibility rests in the end. Most of us realize money doesn't make you as happy as being in love or even as happy as having a life purpose you really believe in. In the end, I don't think having money to spend is the problem, buying gifts for friends and family, is not the problem.
If the way you live your life makes you and others around you unhappy, that might be a problem to consider. Then, on a more global scale, you can consider how your choices affect the world. If you really want
to change the world, I think sponsoring children all over the world is one step in the right direction. The way you spend your money could actually make you happy, I've found this to be true.
"Affluenza" is printed on recycled paper.
~The Rebecca Review
History, facts and insights are pointed and revealing messages addressing the modern condition........2007-01-07
The second edition of AFFLUENZA: THE ALL-CONSUMING EPIDEMIC will reach new audiences who might have missed one of the best nonfiction title nominees of 2001, providing updated details and healthy alternatives to the consumer oriented 'epidemic' of modern times. From shopaholics and bankruptcies to those seeking meaning in material goods, AFFLUENZA details the process of recovery from physical and cultural clutter, and offers both personal and political remedies for the problem. History, facts and insights are pointed and revealing messages addressing the modern condition.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
Average customer rating:
- eating for the enjoyment of it
- Not quite my cup of tea.
- Give God the Glory
- Awesome
- Thank God for this book. It's great.
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The Joy of Weight Loss
Norris J. Chumley
Manufacturer: Lantern Books
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The Spiritual Guide to Weight Loss
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30 Days to Spiritual Well-Being
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Accessories:
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
ASIN: 1930051190 |
Book Description
On September 6, 1989 Norris Chumley was at a crossroads. At 330 pounds and rising, it was simply a matter of time before he would again tip the scales at the 400 pounds he had reached many times before. He had been on virtually every diet, and they'd all failed. He felt hopeless, and, in rare glimpses of honesty, secretly admitted he was slowly committing suicide.
The Joy of Weight Loss is the dramatic story of how Norris Chumley turned his life around. It details how Chumley came to accept his conflict about food and body image and finally looked long and hard at his weight fluctuations and diet history. Chumley shares his experiences and secrets of success—of how he discovered joy and lasting happiness, with permanent freedom from obesity.
Unlike other weight-loss or diet books, The Joy of Weight Loss is a weight-management book that offers a fresh new solution to everyone's quest for health and happiness. There are no magic pills, no starvation or binge diets. There are no crash courses or deprivations. Chumley instead counsels a sensible diet, taking pleasure in pleasurable movement rather than a punishing exercise regime, and, most importantly of all, learning to surrender yourself to a higher power and discover a true form of self-love that is at once accepting and transforming.
Customer Reviews:
eating for the enjoyment of it.......2007-04-02
Norris encourages eating for enjoyment (physically, mentally, spiritually) He sets a stage to do this and uses baby steps to build on.
Not quite my cup of tea........2006-02-17
I like the concept of making weight loss more of a spiritual journey, but Chumley's religious approach is a little more than I can accept. I think if you are really at rock bottom regarding your weight, or if you are quite religious to start with, this book is more likely to be helpful to you. On the plus side, it is simple to understand, concise and well-written. Not a bad read, and has some helpful bits even if you're unable to accept the entire book as a new way of life.
Give God the Glory.......2003-05-15
This is a great book, easy reading, inspiring, and motivational. You can't ask for a better way to lose weight than with God. It's so great, in fact, that a friend and I have started a group at yahoogroups, based on the book...
Awesome.......2001-06-01
This book is full of common sense and good advice. I've lost 25 pounds on it, and it's gone forever. This is the best book.
Thank God for this book. It's great........2001-03-04
This book is the real thing. The author did what few people can do, lose weight and keep it off for good. It's a whole new idea about how to get thinner. No b.s. here. Honest and simple. There's a lot about simple nutrition, but no dieting. I like it because I can eat anything, and often, all day long. Chumley doesn't make me do heavy exercise, either. I started just walking 10 to 15 minutes a day and that was enough and I could do it. Most important, this book brought me closer to God and helped me put my beliefs into action. I'm losing weight with it. Thank God. I think this book can help you too. Give it a try. I also like his website
Book Description
`This book is not simply the best book on the remarkable phenomenon of today's ethical consumer. It is a gift of advice and insight, from the people that know best, to the cause of tomorrow. Many of the writers deserve the plaudits of being pioneers of a new consumer movement. These are the issues of our time' -
Ed Mayo, Chief Executive of the UK's National Consumer Council (NCC)
Who are ethical consumers and why are they on the rise? Leading the way towards answering this question,
The Ethical Consumer is an indispensable introduction to the subject. Exploring areas like boycotts and fair trade projects, it gathers together the diverse experiences of scholars, campaigners and business practitioners from the international community.
The chapters in this book explore:
- ethical consumer behaviours, motivation and narratives
- the social, political and theoretical contexts in which ethical consumers operate
- the responsibilities of businesses and the effectiveness of ethical consumer actions
Contributions are informed by a broad range of research methods, from case studies, focus groups to surveys and interviews.
The text is of interest to business related graduates, undergraduates and their tutors on courses relating to consumption. It will also be relevant to academics in other disciplines, as well as to politicians, producers, practitioners, campaigners and not least consumers.
Books:
- Cosmic Banditos
- Crash Proof: How to Profit From the Coming Economic Collapse (Lynn Sonberg Books)
- Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future
- Dynamic Hedging: Managing Vanilla and Exotic Options (Wiley Finance)
- Entrepreneur's Notebook: Practical Advice for Starting a New Business Venture
- Entrepreneur's Notebook: Practical Advice for Starting a New Business Venture
- Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future (9th Edition)
- Ethical Theory and Business, Seventh Edition
- Factory Physics Second Edition
- Financial Markets and Institutions (5th Edition) (Addison-Wesley Series in Finance)
Books Index
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