I read a lot of nonfiction about consumption, as well as about how the stuff we consume gets made. I think it's similar to why I love reading dating manuals...I never understood dating, so I love reading about it. I hate, hate, HATE shopping, so for some reason I find myself reading about it compulsively.
But that's not what's important here. What's important is that you should read Fred Pearce's Confessions of an Eco-Sinner: Tracking Down the Sources of My Stuff. Pearce is a British journalist who decides, in the course of his other journalistic work, to track down where his stuff comes from, starting with his gold wedding band. From there, he tracks other things, like his t-shirts, socks, food, electronics equipment, and the metal in his soda can. Those chapters are fascinating enough (you'll never believe how many countries have a hand in making your socks), but then he also tracks where his trash and even his sewage goes. It's fascinating:
"While occupying just 2.5 percent of the world's croplands, cotton uses a tenth of all the world's chemical fertilizers and a staggering quarter of all the insecticides, mostly to fight off whitefly and bollworm." (p. 90.)
That's pretty interesting stuff, I think, and this book is full of those. It's similar to, but about a million times better, than such books as A Year without 'Made in China' or Not Buying It.
So, as we enter the holiday season, this book leaves me with one thought: Buy less, but spend more (I had that thought after the author points out how ridiculous it is to pay $10 for a t-shirt, in light of the cotton, labor, and travel needed to produce it). Or, just buy this book for everyone on your list. Sure, they may consider it a downer gift, but what's the worst that can happen? You'll be kicked out of the gift exchange?
Dig it! I didn't know you were into this sort of book too. I'm going to hunt it down immediately. I read both the others you mentioned, and I still can't get over how the "Not Buying It" couple let themselves run out of Q-Tips while still buying wine and the newspaper. Go figure.
The other thing that interests me is reading about people who hoard things. Have you read "Collections of Nothing"?
Posted by: Jessica | 17 November 2008 at 10:26 AM
I'm going to cut down on my paper still further, especially since it has been taken over by wingnuts.
I've been cleaning out clothes etc - I want them to get USED (if not by me, then by someone else). If I lose the weight, then I'll get new ones then. I'm still waiting . . .
Posted by: Sarah | 17 November 2008 at 12:12 PM
Jessica,
Do let me know what you think of this one, okay? I was trying to work out the differences between this and books I've not liked as well, and I think it's an aspect of the male approach--the two women authors of the other titles had to make it personal (MY shopping for the year...) while this guy admitted he wasn't going to change his life for the book but was just curious about where stuff came from and where it eventually went. I preferred that approach.
What I really hated about "Not Buying It" was when they couldn't get themselves to buy some food made by a local street vendor--which seemed to fly in the face of their whole project. I forgot about the wine vs. Q-tips priority!
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 18 November 2008 at 03:42 PM
Sarah,
My sister gives me her older papers, so if I really want the local perspective on the news I can get it from those.
Oh, the old "I'll lose weight" trap and keeping clothes! I've been guilty of that too. I think it's time to admit the weight is with me to stay...
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 18 November 2008 at 03:43 PM
We just got this in, and I'm psyched to read it, as I am also a fan of the genre.
Posted by: laura | 19 November 2008 at 08:08 PM