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Consumed: The need for collective change; colonialism, climate change & consumerism by Aja Barber
db_32's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
A must read, Aja Barber relates the climate crisis intersection with the fashion industry in a way relatable for all. Both informative and personal the book highlights the exploitation of workers and the manipulation of consumers while still conveying the hope that a collective and radical change is attainable.
dwarrowdams's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Excellent book that paired good information with actionable steps to take. I do wish the section on how to combat clothing waste was a bit longer/more in-depth, but this was a really important book that seeks to empower readers and get them to make a change.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Colonisation, and Racism
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
Consumed is a very readable book that delivers exactly what it states on the cover. In an informal, conversational tone, the author looks at issues with consumerism, with a particular emphasis on fast fashion. Capitalism, climate change, racism, colonialism, sexism, fat phobia, cultural appropriation, pollution, worker exploitation, and more are all covered. The first section is educational. Have you ever wondered what happens to the clothes that are placed in recycling bins in many fast fashion stores? Many are shipped to Kantamanto, the world's largest second-hand market, in Ghana. But up to 40% of the clothes that don't get sold there end up as waste which the government of Accra then has to pay to to go to landfill. There is so much wrong with that. The second section is where Barber lays out a whole lot of actions consumers can take to lessen their consumption, lessen their waste, and ensure that their purchases are more ethical and sustainable. I appreciate that she does so in a way that doesn't blame readers and that her emphasis is on encouraging them to think about their consumption rather than becoming "perfectly ethical consumers", a species so rare it doesn't actually exist. While the focus is on fast fashion, many of the suggestions could be applied to other areas. I'm not much of a shopper myself, and clothes shopping in particular rates way down my list of preferred activities. (it's was less than a week before my oldest's wedding before I went to buy an outfit for the occasion; if I'd been able to convince myself that jeans and a sweatshirt were suitable attire I would have skipped the shopping trip entirely). Yet this book still left me with much to think about and several action points to implement. For other readers, its potential impact will be much greater.
rosegoldteacher's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
This is a good call to action that calls for accountability without blaming the reader. I could definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn about sustainability or the fashion industry.