Book Description
This book presents a comprehensive anthology of readings, legal perspectives, and cases in ethics in business. Contrasting business ethics approaches, Regulation of business, Performance Monitoring. Genetic testing and screening. Third world issues. Federal sentencing guidelines. Ideal for business professionals interested in reviewing ethical issues in business.
Customer Reviews:
Biased, but a good primer on business ethics.......2006-02-24
This book is a good primer on business ethics, and it would be even better if the writer / editors hadn't shown their bias with their selections of included material.
Business ethics theories evolve, just like any other social phenomenon; however, just because a theory is new doesn't make it right. Especially in an ethics book! The authors are clearly biased against big business, against small government, and against "shareholder management" theory.
Does this make them right or wrong? No. The only "wrong" committed is the bias itself.
As you read this book, just keep your critical thinking skills sharp and your eyes open.
A Critical Compendium.......2002-07-20
This book is a critical reader, and it's probably the most highly used text in business ethics today. Those who reviewed this book negatively sound like people looking for a fun, non-academic overview of the field. If so, this book isn't it. These are articles published in top academic journals, edited for readability, by scholars who are addressing the fundamental issues in a wide range of topics. It's meant to expose the span of the field and still give students (not light readers) exposure to contemporary literature that touches on the most salient points. It's meant to be a starting point to deeper research in any given topic. As such, the book is a complete success. B & B do a great job (here as in other ethics compendiums) of providing a framework that makes it easy for a professor to expose her students to the field in one swoop. They do a fine editorial job, stripping the articles of padding, and they work hard to keep the offerings up to date (passing on older articles that are superceded by fresh insights that touch on contemporary challenges and technologies; look for something relating to the corporate scandals of this last year in the next edition). If you are a student looking for an overview on business ethics, this book is the correct starting point. If you are someone looking for light reading about corporate corruption, with illustrations and full-color photos, stick to People magazine.
A Good Anthology.......2001-06-23
I really enjoyed this anthology, especially the section on sexual harassment. Some of the subjects were hard going, but, it was a good introduction to business ethics.
In Defense of Beauchamp and Bowie.......2001-06-17
I teach business ethics at the college level, and have found Ethical Theory and Business to be very helpful. Basically, B and B attempt to do three things, or so it seems to me. First, they offer an introductory essay, covering some of the main distinctions in both meta-ethics (e. g. whether morality is objective or subjective) and normative ethics. This essay is the weakest part of the book, I think, because they seem to offer caracatures of most relativist leaning views (e. g. egoism), and do not adequately criticize Kantian moral philosophy. But even so, the essay does explain many useful distinctions in philosophical ethical thought. Second, B and B offer both classic readings in Business Ethics (e. g. Milton Friedman), as well as really up to date readings, by many of the leaders in the field (e. g. R. Edward Freeman). This is quite a good selection of readings, although they have omitted a few classic essays (like Galbraith's 'The Dependence Effect'), and a few subjects which might have been useful, such as the question of whether one can attribute moral agency to corporations at all. Even so, B and B include more than any course in Business Ethics could cover. Third, B and B provide a Web site with excersizes and instructor aids. Depending on how much one uses the Web, this may be helpful too. So generally speaking, although no anthology is perfect, Beauchamp and Bowie have put together an admirable collection. There is a seventh edition coming out soon. Perhaps that one will be as good as this one.
This Book is Whack!!!.......2001-05-11
Ethical Theory and Business by Beauchamp & Bowie is the worst academic book I have ever been required to read. I agree with the reader from Minnesota that this book is very dry and boring and if I could give this book zero stars I would. All of the chapters in the book do not flow together very well since this book is very unorganized and is nothing more than a collection of narrative articles. The book does not have an index or any illustrations in it and the companion website to the book [stinks]. I do not think I learned anything about business ethics from reading this book nor did I find the information in it helpful for me in my life. After I finished reading this book, I felt like throwing it away, but instead I sold mine back to the bookstore. So if you want to learn about business ethics and are not required to purchase this book for a class, do not purchase this book.
Book Description
Peter Singer, the groundbreaking ethicist who may be the most controversial philosopher alive (The New Yorker), now sets his critical sights on the food we buy and eat: where it comes from, how its produced, and whether it was raised humanely. Teaming up once again with attorney Jim Mason, his coauthor on the acclaimed Animal Factories, Singer explores the impact our food choices have on humans, animals, and the environment. In Food Matters, Singer and Mason examine the eating habits of three American families with very different diets. They track down the sources of each familys food to probe the ethical issues involved in its production and marketing. What kinds of meat are most humane to eat? Is organic always better? Wild fish or farmed? Recognizing that not all of us will become vegetarians, Singer and Mason offer ways to make the best food choices. As they point out: You can be ethical without being fanatical.
Customer Reviews:
Ethical Consumption.......2007-07-25
There are several books lining the shelves that contain information on animal rights, vegetarianism, and organic and fair trade food items. However, none seem quite as well-rounded, or nearly as objective and succinct as Peter Singer and Jim Mason's The Ethics of What We Eat. These two authors have put together an incredibly well-crafted and unbiased argument regarding making ethical choices at the grocery store, and "voting" with one's diet and wallet.
The book begins by taking the reader to the grocery store on a routine shopping trip with a few different families. The first family is what one might consider your stereotypical "meat and potatoes" American consumers. The second family, in contrast, are "conscientious omnivores" who pay fairly close attention to their purchases, buying certified organic and fair trade items, and eat little meat. The third family is vegan. The authors even foray into "dumpster diving" with a few people who contend that ethical eating involves not letting disposed of edibles go to waste. The day-to-day purchases (or scavenges) of each of these families are dissected and analyzed. Which one of these families is truly making the most ethically sound decisions when it comes to their daily food choices? What lies behind that "Certified Organic" label? What does it mean when something is labeled "free range" or "fair trade?" Is it worth paying extra money for something with the aforementioned labels?
While focusing quite a bit on factory farming, this book also discusses the ethics of buying locally grown food, sustainability of marine ecosystems, environmental impacts of food production (including water and gas use), and the global economy. Pros and cons are given for each side of each argument, and, though they ultimately seem to side with a vegan diet as being the most ethically sound decision, they do note that this may be too drastic a decision for many and leave it up to the reader to come to their own conclusions about what to place in their shopping cart. The authors are never "preachy" with regards to the information presented, as many of the books found in this genre so often are.
As if this book itself weren't packed full enough with useful information itself, the back of the book provides several good books, websites, and stores where more information can be found on any of the included issues. Overall, this book is very highly recommended for those who want to put some thought and attention into what they put on their plates and into their mouths. The food industry does indeed try to keep consumers in the dark, and it's time everyone took some initiative to educate themselves on their dietary choices. This is a great place to start.
Well written, but the premise was a bit contrived.......2007-07-22
This book was very well written and well researched, but I felt that basing the whole book around the eating habits of these three families was a bit contrived. Also, although I figured (being familiar with Singers other books) the book was headed toward an advocation of a vegan lifestyle, I would have preferred that the authors be upfront about that and intersperse it throughout the whole book instead of waiting until the last 10 pages or so to get to their real point which was not to eat animals at all.
Still, it had a lot of good information and will hopefully make people more aware of what they are eating. However, I fear that they are probably just preaching to the choir.
Shopping with your mind.......2007-06-04
It's not much fun, sitting down to a meal and having your conscience nagging at you about what you're eating. Anybody on a diet can impart the agonies of decision-making when various foods are on offer. However, as Singer and Mason go to some length to point out, there's even more thinking involved in partaking of the foods offered today. The most important issue they argue is learning where the food originated, and how it was treated before reaching your table. "Ethical eating" has become a major consideration to an increasing number of US consumers. In this exhaustive study, the authors portray a trio of families, using their food buying habits as gateways to examining where the food comes from. The picture is generally grim, but they demonstrate how change is taking place.
The three families represent a troika of ethical choices. One follows the Standard American Diet [SAD], of high levels of meat consumption and fast food. Their primary consideration is availability and cost. The second, although aware of the ethical options behind food production, are constrained by available time and family demands. The third, a "vegan" family has managed to shun all animal foods. Their greatest problem is acquiring foods that meet their standards. They are fully aware of the ethical questions arising from modern farming methods.
Farming in North America has undergone immense changes in only a few years. Where the "family farm" was once considered an optimum lifestyle, "agribusiness" has concentrated land, and coalesced the production methods. Now, "barrage" animal housing has usurped the open paddock and "free ranging" livestock. Chickens, whether as egg producers or meat, are crammed in ranks of cages, unable to move. Beaks are clipped and forced moults are a practice achieved by starving the fowl. Cattle and pigs fare no better, as they are closeted in pens or "farrow crates" to maintain complete control over their condition. Many justifications are offered for these practices, but the ultimate one remains profit. Animal raisers claim that losses due to the enclosure techniques are more acceptable than would be the case in open living animals. Chicken raisers cite the threat of "avian flu" while the pig and cattle raisers deem grain feeding as better than grass or rooting. The result is huge concentrations of thousands of animals, all living in purely artificial situations.
The authors met with great reluctance by the major distributers when they sought to view food animal raising conditions. Through various means and with the cooperation of a few producers, they were able to see, but not film, barracks breeding establishments. They interviewed farmers and distributers, where possible, and toured retail stores with the subject families. Their investigations also reached to the new practice of "fish farming" and relate the impact of this practice on the remaining wild stocks. They also discovered how "renaming" some species to make them more marketable has become a common practice. Another ploy has been to simply overlook the source of some seafood, with shrimp arriving from the Far East and elsewhere.
They conclude the study with an examination of what is meant by the terms "ethical" in consuming and "organic" in producing. As they spell out the options and disputes surrounding these concepts, their scope is wide. Narrow definitions and rigid ideals have no place in a global food market. Is it more ethical to pay a local farmer directly, or pay for foreign produce that may spell the difference between subsistence and abject poverty for Third World producers? Is it actually cheaper to fly in New Zealand products than buy "US made"? Why should that be the case? The consumer is obviously caught up in these conundrums, and it takes a great deal of dedicated interest to make intelligent and proper decisions. Shopping shouldn't be a chore in our times and the retailer has as much responsibility in providing correct information as the consumer is in seeking it out. This book is an invaluable resource for all levels of food production and consumption. If you can read without flinching about the conditions under which your evening hamburger is produced, then this book should be high on your list of references. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
YES...inspired me again...very thoughtful.......2007-06-03
Great read...time to look at the way we eat and it's VERY important impact on the global community. Eating is an ethical act...this book offers insight and thoughtful discussion on this communal activity. Great read...
The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter
Eat Ethically.......2007-05-08
Find out where your food comes from and learn how to eat more carefully. This is a very eye-opening read.
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.
Amazon.com
Talk about an audacious title! But Suze (pronounced "Suzie") Orman means business in this anecdote-rich compendium of tips on 401(k)s, marriage, homes, and happiness. The PBS star/financial adviser has made plenty of the mistakes she warns against, like getting a 30-year mortgage instead of a cheaper 15-year, using Visa cards as magic carpets to calamity, and losing $20,000 in borrowed bucks to bum investment advice. Then she became a Merrill Lynch broker and an author capable of selling 10,000 books in 12 minutes on QVC.
Orman's point--in this and her No. 1 bestseller The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom--is that you'd better face fiscal facts and avoid fear, denial, and the self-fulfilling low expectations the novelist William Wharton called "the Poverty Mind." America is a nation of check-bouncing, late-fee-incurring, guilty bad planners. How long will it take to pay off that $3,000 Visa bill with minimum payments? Thirty years, you poor, dear fool! What would you gain if you bought stocks instead of your daily latte for 30 years? $165,152! Her book might've been titled The Courage Not to Be a Self-Sabotaging Neurotic.
Orman is the Andrew Weil of money health--she yearns to enrich your life emotionally, too. If you can't stand discussions of the psychological origins of fiscal decisions, or self-help lingo like "money is attracted to people who are strong and powerful, respectful of it, and open to receiving it," you'll want a more nuts-and-bolts adviser. If you want pep talk, true tales of woe and makeovers, and a jolt of a true pop culture phenomenon, Suze is for you. --Tim Appelo
Book Description
With honesty, empathy, and a dazzling knowledge of how money works, Suze Orman invites us into a realm where our lives and finances can prosper in harmony. Practical, spiritual, and above all financially sound, The Courage to Be Rich takes us through the financial milestones of our lives and shows us how to:
* Clear away financial clutter
* Break debilitating patterns
* Protect finances when entering marriage or romantic partnerships
* Start over after divorce or death of a spouse
* Differentiate between good and bad debt
* Invest for the future
* Give generously, live richly
* Learn and teach the value of money
"Orman prods the fearful, the angry and the impoverished to dig deep into the pockets of their souls for spiritual and financial riches. [A] holistic approach...Orman offers sound advice on money market funds, IRAs, estate planning and financing big-ticket items such as homes and autos, but her most compelling advice hits us in the emotional pocketbook." (USA Today)
"The reigning shaman and high priestess of personal finance... The Courage to Be Rich is another blockbuster." (San Francisco Examiner)
Customer Reviews:
It helped me!.......2007-07-30
I'm a little sorry to see all of the negative reviews this book has gotten, since I found it to be one of the most eye-opening things I've ever read and, by following some of its advice, have gotten my finances into better shape than they have been in years.
Let me clarify some things. This is not a book for the financially advanced, for professionial money managers or financial advisors, or for stock brokers. The intended audience here is the "Average Person" who works at something else every day but wants to better understand how to handle their money. This person probably has credit card debt, spotty savings, and some bad financial habits. I had none of those things when I picked up this book and I still learned tons from reading it.
The principal message here is that being rich begins with your thoughts. They way we think about money determines to a huge degree what we do with it, how we invest it, and how we spend it. I think no one will deny that fundamental truth, but Suze's gift is finding the ways to connect our thoughts with practical advice to change bad habits for the better. Many people could make a few simple changes in their lives and end up with a lot more money, and over time, that could mean real wealth.
It is true that some of the conclusions here will seem obvious to the financially savvy. But I question the idea that this is all "repackaged common knowledge." It isn't. Her messages are of the kind that bear repeating. How many people still buy a $3.50 latte every morning, stick thousands of dollars in a bank savings account at 1% interest, and have credit card debt well beyond what they can afford? If it were so obvious that these are unwise things to do with money, fewer people would do them! Suze shows that it's not enough just to recognize financially unhealthy behavior, you must also understand your personal history with money, the way you have been taught to think about it and value it, and understand how that history influences your financial decisions. Her recognition of the emotional value of money gives her the edge over other financial how-to books, which typically assume that money is a raw numbers game. It's much more than that, and Suze is right on insisting so.
Her most controversial advice is that you, and not a financial planner, must ultimately be responsible for your money, and I think a lot of the one-star ratings below are from frightened financial planners who know that Suze is onto their game. She does not, for the record, say that you should never work with one, but simply acknowledges that the ultimate responsibility for your money is with YOU and not someone you pay to organize your investments. I think she's right, and with all of the online resources available today, there's no reason to be ignorant about how money works in our society. A little more attention from you can mean a lot more peace with your money, and being responsible makes it much easier to make money grow.
One of the best sections of this book comes at the end, when she talks about the importance of giving. I just loved her discussion of how important it is to give and wish everybody would read it! In our greedy world, it's a message that needs to be heard.
I found this book lifechanging and hope others can too.
Repackaged Common Knowledge.......2007-05-17
Suze Orman's Book is well written and thoughtful, that being said, she doesn't provide anything beyond common sense and basic knowledge: Stop accruing debt, live within your means, pay off those high interest credit cards, distinguish between good and bad loans, save money, INVEST YOUR MONEY. All this is the same material you will find in every beginning personal finance book, and online for free. The problem is that after peddling all these little trinkets of knowledge, with an over indulgent helping of self-pity, she doesn't help you make a plan or answer some fundamental questions. Like...HOW? This book does not provide the basic mechanics of how to do what she says, and gives no details on how (in financial basics) she got where she is. How do I redistribute my debt so I can pay it off (what is a good time horizon), how should I save money so I don't get burned out by saving, how do I mentally control my spending, and most importantly how do I invest the darn money? If you tel people to save and invest, you need to give them a hint of a plan (e.g., save 10% of every paycheck, but no more, so you grow to hate saving money) or maybe also just a single chapter on where to invest the money beyond, use your 401(k). Maybe one on why being too risk averse is bad. Ultimately, this book simply provides abstract goals, that require you to go out and get another book to help you get perspective on getting there. So just skip it, and get the next book.
First step to getting rich.......2006-08-29
This book is so important. I swear she should write school courses for children K-12 & beyond because she is so wonderfuly full of knowledge and sound advice. I strongly urge everyone to buy this book if not for yourself then for someone you love. It is so enlightening you will not want to put it down.
Commen Sense Not Courage.......2006-08-03
This book is concisely written and reader-friendly.
The question and answer format in Chapters 8, 9 and 10 are pointed and helpful. There was obviously a lot of thought into choosing which questions to ask, because they're pertinent things we need to know, but most of us don't know.
Orman deserves credit not only for her advice but for her attitude and viewpoints on many financially related cultural aspects of our lives. One quote I liked on page 104 about carsis : "It's not a component of the American dream. It's certainly a component of our collective consumer machismo." Her following formula of investing at +X percent vs. a car payment at -X percent lead to some serious numeric differences. Meaning if you add it up, you may have placed your Opportunity Cost of car ownership (with monthly payments) to be about +$500,000 or a loss of -$500,000 dollars.
Most of the points in this book are for the neophyte. Or those who haven't thought much about incoming and outgoing expenses recently as our routine in life gets busy and complex. Many anecdotes are basically short-story case stories about some of the situations her past clients have been in, how they got there, and what was done to get them out of their predicament. You can read the chapters in any order. It's a good thing. The only thing I would change is the title. Instead of the "Courage to be Rich," I might call it the "Courage to Have a Manageable Debt-ratio." :)
LAW OF ATTRACTING MONEY.......2006-06-01
I have long been a fan of The Suze Orman Show on CNBC so I do not know why it took me so long to read one of her books. Her advice is always right on the mark about finances and this book is perfectly in line with that. She has plenty of great advice on buying a home, explaining mortgages, and how to decide which life insurance policy, annuity, or bonds are best for you. The book will be very useful for anyone who needs easy to understand descriptions of these financial concerns.
Most financial books I have read are mind-numbingly dull, and written by experts who appear to have nothing but money on their minds. Suze's book is written for everyone and it reflects a sincere concern for people and bettering the quality of their lives by helping them understand the world of money. The great warmth of her personality makes you sincerely believe she wants you to have the Courage to be Rich.
The book lives up to its fantastic title. What is most striking about Suze Orman's approach to finances is she talks about the emotional reasons why we end up with credit card debt or are afraid to spend money on a vacation. She looks at the deep psychological beliefs we all have about money, and she teaches how to think in terms of abundance rather than scarcity to allow money its proper place in our lives. Although she does not mention the Law of Attraction (see my review on Lynn Grabhorn's Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting) her principles are largely the same. She is also a women of great heart. She ends the book by telling us what to do with the money once we have had the courage to be rich. She talks about giving to charity and how generosity only increases our financial, and more importantly, our spiritual abundance. I wholeheartedly trust Suze Orman's advice, not simply because she knows about money, but because her sincerity and generosity of character shine forth on every page. Read this book no matter how much money you have. You won't be disappointed.
Tyler R. Tichelaar, author of Iron Pioneers, The Marquette Trilogy: Book One
Average customer rating:
- Everyone should read this...
- Great information!
- A Knowledge Guide for Healthy Eating and Drinking
- NOURISHING IF NOT QUITE SATIATING
- harvest for Hope Review
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Harvest for Hope: A Guide to Mindful Eating
Jane Goodall ,
Gary McAvoy , and
Gail Hudson
Manufacturer: Wellness Central
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Jane Goodall: The Woman Who Redefined Man
ASIN: 0446698210 |
Amazon.com
World-renowned scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall earned her fame by studying chimpanzee feeding habits. But in Harvest for Hope, she scrutinizes human eating behaviors, and the colossal food industries that force-feed some cultures' self-destructive habits for mass consumption. It's an unsustainable lifestyle that Goodall argues must change immediately, beginning--not ironically--at a grassroots level.
Looping personal anecdotes from 40 years of global travels with stories from noble farmer Davids and corporate Goliaths, Goodall methodically builds her case for shopping organic and living modestly. Mustering a tender gumption, she details the vicious cycle of pesticide-ridden and genetically engineered crops which feed the unknowing majority of consumers; and also feed the antibiotic-treated animals that provide these folks with inexpensive entrees. Leaving nasty slaughterhouse scenes to less tactful pens, Goodall focuses more on the product of "factory farming" techniques: mountains of waste, nutritionally depleted soil, polluted water, displaced organic farmers, and severely compromised food.
Hope springs from positive sources: Edible Schoolyard programs in the U.K. and U.S., parents breaking their schools' "unholy alliance" with fast food chains and soft drink companies, a steady rise in organic purchases. Goodall offers many suggestions for rallying others, exercising one's own consumer powers, and just plain eating less meat. Conservationists might say this information is nothing new, which might explain why Goodall provides only tertiary references to her many statistics and facts. But for those who prefer that their own eating habits be stirred--not shaken--into question, the kindly Chimpanzee Lady provides the gentle touch required. --Liane Thomas
Book Description
World-renowned scientist and conservationist Jane Goodall earned her fame by studying chimpanzee feeding habits. But in Harvest for Hope, she scrutinizes human eating behaviors, and the colossal food industries that force-feed some cultures' self-destructive habits for mass consumption. It's an unsustainable lifestyle that Goodall argues must change immediately, beginning--not ironically--at a grassroots level.Looping personal anecdotes from 40 years of global travels with stories from noble farmer Davids and corporate Goliaths, Goodall methodically builds her case for shopping organic and living modestly. Mustering a tender gumption, she details the vicious cycle of pesticide-ridden and genetically engineered crops which feed the unknowing majority of consumers; and also feed the antibiotic-treated animals that provide these folks with inexpensive entrees. Leaving nasty slaughterhouse scenes to less tactful pens, Goodall focuses more on the product of "factory farming" techniques: mountains of waste, nutritionally depleted soil, polluted water, displaced organic farmers, and severely compromised food. Hope springs from positive sources: Edible Schoolyard programs in the U.K. and U.S., parents breaking their schools' "unholy alliance" with fast food chains and soft drink companies, a steady rise in organic purchases. Goodall offers many suggestions for rallying others, exercising one's own consumer powers, and just plain eating less meat. Conservationists might say this information is nothing new, which might explain why Goodall provides only tertiary references to her many statistics and facts. But for those who prefer that their own eating habits be stirred--not shaken--into question, the kindly Chimpanzee Lady provides the gentle touch required. --Liane Thomas
Customer Reviews:
Everyone should read this..........2007-04-17
It's time that everyone starts making changes, however small they may be. This book is perfect for just that! Jane Goodall has a warm way of conveying such critical information. An easy read, can't put it down!
Great information!.......2007-03-22
I read this book a long time ago (its been about two years) but Im still reminded of the big points that Jane Goodall brought up in her book.
Random stuff I remember.
- slightly boring in some parts (why there's 4 stars). I found myself picking up the book merely to gain more insight about food - not really extremely excited about reading it.
- however, some parts were just REALLY interesting.
Because you never have heard of companies like Monsanto (about them selling "killer seeds" to unwitting Africans, a David versus Goliath court case, the dangers of one company owning the world's food supply).
You dont REALLY know which companies that you previously thought were "small organic farms" were actually owned by Coke, General Mills, etc.
You never have really thought of benefits from buying local produce (much less that commonshare? timeshare? I dont know, its a thing where you get in season fruits and veggies from local farmers for about $300 a month).
- Jane Goodall is very pro vegetarian. but, to the meat eaters, she does offer information that behooves you as well. Like ... which type of fish will probably have the least amount of chemicals in them. But you will have to hear about factory farming, etc (but its not a huge part of the book).
- surprisingly, she offers good advice about things that you can stray from buying organic as well as the things that you should buy organic.
- you learn about the dangers of improper farming. The lack of proper irrigation, pesticide use (which makes the pests more resilient leading to stronger pesticides needed), and the lack of correct crop rotation to reuse the soil.
And I havent read this book since over two years ago. It wasnt mind blowingly exciting to read, but somehow at the end, I learned some really interesting things.
And she DOES offer a message of hope. I dont want to feel like the world is going to die and we are all doomed after finishing a book. So I was glad that Jane Goodall (or her cowriters, whoever) presented this information in a hopeful manner.
PS. Im assuming there was slight bias. But I got the impression that this book was about as fact based as a biased book could get. If that makes sense.
PPS. I am really intrigued by the program she has set up for schools to teach kids how to eat properly. One of the shocking things she mentioned was showing kids various fruits and vegetables and they had no clue what they were, much less where the grew from (ie, out of the ground on a vine etc)
A Knowledge Guide for Healthy Eating and Drinking .......2007-03-16
This book was wonderful guide regarding the production of our food not only in the US but throughtout the world. As, consumers we need to realize how are food is produced, where it comes from, whats on it, does it have hormones, what are healthy nutrient ingredients, and is our water pure and clean to drink? What may seem healthy may not always be? Jane Goodall, gives excellent illustrations and examples in each chapter regarding what we can do as consumers demanding healthy good healthy food and water in ourlives. I bought several copies of this excellent book to give to family and friends. I would love to hear her oneday give a lecture and presentation on this subject.
NOURISHING IF NOT QUITE SATIATING.......2007-02-21
Written with Goodall's characteristically lucid, unpretentious prose, this book takes on one of the world's most urgent problems. Goodall, famous for her studies of wild chimpanzees, has become a global force for change, and this book is just the latest installment in her tireless efforts.
The most telling message of this book is, for me, that the chemical-dependent, monoculture-oriented, profit-margin-driven paradigm that predominates modern food production simply doesn't work. I challenge any reader not to come away without feeling at least some disdain towards the breathtaking greed and self-serving arrogance of Monsanto and other agribusiness giants. Goodall asks poignantly: "How could we have ever believed that it was a good idea to grow our food with poisons?"
I was disappointed by several omissions, for instance that there is no mention of the non-dairy milks (soy, rice, almond, etc.) and ice creams and faux meats now available. I also can't share Goodall's enthusiasm for buffalo meat (p. 105), or the implication that dairy products are healthful [...]. Readers can't verify many of the facts and statistics offered here because there are no cited sources to consult. Finally, this book needs an index!
In fairness, though, this book is a positive force because it is digestible for masses. Goodall is a master at tackling difficult subjects without sounding preachy or dogmatic. True to its title, this is an optimistic book. And it's empowering. Goodall offers many tidbits of advice on what consumers can do to help drive change away from industrialized, chemical-dependent agriculture and towards local, sustainable and tastier food. I applaud her for broaching what is ultimately the world's most over-arching problem: human overpopulation!
harvest for Hope Review.......2007-01-27
Wonderful book. Have followed Jane Goodall's studies for years,
love her handling of the subject, she writes with such grace and love.
I think this is one of her best yet, everyone should read it.
Book Description
Millions of people worldwide dream of making a "good" living, of attaining great wealth, and having an extraordinary and fortunate life. However, they haven't yet found a way of attaining it, and they fear that they can only do so at the expense of others—perhaps by compromising their higher spiritual values and virtuous nature. Some people who outwardly acknowledge their desire for great wealth feel inwardly guilty about acquiring it, and their illusive conflict blocks or dissipates their potential fortunes. Other people say they just want to be comfortable and secure rather than vastly fortunate. These individuals also hold themselves back from breaking through to new levels of financial freedom, and actually living their most cherished and inspiring dreams. In addition to their conflicting spiritual and material natures, some people have an additional internal struggle between their desires to give and receive.
How to Make One Hell of a Profit and Still Get to Heaven was written to help you (if you happen to be like most people) dissolve these apparent conflicts. It can assist you in making your financial dreams come true while shedding light on an entirely new way of looking at, understanding, and appreciating the true nature of Earthly profits and heavenly wealth. If you read and apply the principles and methodologies that are laid out in these pages, your relationship with, and ability to master, your spiritual wealth and material finances as well as other vital areas of your life will undergo an amazing transformation.
Customer Reviews:
Written for people who have vague notions that simply making money is somehow in conflict with their morals and ethics.......2006-05-31
Ok, this book isn't a book about a literal heaven nor does it define spirituality according to any specific religious doctrine. This book is for those folks who have uncomfortable attitudes towards making money because they feel it violates their moral or ethical codes, whatever the name of the code.
A surprising number of people are very uncomfortable with the idea of buying and selling and especially of making money on their work. They don't mind receiving a paycheck as long as it isn't "too big" (whatever that means), but to actually make something and sell it for as much as the market will bear causes them sincere and very painful anxiety. Years ago, when I taught piano full time and had a full slate of students that I charged what was a good rate for the time, one of my friends asked me how I did it.
So, I told her what I did, how I built the number of students, and what I charged. She said she could never charge that much for teaching music because it was unfair to the kids. Well, guess what, she didn't end up teaching many students even at her lower rate. And she had to go work at another job because she couldn't make enough money at what she was willing to charge. Is there a lesson here?
This book takes a person with the kind of fears and anxieties of my friend and walks them through why it is a good thing to charge and make money. What you should do to save and build with that money and how to use money to enrich rather than become the focus of your life.
If you are a person with these kinds of stultifying attitudes towards money, this is a good book to read and think about. However, if you are already a businessperson with a good understanding and attitudes towards making money, well, this book is probably too basic.
Awesome prosperity book!.......2006-03-09
This is one of the very best books I have read regarding prosperity and the way we view money. Dr. Demartini approaches the concept in a way I have never seen before and I have had too many "lightbulb moments" to count. I have purchased 4 of these books and shared them with friends, I was so excited about it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to stretch their thinking a bit outside the box and gain some new insights about how they think and feel about money.
Book Description
Last year, the pharmaceutical industry had sales in excess of $300 billion. Clearly, we all pay in one way or another — whether by buying drugs directly or through taxation. But it is less clear if we are getting value for our money.
Author Jacky Law shows how a small number of corporations have come to dominate the global healthcare agenda. She reveals a system in which the relentless pursuit of profit is crowding out the public good. Effective regulators are under intense pressure from corporate lobbies, and companies spend more money on marketing than they spend on research and development. Meanwhile, the cost of new drugs rises relentlessly, while the number of original new products declines.
All is not well with modern medicine. In what is both a diagnosis and a recommended course of treatment, Big Pharma reveals a world where market considerations, not medical need, are determining the research agenda. The author points to a future where the public and the medical profession once again have a voice in the kind of healthcare we want — and the healthcare we pay for.
Customer Reviews:
Scam.......2007-09-24
Here is yet another in a long line of books written to expose the dirty dealings going on between the FDA, and "Big Pharma." Supposed new drugs which are only replications of existing drugs from another company. Because I want to get my feet wet as well, because there is money to be made. Then there are the continual TV, Radio, and Print Media ads which continues to echo in ears and minds of targeted consumers. This Medication or that which do nothing but provide a crutch if you may. Negative side effects played down by both "Big Pharma," and the FDA equally, stating "the benefits far out weigh the risks." Yes of course unless you are one of the victims who happened to become seriously ill, or died.
The co-habitation between the FDA, and "Big Pharma" just to keep "Big Pharma" in business. And let us not forget the attempts at "Tort Reform." This is nonsense yet the Government allows this to continue, and there are millions of victims, and few of us are even speaking up, or asking questions. Note "Autism." Ever ask yourself why the Amish People have no Autism amoung their populus? There is that risk factor again, raising it's ugly head.
Then there is the new push to make the world comply with rules that disallow anyone to speak about "Natural Cures," via WTO. At the same time trying to limit the common citizen's ability to purchase what is commonly known as "Dietary Supplements." You know according to the FDA, "Only a drug, can cure, treat, or prevent a disease." To speak otherwise is to bring the weight of the law down on ones head. If I were to say the cure for scurvy, is citrus fruit, or that cherries are a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Oh well I have just broken the law.
Read this book get an understanding for yourself as to how this ruse cost the American tax payer, and purchasers of Healthcare Insurance needless billions. One of the biggest reasons for healthcare being so costly. That and the prophiteers involved in healthcare.
Global Prescription .......2006-06-22
Law takes steps to show the reader the "Bigger picture" of the drug companies and thier goals on a global level and the concern that may arise do to thier efforts along the way.
Big Pharma by Jacky Law.......2006-06-15
The overall thrust of the book is good. Much of the information
has been related by Ralph Nader and other interested consumer groups. A strength of the work is that the author centralizes
some well-known problems with the pharmaceutical-based prescription
system which has been embraced almost totally by major medicine.
There are a small minority of practitioners that prescribe
complementary medicine for a plethora of illnesses. The Goldberg
Group has published a treatise on the Alternative Medicinal protocols which employ vitamins, herbs , acupuncture, magnetic
therapy, hyperbaric oxygen and a constellation of pain-relieving
modalities practiced on the fringe of modern day medicine in
the USA. Many of the alternative medicinal modes are described
in the Journal of the Lancet. Ms. Law explains how the drug
companies skew results so that conclusions appear to be favorable
to specific new medicines/processes. In the Placebo effect,
patients are known to possess a great deal of innate healing
power which may or may not relate to any specific medicine
(conventional or otherwise). In addition, Ms. Law explains
how a good delivery system can maximize profits for drug
manufacturers. Drug manufacturers are said to have comfortable
relationships with physicians and patients. Resultingly, drugs
are likely to sell regardless of effectiveness. Ultimately,
companies are faced with a choice between profit maximization
and the public health. The author provides a service to the
public by highlighting some of the most egregious offenses.
Drug manufacturers would argue that companies invest heavily
in the FDA approval process. Therefore, they deserve the profits
which accompany drug approval and public acceptance. On the
other hand, some research is funded with government assistance.
A few drug manufacturers make the product available free of
charge for persons unable to afford medicines. Overall, the
debate on the existing health care delivery system continues
unabated.
Exposes a big headache which needs fixing.......2006-05-22
Corporate wealth and public health often are at odds with one another: that's the view presented in BIG PHARMA: EXPOSING THE GLBOAL HEALTHCARE AGENDA. Modern healthcare is in shambled, and Jacky Law shows how a relatively small number of companies dominate the research agenda and pursue profits to the detriment of public health and health systems as a whole. From the influences of corporate lobbyists to market considerations which rule over medical needs, BIG PHARMA exposes a big headache which needs fixing.
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
California Bookwatch
A Honey of a Book - It could save your life.......2006-03-03
Big Pharma Review - Jacky Law
What's the difference between good journalism and honey? Not a lot. Both run smooth, hit the spot when it comes to taste; and both as they have no bitter aftertaste leave you wanting for nothing but more.
Big Pharma - a revelation of a book - is written with skill and concision. With the right facts supporting the most telling of arguments that just keep on coming. Over 250 pages of paragraph after illuminating paragraph making it a honey of a read. What Jacky Law has to report could have been just an eye-opener for the inside few, but her riveting, forceful and fair-minded telling of it, makes it a true `must-read' for us all.
The author has taken her twenty five years experience of reporting on the planet's pill makers, added some of her own smart investigative insights, to lead us effortlessly, and with great purpose into the heart of this previously hidden industry. The white-coated world of the pharmaceutical giants is revealed in all its grubby majesty.
No doubt about it, the figures - the mighty ever-escalating billions - show us that Big Pharma is one of the most dominant and influential of the corporate kings that this century or any other period has ever known.
Her book is a wakeup call that we ignore at our peril. A dossier of well-researched facts and arguments carefully and clearly presented. Her intention isn't to shock, more to enlighten. But because of the depth of the book's inquiry and the scale of what is uncovered shock it does.
Medicine, as we all know, is quiet literally a matter of life and death. Which one of us isn't a hostage to our health? So we think, or at least I did, that the industry, which supplies the doctors and systems that we so rely on are as ethical as the lifesavers themselves. Maybe not perfect but a working approximation of the Good Guy. If not saints then certainly not sinners. But forget any notion of the Hippocratic oath, money as these pages show doesn't just talk, in Big Pharma it swears.
Drug development is exposed as being little different from any other new product programme. Profitability isn't simply an outcome of success it's prerequisite. The efforts, half lies and chicanery of the multi national are often enough to make a snake oil salesman blush. If a treatment can be left to commonsense or priced up to smack of high science then it's no contest. The end user, the patient, you and I, are no more or less than a market to be maximised.
Of course there have been improvements. Medicine naturally is best as an investment when it works to cure or alleviate. So it's not all smoke and mirrors. The bottom line always looks better when pills are efficient, when drugs deliver. There's no doubt about it, the pharmaceutical giants have changed our expectations and experience of health and sickness.
There has been the introduction of some truly remarkable concoctions and life saving remedies. Breakthrough after breakthrough brings us better and better medicine. But progress in profits has been even more remarkable.
See how much value dealing with the sick and dying can generate. See how tricky, ruthless and rapacious Big Pharma can be. Arm yourself with information. Start making the medicine business accountable to the people it serves not the bank balances it generates.
A chapter a day starting now may not make you feel better, but it will give you a healthier understanding of what's really happening in the big, big world of Pharma.
But be warned it will leave an aftertaste. And it won't be sweet.
Barry Brooks
Average customer rating:
- Dr. Breggin is refreshingly one-sided, in a land where medications RULE!
- Big Pharma quackery
- could have been better
- An excellent book if you are uninformed about the downsides
- Breggin is courageous and right on
|
Talking Back To Prozac: What Doctors Aren't Telling You About Today's Most Controversial Drug
Peter Breggin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Similar Items:
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The Anti-Depressant Fact Book: What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, and Luvox
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Prozac Backlash: Overcoming the Dangers of Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and Other Antidepressants with Safe, Effective Alternatives
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Listening to Prozac: The Landmark Book About Antidepressants and the Remaking of the Self, Revised Edition
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Your Drug May Be Your Problem: How and Why to Stop Taking Psychiatric Medications
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Toxic Psychiatry: Why Therapy, Empathy and Love Must Replace the Drugs, Electroshock, and Biochemical Theories of the "New Psychiatry"
ASIN: 0312956061 |
Amazon.com
Are you one of the thousands of Americans "listening to Prozac"? Chances are you at least know someone who is. It's time to take a closer look at this supposedly "safe" drug. Peter Breggin picks through the studies used to justify Prozac's safety, often uncovering flaws and shoddy science. He details the FDA approval process, including who on the panel was paid by whom. The key players and the details will surprise you.
Book Description
Millions of Americans are on it to treat everything from serious depression to shyness, obesity, PMS, and back pain. They've been told it has few, or no, side effects. But what is the dark side of Prozac? Has the FDA told you everything it knows about the drug's potentially dangerous side effects? What essential facts must you have if you are already taking Prozac, or are considering taking it? Find out:What Prozac's label won't tell youThe truth about serious and life-threatening reactionsCases of sexual dysfunction from Prozac, particularly in menIf Prozac can lead to violence, murder, or suicideThe panic and anxiety Prozac can cause-not cureWhat Prozac has in common with cocaine and amphetamines
Customer Reviews:
Dr. Breggin is refreshingly one-sided, in a land where medications RULE!.......2007-01-17
I was diagnosed with depression in 1997 and was prescribed Zoloft which I took for a year. Thanks to this book I was able to QUIT and have been drug-free for 10 years! Yes, the drugs "work" if chemically altering your mood is your goal in life! SSRIs act just like cocaine and other stimulants in the brain. They do the same mood-lifting things only without all the side ('fried') effects of major stimulants. (And they are just as hard to quit, with their own withdrawal symptoms!) IS THAT THE KIND OF CURE YOU WANT?
Or are you willing to listen to what your depression is telling you and CHANGE WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IN YOUR LIFE? Depression does NOT come out of nowhere! It's a VALID REACTION to life, giving you ACCURATE SYMPTOMS of real distress, whether you choose to believe them or not! But in our day & age, it's not fashionable to ADMIT that we're not happy with our lives -- "I have everything I could want, why am I feeling like this?" We medicate ourselves instead because it's so much easier to say "I have a medical condition that requires medication", and by golly, the majority of people "feel better" when they're taking antidepressants! Amazing wonder drugs capable of fixing most 21st-century emotional woes!!
Look around, folks!! Should we accept that most of our friends and co-workers (and SELVES) are "ON MEDS!" just so we/they can have a decent life? It's the breakdown of families, of close-knit communities, of real relationships and friendships and meaningful human interactions which are driving this epidemic. We need more people learning the old forgotten skills of helping one another to COPE. But that's messy and inconvenient-- not the American way!!
Big Pharma quackery.......2006-03-14
Peter Breggin has done the world a favor by exposing the fraud and profit motives of the $20 billion dollar anti-depressant industry. Instead of respecting natural feelings over a wide-array of societal problems, people are instead being encouraged by corporate shamans to take the dope they push. Interestingly, the sellers of these drugs are free to make a fortune while cannabis sellers are put into prisons, and often prescribed the corporate drugs while they are incarcerated! I imagine that if Eli Lilly held a patent on marijuana, we'd see ads promoting pot use on tv tomorrow.
If people find some relief from Prozac, more power to them; but drug companies have applied marketing skills where what's more often needed is skilled therapy. ("New Dimensions Broadcasting" provides weekly interviews with healers that don't require manipulations of our brain chemistry). Predictably, drug-free approaches to mental health are given short shrift by Big Pharma. Everything from changes in diet, altered media consumption, meditation, political empowerment, community involvement and much else can provide the peace of mind so many are longing for in this maddening world. There's even a book that suggests philosophy could be used to think through our mental dis-ease ("Plato, Not Prozac"). I've purchased several copies of "Talking Back to Prozac" to share with people who are questioning the wisdom of taking powerful psychoactives, or putting their kids on them.
The work of Breggin and a growing number of Big Pharma critics came to mind when I read this headline from the March 9, 2006 issue of the satirical newspaper, "The Onion": Wonder Drug Inspires Deep, Unwavering Love of Pharmaceutical Companies. The story reads - "The Food and Drug Administration today approved the sale of the drug PharmAmorin, a prescription tablet developed by Pfizer to treat chronic distrust of large prescription-drug manufacturers. Pfizer executives characterized the FDA's approval as a 'godsend' for sufferers of independent-thinking-related mental health disorders. 'Many individuals lack the deep, abiding affection for drug makers that is found in healthy people, such as myself,' Pfizer CEO Hank McKinnel said. "These tragic disorders are reaching epidemic levels, and as a company dedicated to promoting the health, well-being, and long life of our company's public image, it was imperative that we did something to combat them.'"
could have been better.......2005-08-11
Dr. Breggin's book casts a very illuminating light on the flaws of the drug approval process in America and the shortcomings of the antidepressant Prozac. I am disappointed when reading others reviews though that most people are more intent on rating Prozac and not the book. The book is extremely one-sided. I was taught as far back as elementary school that essays should be constructed with Pro and Con arguments. The author, while pointing out many cases of individuals unhappy with the drug, fails to discuss anyone who's life has been positively affected by Prozac. As far as his citations go...they appear to be very selective...he backs up things here and there but if this were a scholarly work it would be rejected in the peer review process. He also makes many ridiculous claims that made me laugh...e.g "Although alcohol has been widely used throughout human society since before recorded history, only in the last decade have we begun to face the scope of its deadly impact on human behaviour and society" (Page 93 chapter 4, hardcover edition). I am fairly certain that people have known about alcohol's destructive effects for as long as it has been used....maybe Dr. Breggin just figured it out. The book started out well...but as I read more and more...the strength of his points began to be washed out by his fervor and he appeared to me to become more and more of a zealot than a person providing any sort of a fair, unbiased review of a drug...too bad...could have been a very good book.
An excellent book if you are uninformed about the downsides.......2004-08-26
This is a classic only because Peter Breggin does his homework. I am a biased reader because I am a Naturopathic physician who treats depression with homeopathic medicine (a far superior solution to drugs).
But my bias aside, I think the book has great merit because Breggin really raises good and sound questions about the so called science behind antidepressants. He makes the process of getting a drug passed explicit and shows how corrupt the process is. In addition, the often difficult process of getting questionable drugs off the market is explained. A process that is often at the expense of the patient and to the benefit of Big Pharma.
Breggin is not so great about coming up with solutions however. Deep longstanding depression is not always amenable to psychotherapy. At least those are a lot of the patients that I'm referred. People who have tried many things without success - therapy, counseling, drugs, etc.
I see homeopathy work with many, though of course not all, of these intractable cases. There must be other effective natural means to help people resolve deep seated depression as well. So this, in my mind is the major weakness in Breggin's books, he is not looking past his own nose about solutions.
Clearly drugs are not a true solution, but counseling on its own is often not enough either. Besides going to see a skilled homeopath (not so easy to find), people have also mentioned dietary changes, community support, friends, family, and other methods as being helpful. So that would be what would fill this book out and make it complete.
Breggin is courageous and right on.......2004-04-03
The negative reviews call Breggin unscientific, fear mongering, etc., but Breggin was just ahead of his time. In the past year, English regulators have warned against SSRI use (except Prozac)in youths and adolescents, basically due to the dangers Breggin warns of in this book. Recent headlines in the U.S. report the FDA is also recommending similar warnings about agitation and suicidality resulting from use of SSRI's in children and adults.A 2004 network evening news headline story recounted how a senior FDA scientist recently reviewed SSRI trials and concluded that suicidal ideation occurred twice as often in the SSRI group as in the placebo group (and then the FDA tried to suppress the public revelation of the conclusions of their own scientist).
The truth is the drug companies knew from the start that SSRI's pose serious dangers of agitation, akathisia and suicidality. It's been years since anyone on the inside seriously believed the Serotonin imbalance theory of depression. This information has been available all along and was deliberately suppressed by the drug companies. Now, ten years later, people are beginning to wake up, acting as though this is brand new news.
Go online to Prevention and Treatment, Volume 5, articles 22 through 32, published by the American Psychological Association, for extensive discussion of the fact that the FDA trials barely showed any difference between the SSRI's and placebo.
Better still, read Let them Eat Prozac, by David Healy, soon to be available in the U.S. Healy is a total psychiatric insider, an SSRI researcher and perhaps the world's leading authority on the history of the development of SSRI's. He's not an anti-psychiatrist. He's just pro-truth. He cites chapter and verse, and his conclusions are basically the same as Breggin's.
The negative reviewers simply miss the mark. To judge the value of Breggin's books, you need do one thing: List his specific factual claims, and then try to find in mainstream psychiatric literature any attempt to rebut those specific claims, point by point.
Not "he's dangerous," or "he's a zealot," or "he's unscientific," but actually point for point. For instance, Breggin charges that many Prozac patients in the FDA trials were also put on Benzodiazepines because Prozac alone made them so agitated they couldn't sleep. Look for mainstream psychiatry to a) state whether Breggin's claim is actually true, b) explain why that isn't a serious comment on Prozac, and c) answer Breggin's claim that where Benzo's were used, if the patients on Benzo's were excluded, the Prozac group was no more effective than placebo.
Healy makes many of the same specific points, and more. He exposes the systematic way the drug companies distorted their research and saw to it that both the scientific literature and popular promotional material contained the same distortions.
Breggin was right, and his critics, who accuse him of being shrill and unscientific, are describing themselves more than they describe Breggin.
Average customer rating:
- A disturbing indictment of Australian consumerism
- Very interesting, at a macro level
- Hopefully the start of a trend - the reduction in consumption
|
Affluenza: When Too Much is Never Enough
Clive Hamilton , and
Richard Denniss
Manufacturer: Allen & Unwin
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Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic (Bk Currents)
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The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less
ASIN: 1741146712 |
Book Description
Anyone concerned about the level of their personal debt or frustrated by the rat race of aspiring to an affluent lifestyle will appreciate this critique of the effects of over-consumption. This analysis pulls no punches as it describes both the problem and what can be done to stop it. Analyzing the increasing rates of stress, depression, and obesity as possible effects of the consumption binge currently gripping the Western world, this report tracks how Australians overwork, the growing number of things thrown out, self-medicated drugs, and the real meaning of the word choice.
Customer Reviews:
A disturbing indictment of Australian consumerism.......2006-10-14
According to virtually all statistical measures, Australians have become much, much richer in the past few decades than their parents or grandparents could have dreamed of. Who at the turn of the century, would have imagined us living in a world where we had a car each, had a large house, and hundreds of individual possessions?
Yet it seems in recent decades this trend for consumer capitalism has gotten totally out of control. It now often seems even having a house, car and job isn't enough; we have to have massive plasma television sets, several home computers, a third generation mobile phone, a whizz bang computer and games for the kids, both parents working to the hilt to pay the mortgage, expensive holidays and a million dollars in super at the end of it. We have to send our children to the most expensive private schools and universities, and money and getting things is the most important thing.
This is the picture Hamilton paints of Australia, where people binge on credit, where Australians work themselves almost to death to supply an endless array of goods and services which they don't really need, and are wasted; where about 20% of the population suffer from mental health problems related to low self esteem and stress, and where people avoid having children because each costs $250,000 to raise, and where our rampant consumption is ruining our environment as well as our health.
I certainly agree many of the ideas put forward in this book are true. Australia does seem to have become a place where the ethic of 'mateship' and community has been replaced with the rather heartless ethics of global capitalism, which are aimed at endless economic growth and growing individual prosperity. Reforms to make the Australian economy more open to foreign competition were opened in the 1980's by the Labour government, and ever since then in Australia the emphasis is more and more on aligning ourselves to the globalised world.
I do feel though that material progress is a good thing. However, our material progress is having some negative consequences, such as rocketing house prices and crippling resource shortages, in water and other areas. Our reckless focus on 'growth only' is also doing great damage to our environment, globally and locally.
Money is important and Australia must not go the way of Sub-Saharan Africa, being poor, overpopulated and racked by pollution and war. However I agree the time is coming when Australians will need to see there is more to life than simply the material; no amount of money or personal possessions is going to stop us from dying and suffering ill health, though wealth can delay both. We also need to be more charitable to the poor, as Australia still has some 100,000 homeless people, and we need to recognise the spiritual is an integral part of life, regardless of how much or how little we have (I am sure there is a correlation between the breakdown of religion and community in Australia and depression and other forms of mental illness).
To cure ourselves of affluenza we need to focus less on affluence and more on quality of life, which unfortunately affluence can't bring entirely on its own, without good ethical, social, spiritual and community values and wholeness and environmental sustainability. There seems little point in having a beautiful house or a brand new 4WD when the skies of your city are constantly polluted, water is running out, and garbage is piling up everywhere in the streets and elsewhere.
Very interesting, at a macro level.......2006-07-09
This book was facinating and easy to read- a rare combination of meticulous research and good writing. The author systematically explains the different aspects of society where affluenza is changing our way of life- it's scary stuff. But I was left thinking, what do I do about it? The author's few page 'manifesto' at the end of the book is too little, too late for me. I would have liked to see some practical tips in each chapter about what ordinary people can do to combat affluenza.
Hopefully the start of a trend - the reduction in consumption.......2006-06-11
A chilling tale of modern consumption gone mad, of the availability of so much yet causing so little happiness. It seems the more we consume the less happy we are. Our houses are bigger than ever, but our families are smalle. OUr children go to the best schools but we hardly see them. We have more money than ever before yet we are crippled under staggeringly high debt, more than ever before - the authors ask the question - what is going on?
They support this ably with graphed research however unfortunately the graphs were not well referenced so I have no idea as to their veracity, so when they mention a 23% proportion of 20-50 year olds 'downsizing' their lifestyle in the last 10 years I just don't know where they got this figure from, or indeed how valid. However while this was a distraction, I did find this book had some extremely major strengths
1 - it is well written,
2 - it is more than just scare tactics, It is thoughtful and thought provoking about the way we live
3 - it offers actually practical solutions as well as philosophical idealism. The conclusion is a series of ideals and how we can go about meeting them.
There have been others talking about the unhappiness bought about by mass consumerism, this is a nice book to start at to understand the issues.
Book Description
This collection of essays edited by Allan Hunt Badiner shows us how to look deeply into the items we consume every day—not only food, but clothes, media, ideas, and images. Right Consumption suggests a reorientation for consumers from passive purchasers, who willingly and uncritically accept advertising messages for toxic products, to active, mindful, and responsible citizens who see the dynamic connection between their purchases and their values. This results in effects compatible with healthy and enduring human, animal, and plant life.
Contributors include Thich Nhat Hanh, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Judith Simmer-Brown, Fritjof Capra, Joan Halifax Roshi, Joanna Macy, Riane Eisler, and Paul Hawken.
Customer Reviews:
Less Consumption - More Compassion.......2004-09-09
"Engaged Buddhism" is a western term, but the ideal of serving others and the earth has been part of Buddhist life for 2,500 years. Just as one seeks Enlightenment so they can help all sentient beings, one must grow engaged Buddhism within themselves to make a happier and healthier world. You can volunteer at your local hospice, but if you are still driving a gas-guzzling SUV, wearing clothes from manufacturers that utilize child labor, or eating meat, you are no closer to emancipation from samsara than if you were doing nothing. And that's what Mindfulness in the Marketplace: Compassionate Responses to Consumerism is really about - using the ethics of Buddhism to guide every facet of your life to be a better person, which in turn creates a better world.
Mindfulness in the Marketplace is a truly well-done and fascinating work. Its wide-ranging topics include Buddhist economics, globalization, manhood and material possession, social transformation, Buddhism and poverty, Zen and money, modern-day slavery and the chocolate industry, domination and overconsumption, the spiritual basis of consumption - in fact, consumption is covered from all angles - and much more. There is a wonderful chapter by Bo Lozoff of the Human Kindness Foundation on the imbalance of career over family, and two perfectly suited companion chapters on "Voluntary Simplicity" by Duane Elgin and "Toward Dematerialization" by Rolf Jucker. Even the oft-taboo topic of "turning [Western] Buddhism into a commodity" is discussed.
For the purposes of this VeggieDharma.Org review (the site this review was originally written for), I was interested in the topic of vegetarianism. There are a few vague references to vegetarianism throughout the book, and a compassionate heart will find vegetarianism/veganism to be one of the end effects of many of these essays, but it isn't until Thich Nhat Hanh's chapter, "Looking Deeply at the Nutriments," that the topic is discussed. In Nhat Hanh's usual, clear style, his compassionate plea is undeniable. Later in the book, the devastation of meat-eating and the benefits of vegetarianism are brought to bear by Kate Lawrence, assistant director of the Colorado Community of Mindful Living, in her chapter "Nourishing Ourselves, Nourishing Others: How Mindful Food Choices Reduce Suffering." In these pages, Ms. Lawrence delves into vegetarianism based on the First, Second and Fifth Precepts, the ideal of Right Livelihood, and dispels the confusion over the "killed especially for you" guise that many meat-eaters use as a defense. No compassionate, engaged Buddhist can continue to eat the flesh of animals after reading this chapter.
There are a few lists in this book, questions to consider before you buy something, do something, or make a decision - "will this benefit my family or community," "will this harm the environment," things like that - and the book's editor, Allan Hunt Badiner, along with John Seed and Ruth Rosenhek, close out Mindfulness in the Marketplace with just such a list. Entitled "Personal Planetary Practices," this eight-point manifesto is not only an excellent wrap-up of the book, but it provides an excellent jumping off p
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