I don’t have the book on me, but seeing as I haven’t got much to show in the book progress stakes lately, I thought I’d throw a few quick words in about it.
I think Kim read it a couple of years ago, and I’m not sure how it influenced her/our behaviour, but it was certainly worth me reading also. Although a bit repetitive by the end, there are very readable and non-hysterical sections about overconsumption, (lack of) happiness and the myth that (most) Austalians are “doing it tough”. Whilst it laid the blame for many western modern-day ailments on advertising and the market’s need for continual increased profit, I was left wondering whether perhaps human nature itself would have brought us to this point perhaps at a less accelerated rate.
Towards the end of the book (which has many thought provoking statements and is definitely worth a look) the authors become more positive about what can be done to combat many families suffering dissatisfaction, stress and huge debt. Whilst the concept seems dated and not so revolutionary now, downshifting to lower paid or less demanding but more satisfying jobs is floated as a solution. I whizzed through this book in a few days and enjoyed it, but Naomi Klein’s “No Logo”, despite being on a slightly different topic, is better researched and more convincing, and is the one to read in this field. 3.5 stars.