December 10th, 2004 - Stuff: The Secret Lives of Everday Things by John C. Ryan and Alan Thein Durning
A tour through the production life of a car, bike, coffee, cola, burger, computer, and more. Covers each item from natural resource to getting it to you. You find out just how much waste material, natural materials, chemicals, pollutants, etc., are used to supply Americans with the stuff we “need.” A fascinating book; a very easy read in a slim volume. I was disappointed at it’s slimness–I’d hoped for more!
I also have in my stacks another book that takes a hard look at the effects of American consumerism. I can barely stand to read it, it’s so depressing. I didn’t feel that way with this book, although it paints a pretty bleak picture. I think it might be that Stuff also presents things that aren’t as bad. For instance, it notes that laptop computers use a lot less in their production and usage than desktops. (Which I learned just after deciding to get a laptop as my next computer at work. whew!) It also seems more factual than preachy. (The other book seems preachy to me.) I think the other book is going to say “Stop being a consumer.” This book recognizes that few people are going to go that route, so it suggests buying local products, reducing the amount of things you buy, paying attention to organic products, and so on. Things I can actually do!
Find out more about Stuff at Amazon.
Ryan also has another book that looks like a good read: Seven Wonders: Everyday Things for a Healthier Planet (at Amazon).
And if you live in the Pacific Northwest, as Ryan does, you may be interested in his State of the Northwest (at Amazon).