Not Buying It by Judi Levine

[muckdiva]

Started reading this book yesterday, and am finding it fascinating. It's about a couple's experiment to go for a year without buying anything other than the necessities (such as food ). Judi Levine is an American, so some UK readers might not identify with her, (and she doesn't have kids, so 'not buying it' will be a whole lot easier for her of course) but on the whole, I am finding this book hugely interesting. It gives some interesting theories on what drives consumerism.

Oh, and I didn't buy it - borrowed from the library

[Sue]

Muckdiva
Yes, I read this, first of a trend I should think, heard a journalist is doing the same over here?
It certainly made me think again about what I buy and why and my part in the capitalist system!
But I suspect many of us grapes think along these lines anyway, trying to recycle, using freecycle, buying secondhand etc.
Sue

[johnty greentoes]

Started reading this book yesterday, and am finding it fascinating. It's about a couple's experiment to go for a year without buying anything other than the necessities (such as food ). Judi Levine is an American, so some UK readers might not identify with her, (and she doesn't have kids, so 'not buying it' will be a whole lot easier for her of course) but on the whole, I am finding this book hugely interesting. It gives some interesting theories on what drives consumerism.

Oh, and I didn't buy it - borrowed from the library

Thanks for the tip MD. Will give it a skeg.

[Alison]

Sounds interesting, have just looked it up on Amazon (£3.99 + P&P at the mo) and it doesn't get a particularly good write up - the general complaint seems to be that it's not really relevant to the average person in the UK and that she wasn't that big a shopper in the first place. Did you enjoy it until the end, Muckdiva?

[smallblueplanet]

Thinking about how I might manage. How does she define 'essentials'?

[muckdiva]

Sounds interesting, have just looked it up on Amazon (£3.99 + P&P at the mo) and it doesn't get a particularly good write up - the general complaint seems to be that it's not really relevant to the average person in the UK and that she wasn't that big a shopper in the first place. Did you enjoy it until the end, Muckdiva?

I'm about half way through in 2 days, and still good so far. I read the Amazon reviews (partly why I thought I'd check it out for myself from the local library rather than order it), and yes, in some ways her lifestyle means the experiment is a bit easier for her, but the essence of the book is still the same. She quotes from other writers quite a bit, which can get somewhat deep at times, but I like her descriptions of day to day life and the challenges it brings. I s'pose for a shopaholic looking for a quick fix, it's probably not the right book, but I like the way it tries to make sense of 'consuming' in a wider sense.

[Two_Sheds]

Thanks MD, I've been trying to think of the title of this book all week. (ah - perhaps my Cosmic Ordering is at work again!)

[Alison]

Thanks Muckdiva - will look out for it at our library. Always trust a review of somebody I "know"!