The Day the World Stops Shopping: How ending consumerism gives us a better life and a greener world
Publisher,Random House UK
Publication Date,
Format, Paperback
Weight, 700 g
No. of Pages,
We are using up the planet at almost double the rate it can regenerate. To support our economies, we're told we must shop now like we've never shopped before. And whilst we can do it more responsibly, the scale of our consumption remains the biggest factor in the ruination of the planet. Yet our reliance on stuff continues to grow.
But what would our world look like if we stopped? Would civilisation collapse? Would the planet's ecology be reborn? What would happen to the way we think, make products, use time, express our individuality? Would life be better - or worse?
Visiting places where economies have experienced temporary shut-downs, artisan producers, zero-consumption societies and bringing together a host of expert views, this is both a deeply reported thought-experiment, a history of our relationship with consumption, and a story about the future.
Our private choices are putting the world in peril. The Day the World Stops Shopping is an essential exploration of who we are and what we use, and a vision of a more sustainable world.
This book is an excellent read. Somewhat dry (as you might expect) but the author does a great job of keeping up the pace, inserting humour, and remaining interesting throughout. As for the subject matter - it really is eye-opening; anyone who goes shopping for anything - clothes, tools, houseware - should read this book and take it to heart. If we do it, we might actually save the world.
This turned out to be a different book than I expected going in. Having said that I very much enjoyed it. I will certainly reread it in a few years time. The author references changes that have/are occurring as a result of the pandemic and questions if they will be lasting.