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Reading Room:  The Story of Stuff  |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
 Posted - May 23 2010 : 12:07:29 PM
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Subtitle: How Our Obsession with Stuff is Trashing the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health - And a Vision for Change by Annie Leonard
This book takes the reader through the lifespan of our "stuff". From extraction of minerals from the ground, to production, through distribution, our consumption and disposal. It has cute illustrations and informative sidebars.
I don't look at "stuff" the same way after reading this book. Here is a section that made me think, "In Dhaka, Bangladesh, I lived in a house with a half-dozen Bangladeshis. Having a westerner live with them was a novelty, and they had fixed up a clean and sparsely furnished bedroom especially nice for my arrival. As I unpacked my Stuff (some clothes and personal "care" products like my Pantene Pro V - this was pre-GoodGuide, and I didn't know about the nasty chemical ingredients), I noticed there was no garbage can in my room. So on my first trip to the market, I bought a simple little trash can. But soon I discovered that the "away" of my throwing things away had a different meaning than back in the States. What I threw into the trash resurfaced around the neighborhood, put back to use. I noticed my light blue flowered deodorant container on my neighbor's living room shelf, now a vase filled with flowers. I saw my empty Pantene conditioner bottle again in the form of a toy; someone had stuck small rods through it and attached wheels, and a neighbor boy pulled it around on a string as a toy car."
This illustrated so well how blessed we are and how addicted we are to throwing things away. This book doesn't lay a guilt trip though, it is straight forward and well-researched. A good read.
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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vintagediva1
True Blue Farmgirl
1251 Posts
Michele
Brighton
Michigan
USA
1251 Posts |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2010 : 08:38:07 AM
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I will look for this - sounds like a thought-provoking read.
Thanks for sharing!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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knittinchick
True Blue Farmgirl
1854 Posts
Megan
Wisconsin
1854 Posts |
Posted - May 24 2010 : 3:59:46 PM
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I saw the short film on the internet, and it really changed the way I look at the things we buy. I would love to read the book, though!
God's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal. |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2010 : 08:40:41 AM
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Megan,
I need to check out the Story of Stuff video. She said so many people wanted more info after seeing the video that she decided to write the book.
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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knittinchick
True Blue Farmgirl
1854 Posts
Megan
Wisconsin
1854 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2010 : 3:43:46 PM
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Judy, the video is so amazing! It will change your view, as I am sure the book already has!
God's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal. |
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barnagainkristin
True Blue Farmgirl
465 Posts
Kristin
Utah
USA
465 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2010 : 7:12:41 PM
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Can't wait to find it and read it. Guess I should look for a copy at the library or a used copy so I don't accumulate more stuff. :)
barnagainkristin
"Others Before Self" |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - May 26 2010 : 04:44:18 AM
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Kristin,
Hehe -- sounds like you already have the right idea!
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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Lessie Louise
True Blue Farmgirl
1406 Posts
Carol
PECULIAR
MO
USA
1406 Posts |
Posted - May 28 2010 : 2:07:07 PM
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Looking forward to reading this, thank you, Carol
Forget buns of steel, I'd rather have buns of cinnamon!
Farmgirl #680! |
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electricdunce
True Blue Farmgirl
2544 Posts
Karin
Belmont
ME
USA
2544 Posts |
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barnagainkristin
True Blue Farmgirl
465 Posts
Kristin
Utah
USA
465 Posts |
Posted - Jun 12 2010 : 08:34:59 AM
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Found the Story of Stuff at Barnes and Noble for half price. I plan on sharing it with lots of friends and family. I can't put it down and boy is it an eye opener. Thank you so much for sharing this book idea! I work with a lady who saw me reading it at lunch and said "Oh I don't have a problem with stuff." I wonder if she uses electricity, oil, buys items in plastic containers, or drinks from aluminum cans? Thanks again! What a great read.
barnagainkristin
"Others Before Self" |
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knittinchick
True Blue Farmgirl
1854 Posts
Megan
Wisconsin
1854 Posts |
Posted - Jun 12 2010 : 12:48:51 PM
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Kristin, that is too funny! People in my class will say they are not materialistic, but what do they ask for for Christmas: iPods, laptops, new cell phones, new clothes, etc. Now, that's not to say that if we work hard for these things that we shouldn't have them, but we shouldn't have them in such excess.
God's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal. |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - Jun 13 2010 : 03:54:28 AM
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Kristin,
Glad you are enjoying it. Yes, it sure is eye opening and habit changing. The subject came up at the library yesterday and one of the library employees decided she wanted to read it, too. She requested it while I was there. Hopefully, person by person, our perception of what we really need (vs. want) will change as a nation.
Continued happy reading!
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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knittinchick
True Blue Farmgirl
1854 Posts
Megan
Wisconsin
1854 Posts |
Posted - Jun 14 2010 : 11:01:30 PM
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Would any of yall be willing to lend me your copy when you're done reading it? I would so appreciate it very much! E-mail me if you're interested!
God's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal. |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - Jun 15 2010 : 05:09:56 AM
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Oh, Megan, I wish I had my own copy because I would send it to you. I just found it at the library though. If you local library doesn't have it, could you request it through them from another library?
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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knittinchick
True Blue Farmgirl
1854 Posts
Megan
Wisconsin
1854 Posts |
Posted - Jun 15 2010 : 09:59:58 AM
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In my whole library system, they are all checked out!! They are at probably ten of the libraries in the area, and they're all checked out!
God's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal. |
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patchworkpeace
True Blue Farmgirl
478 Posts
Judy
Jackson
Michigan
USA
478 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2010 : 05:21:20 AM
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Megan,
I'm so sorry! But I guess it's a good problem in a way, if that many people are reading it. One last suggestion, your library most likely has a way to order books from other libraries in the entire state. Perhaps you could ask about that. Here in Michigan its called "Melcat", Michigan e-library catalog. There is also Worldcat where you can order books from libraries around the country and the world, if necessary. All libraries are part of that. Good luck!
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
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knittinchick
True Blue Farmgirl
1854 Posts
Megan
Wisconsin
1854 Posts |
Posted - Jun 16 2010 : 10:48:20 PM
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Thanks Judy! That's so cool; I'll have to look into that.
God's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal. |
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Reading Room: The Story of Stuff |
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The Story of Stuff
