Review~ The Story of Stuff

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Free Press

March 9, 2010
Language: English
ISBN-10: 143912566X
ISBN-13: 978-1439125663

Annie Leonard's book tells us so much about our world and about, as it says on the cover, the environmental and social impacts of "our obsession with stuff." But it also tells us about who we are and what we think is important. Not preachy or judgmental, Annie creates a new way to think about the choices we make in our own lives and how they connect to everyone and everything. It's really a book about community and how to create one, and how to make choices --both personal and political --that can lead to a healthier, safer and more sustainable world for all of us. Loved the mix of personal stories and analysis and the detailed footnotes and citations. It's well written and tells a great story. A great read that will make you see the world differently -- and open up many opportunities to make change. This book picks up where the video leaves off with lots of discussion of solutions and what we can each do to create a more sustainable life for ourselves and the planet. The message is that life is about more than stuff or profits --that we should honor and appreciate everything we have. And of course businesses need to make money, as do we all. It's just not the only thing that life is about.

disclosure: I received this book free from Book Blogs in exchange for my review.