Affluenza: How Overconsumption Is Killing Us--and How to Fight Back, Edition 3

· Berrett-Koehler Publishers
2 reviews
Ebook
288
Pages
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About this ebook

Welcome to the enhanced edition of Affluenza! Each chapter of this updated third edition features scenes from the popular national PBS specials “Affluenza” and “Escape from Affluenza,” co-produced by Affluenza co-author John de Graaf and hosted by National Public Radio's Scott Simon.

This iconic book shows how problems ranging from loneliness, endless working hours, and family conflict to rising debt, environmental pollution, and rampant commercialism are all symptoms of this global plague. In the enhanced edition you'll see hilarious skits including the frightening original diagnosis of “affluenza” and the shocking “surrender of the Joneses.” You'll meet experts and hear from ordinary people about how affluenza has affected their lives and what they are doing about it. You'll see victims of shopping fever and swollen expectations as they roam through the “affluenza hot zones” of tourist-destination shopping malls, watch in horror as marketers plan the manipulation of children, take a quick trip through the history of this dreaded disease, and see its often invisible but terrible consequences made visible. But it's not all gloom and doom—far from it. You'll also drop in on a simplicity circle (“affluholics anonymous!”), wander through a magical marsh where you come out enriched “and your wallet is still as full as when you left home,” and share the life of an urban family who is beating the bug! The authors also trace the role overconsumption played in the Great Recession, discuss new ways to measure social health and success (such as the Gross Domestic Happiness index), and offer policy recommendations to make our society more simplicity-friendly.

Remember that nine out of ten doctors recommend this book as the cure for affluenza! Happy reading and…happy viewing!


There are a total of 23 videos spanning 39:36 minute. File size: 379.7 MB
Welcome to the enhanced edition of Affluenza! Each chapter of this updated third edition features scenes from the popular national PBS specials “Affluenza” and “Escape from Affluenza,” co-produced by Affluenza co-author John de Graaf and hosted by National Public Radio's Scott Simon. This iconic...

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Ratings and reviews

2 reviews
Austin Karren
March 11, 2019
If you were to believe everything that this book tries to teach you it would destroy the rule of law and capitalism. They even make the point that those with wealth often use it to better the lives of others around them all while preaching taking it away from them and establishing socialism as a standard for American living. They hate high prices and consumerism but preach the Keynesian economic policy of demand side economics that got us there in the first place. They have no proven or real solutions to Affluenza and they even admit that they don't know how their policy would affect society.
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About the author

John de Graaf is an independent documentary producer who is the recipient of more than 100 awards for filmmaking, including three Emmy awards. He is currently active in the Happiness Initiative (www.happycounts.org) and is an advisor to the prime minister of Bhutan.

David Wann is the author of ten books on sustainable lifestyles and designs and the producer of twenty-five documentaries, several of them award winners. He codesigned the cohousing neighborhood he lives in and coordinates the community garden.

Thomas H. Naylor is a professor emeritus of economics at Duke University and is the author of over thirty books.

John de Graaf is an independent documentary producer who is the recipient of more than 100 awards for filmmaking, including three Emmy awards. He is currently active in the Happiness Initiative (www.happycounts.org) and is an advisor to the prime minister of Bhutan. David Wann is the author of te...

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