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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Bottom line is to obtain things that will last and take care of them. For the most part, this has been our philosophy over the years but has anyone tried to get a flat-screen television repaired lately? Most modern-day appliances with electronic controls are pretty much "throwaways" which is horrible for the landfills. The author has suggestions on what and where to buy most anything although I ended up skimming some of the more detailed parts of the book.
This is a nice addition for those more serious about simplifying their lives.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance digital reading copy.
This is a nice addition for those more serious about simplifying their lives.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance digital reading copy.
These thoughts and information have been shared before. It does bear repeating as many times as possible, in many different ways.
We can build sustainable, healthy lives that are light on our wallets and the planet. She does not belabor this point. Instead she focuses on dependability and longevity. All things that people want in the products we buy.
So if you are looking for a book to help with money and the environment this one is for you.
We can build sustainable, healthy lives that are light on our wallets and the planet. She does not belabor this point. Instead she focuses on dependability and longevity. All things that people want in the products we buy.
So if you are looking for a book to help with money and the environment this one is for you.
Author Tara Button encourages readers to discover what they love, curate a collection of meaningful, long-lasting items, and stop embracing and discarding trends with the rest of the Western world. However, instead of addressing over-consumption and its tax on the planet with vague, emotional argumentation, this author exposes the history of modern consumerism and advertising in detail, delving into the social and personal mental processes that lead to over-consumption and waste. For example, she explains how even when our items are not technically obsolete, marketers expertly stoke our desires for a replacement by changing product designs and making something look "so last year." She also addresses how common design practices impose a short lifespan on products so that consumers will have to buy them again.
This book also includes sections on the impact that commercials have on culture and lives. Because the author used to work in advertising, she is an excellent voice to explain how manipulative commercials can be, and how even when they don't peddle misinformation, they are still explicitly designed to tap into subconscious desires and create felt needs for products that people might not care about if they were marketed less insidiously. In response to this, she outlines next steps for how to change shopping mindsets and habits.
Because this book focuses on the mindsets and heart issues that drive people to over-consume and live wastefully, it is much more oriented to affluent people than to those who depend on cheaply made products in order to get by, but since affluent people are the ones more likely to trash the planet by following trends and buying and discarding items on a whim, it is appropriate for this book to be directed towards those with the means to finance wasteful lifestyles. The author encourages readers to consider their true values, reject consumerism, and change their thoughts, beliefs, and habits to create a more purposeful life, meaningful home, and healthier planet.
She also has a resource to help people learn about products with longevity. Even though some Goodreads users have criticized this book for promoting the author's website, BuyMeOnce, she designed this website for the purpose of discovering and sharing information about the types of quality products that won't break down after a short period of use. I believe that this book is actually better for mentioning the website, because other books give generalized advice without providing any next steps or resources. It's clear that this author not only practices what she preaches, but also knows how to pass on her lifestyle values to others in a concrete way.
I really enjoyed this book, because even though I was raised to use things until they wore out, and to reject trends in favor of my personal style, it was still helpful to think through these issues in a systematic way, and it intrigued me to learn more about the history of advertising and how the Western world developed its over-consumption problem. Although I would not recommend this book to someone struggling to get by financially, since its suggestions for buying long-lasting products can seem laughably unattainable, its messages about how to cultivate good values and a good life through discerning your personal taste, rejecting consumerism, and living simply are spot-on.
This book also includes sections on the impact that commercials have on culture and lives. Because the author used to work in advertising, she is an excellent voice to explain how manipulative commercials can be, and how even when they don't peddle misinformation, they are still explicitly designed to tap into subconscious desires and create felt needs for products that people might not care about if they were marketed less insidiously. In response to this, she outlines next steps for how to change shopping mindsets and habits.
Because this book focuses on the mindsets and heart issues that drive people to over-consume and live wastefully, it is much more oriented to affluent people than to those who depend on cheaply made products in order to get by, but since affluent people are the ones more likely to trash the planet by following trends and buying and discarding items on a whim, it is appropriate for this book to be directed towards those with the means to finance wasteful lifestyles. The author encourages readers to consider their true values, reject consumerism, and change their thoughts, beliefs, and habits to create a more purposeful life, meaningful home, and healthier planet.
She also has a resource to help people learn about products with longevity. Even though some Goodreads users have criticized this book for promoting the author's website, BuyMeOnce, she designed this website for the purpose of discovering and sharing information about the types of quality products that won't break down after a short period of use. I believe that this book is actually better for mentioning the website, because other books give generalized advice without providing any next steps or resources. It's clear that this author not only practices what she preaches, but also knows how to pass on her lifestyle values to others in a concrete way.
I really enjoyed this book, because even though I was raised to use things until they wore out, and to reject trends in favor of my personal style, it was still helpful to think through these issues in a systematic way, and it intrigued me to learn more about the history of advertising and how the Western world developed its over-consumption problem. Although I would not recommend this book to someone struggling to get by financially, since its suggestions for buying long-lasting products can seem laughably unattainable, its messages about how to cultivate good values and a good life through discerning your personal taste, rejecting consumerism, and living simply are spot-on.
informative
quite a lot of advertisement for the webshop of the author. also, i didn't find many of the things on the website that were mentioned in the book. but some good tips were included and interactive pages that one can use to find out what to buy, what to keep, what to own and why. 3 stars means it was good, i would recommend it to others but it wasn't exceptional
Great for rich white people who are judgmental and want a giant advertisement for a blog. Otherwise, straight up irritating and inspires nothing. Literally, not a single moment spent on the fact that cheap, shoddily made products are often all that's available for many and that's not their fault. It's a bigger structural problem and frankly, sending Apple a tweet to ask them to make more sustainable products isn't going to solve that problem. But hey, it invites a few more moments to be Holier Than Thou. Likewise, not a second of consideration for why the Marshmallow Test is also a flawed study; those who didn't show "will power" in not eating the marshmallow aren't failures. It's exceptionally possible they come from a world of lacking and they have never had reason to believe more would come if they didn't take advantage of the thing set before them.
Pick up [b:The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store|35488858|The Year of Less How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store|Cait Flanders|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508469293s/35488858.jpg|56889246] instead.
Pick up [b:The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store|35488858|The Year of Less How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store|Cait Flanders|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1508469293s/35488858.jpg|56889246] instead.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I have been on a real non fiction, self helpy book kinda binge at the moment. I just enjoy listening to them while doing other things.
The idea and the outline of this book is great. Buy less cheap shit quality stuff and invest in better quality items that will last longer that end up costing you less in the long run. Its something I have been wanting to do for such a long time, but we all know what I am going to say here... How many people have the money to do this? If we were all in a position to buy better quality items in life, I think its safe to say we all would be.
Ok, yes the talk of materialism in this book makes a point. Do we actually need to buy the item we have our eye on now or can we wait and save for the better quality version? Again I have these thoughts and as a mother and home owner when I have savings building up for the pair of winter boots I have been needing for 4 years and then my kid needs something or some unexpected bill pops up then the savings are gone on to that.
So in these cases I hate to say it often the cheap items get bought to fill that gap that is needed. Its not that I want the cheap item, its that I need clothes to keep me warm in winter and if I cant afford the good quality stuff, I have no real option than to buy the cheap shit that will only last a season.
All this being said. I agree with the book, i think its great and it makes great points but do I think its very realistic... no. Is there alot of plugging for the authors website and certain brands...yes. Which is not something I like to read in a book to be honest.
I think this book would be great for a teen or young adult who maybe has less financial responsibilities in life currently and can maybe have a good start at investing in quality items while they are young that will last throughout their lives so they aren't going to end up being stuck in the yuck cycle most of society is of wasting money away on crap.
I think this kind of thinking is for sure becoming a thing and trendy so I think alot of kids could benefit from reading it.
The idea and the outline of this book is great. Buy less cheap shit quality stuff and invest in better quality items that will last longer that end up costing you less in the long run. Its something I have been wanting to do for such a long time, but we all know what I am going to say here... How many people have the money to do this? If we were all in a position to buy better quality items in life, I think its safe to say we all would be.
Ok, yes the talk of materialism in this book makes a point. Do we actually need to buy the item we have our eye on now or can we wait and save for the better quality version? Again I have these thoughts and as a mother and home owner when I have savings building up for the pair of winter boots I have been needing for 4 years and then my kid needs something or some unexpected bill pops up then the savings are gone on to that.
So in these cases I hate to say it often the cheap items get bought to fill that gap that is needed. Its not that I want the cheap item, its that I need clothes to keep me warm in winter and if I cant afford the good quality stuff, I have no real option than to buy the cheap shit that will only last a season.
All this being said. I agree with the book, i think its great and it makes great points but do I think its very realistic... no. Is there alot of plugging for the authors website and certain brands...yes. Which is not something I like to read in a book to be honest.
I think this book would be great for a teen or young adult who maybe has less financial responsibilities in life currently and can maybe have a good start at investing in quality items while they are young that will last throughout their lives so they aren't going to end up being stuck in the yuck cycle most of society is of wasting money away on crap.
I think this kind of thinking is for sure becoming a thing and trendy so I think alot of kids could benefit from reading it.
informative
fast-paced
This is a really, really basic introduction to the concept of buying less and buying better. I think that it could be a good introduction if someone isn’t already into anti-consumerism. I also think that some of the points were out of touch (like holding up Nordic countries as the pinnacle of sustainability or quoting Coco Chanel).
I do think it made interesting points about design and the obsession with improving beauty/aesthetics and change for the sake of change (under the guise of innovation).
I do think it made interesting points about design and the obsession with improving beauty/aesthetics and change for the sake of change (under the guise of innovation).