Reviews

Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don't Know You Have by Tatiana Schlossberg

adelheid's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

3.75

erboe501's review against another edition

2.0

After listening to this book, I did feel despairing about how I could make any impactful changes for the environment in my own life. Which, arguably, means Schlossberg did her work well. Any small act you attempt to help the planet probably isn't 100% environmentally friendly. It reminded me of a scene in the TV show The Good Place when they realize that in the modern world we can't net any positive points, because our well-intentioned actions still ripple out and hurt the environment in myriad ways. One area of environmental impact that I didn't know much about, but that now increases my guilt, is how bad using the internet and streaming online is for the planet.

This was a difficult book to listen to on audio since it was heavy on details and facts. I also found Schlossberg's attempts at humor flat and unnecessary. She tried to make a somewhat dry topic fresh and funny, but anyone who would pick up this book to begin with doesn't need lame jokes to keep her invested.

rowansandvig's review against another edition

had to return to the library and was in a bad reading slump

josh_goetz's review against another edition

4.0

Who knew the overwhelming weight of the fight against climate change could be so hilarious

elaga's review against another edition

5.0

Excellent look at how every choice we make has an environmental effect. Overwhelming? Absolutely. But knowledge is power. Mostly I’m left with the feeling that our dependence on cheap goods and food has created a system of modern day inequality and planetary destruction. Our country is *still* built on the backs of the poorest and our thoughtless consumption is part of modern day slavery. Yeah. This isn’t a pick me up but is very necessary.

nick_the_halfwrit's review against another edition

5.0

Written with levity and passion, it's an accessible look at a set of difficult truths. Everyone should read this, and when you're all done being depressed, hopefully we can collectively fix these problems.

rmataloni's review against another edition

3.0

I really wanted to love this book. And I did learn lots of information about the type of impact everything has in our world, especially in the fashion chapter as, admittedly, I’ve become far removed on where everything comes from and how it’s produced. So although it’s well-researched and full of great stats, it didn’t leave me with many actionable insights. I think most of us know that we overproduce so much in our society, causing harm to natural resources as well as having a socioeconomic impact, but what many don’t know is how to reverse the effects—more than just not using plastic bags (which, while helpful, has minimal impact).

amn028's review against another edition

4.0

The book is well written and engaging, but utterly depressingly overwhelming. The author does a great job of highlighting the layers and complexity of climate change. Nothing is as simple as we want to believe.

The author's occasional sarcasm and bad puns do bring some lightheartedness to an otherwise soul crushing read. It helps, although I'm not sure all would appreciate her humour as I did.

The author sums it up nicely near the end by stating, "because what is this book if not to cause periodic panic attacks".

abrignac's review

5.0

Scary. Absolutely terrifying. I’ll never look at a light switch or my dryer the same way.

tofupup's review against another edition

2.0

Some of this information was really helpful. I didn't really find the author's humor that funny, and it became slightly irritating.