The Story of Stuff - Annie Leonard

Our society's deep, unwavering faith in economic growth rests on the assumption that focusing on infinite growth is both possible and good. But neither is true. We can't run the expanding economic subsystem (take-make-waste) on a planet of fixed size indefinitely: on many fronts, we're perilously close to the limits of our finite planet already. Infinite economic growth, therefore, is impossible. Nor has it turned out to be, aft the point at which basic human needs are met, a strategy for increasing human well-being. After a certain point, economic growth (more money and more Stuff) ceases to make us happier. I mean, if everyone were having fun and enjoying leisure, laughter, and well-being, we might decide that the pursuit of growth was worth trashing the planet. But the majority of us are not having fun; instead we are reporting high levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and unhappiness.

Most people are aware of Annie Leonard from her immensely popular YouTube videos. She has taken that material and incorporated it into this book. It is written with the same friendly charm that she presents on video. It makes the seriousness of her cause easy to swallow without feeling like you are being lectured. She also avoids making the reader feel too guilty, which we all should for the mess we have made of the world. At times, the book gets too detailed over some issue that Leonard advocates. But the reading is fun while she presents vital information that we all need to consider and act on regarding all of our stuff. I especially liked the clarity presented about the lack of a positive relationship between stuff and happiness. Read this book--or at least watch some of her videos.