Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Book Review: Affluenza

Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic by John de Graaf, David Wann, and Thomas H. Naylor

My friend Jamie recommended this so I picked it up while at the library. I watched the PBS series of the same name and after both the book and series I would only recommend one of the two. It doesn't matter which one but the two together is just a repeat of the same information. I was hoping that the book would be an extension of the series and present new information.

So, the book is about how our American society has approached a consumption epidemic and teaches us ways to rid ourselves of it. It is full of interesting and sometimes shocking statistics on American credit card debt, household waste and spending. The book is divided into three sections: symptoms, causes, and treatment and helps the reader evaluate if they have "affluenza." I appreciated the treatment section a great deal because it provides resources and ideas on how to live with less and still be happy. It was a great book to read last week since I also watched Oprah's debt diet all week long and also learned many tips on where to cut spending and cut debt. Its easy to cut back and if you care about our environment, your financial future and American economic stability then this book is the way to go.

So far Jamie is 1 for 1 on her recommendations and her next one is The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac. We'll see how that one goes soon...

Kim's Grade: A Fast, fun, light and informative.

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