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Book Review

Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic
By John De Graaf, David Wann & Thomas H. Naylor

"Affluenza should make us all realize that material possessions are never enough to satisfy spiritual hunger.  Affluenza challenges us to think beyond the superficiality of individual economic demands to the deeper meaning of life.." 

- Bill Bradley, former United States Senator and Presidential Candidate

This book followed a popular pair of PBS TV segments and it's providing me with a lot of food for thought on the ultimate impact of our U.S. consumer culture.  Since the U.S. economic model influences the rest of the world, we're unfortunately exporting some of the ill effects of our relentless pursuit of more, more, more.  We can all benefit from becoming more aware of some of the potential pitfalls of blindly pursuing our Western model of "progress."

  

A friend of mine recently shared about overhearing a fellow boy scout dad who was helping the troop in preparing their backpacks for a hike.  "Don't let your luxury become your burden" he advised.  While reading Affluenza, that story took on a whole new meaning as it really sunk in that, as Americans, we've all done just that, let our luxury become our burden (and to a much greater extent then we even realize).

"You'll laugh ... You'll cry ... You'll cheer ... You'll growl.  But you'll be challenged and moved by this book.  Affluenza looks at our epidemic of over-consumption and shows how we can live simpler, more meaningful loves.  It's a fantastic book, very funny yet deeply serious."

- Peter Barnes, Cofounder, Working Assets

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