Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping

Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping
by Judith Levine

Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping
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Book Summary Information

Author: Judith Levine
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-02-27
ISBN: 0743269365
Number of pages: 288
Publisher: Free Press

Book Reviews of Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping

Book Review: Fantastic
Summary: 5 Stars

Like many, I picked this book up looking for a "How-To" of sorts to cut back on spending. It ended up not being a guide to spending less at all... it was much better. This book was a fantastic study of American consumption. The author used many different viewpoints from ancient philosophers to modern political scientists in order to formulate conclusions as to why people buy as much as we do.

Other reviewers made comments about her yuppieness. She is definitely a liberal. Parts of the book does discuss a lot of her political views although most at least tie into the theme of the book. She openly tells the audience how much she makes per year ($45,000) and she does own $12 socks (but is embarrassed about it and doesn't buy any during the experiment). Honestly, she seemed rather average to me, just prioritizes differently I suppose.

I highly recommend this book. It won't be the answer to all your questions about how to spend less, but it will make you think an awful lot about the time you waste shopping/buying/spending and all the better things you could be doing with that time.

Summary of Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping

Shocked by the commerce in everything from pet cloning to patriotism, frightened by the downward spiral of her finances and that of the trash-strewn earth, Judith Levine enlists her partner, Paul, in a radical experiment: to forgo all but the most necessary purchases for an entire year.

Without consumer goods and experiences, Judith and Paul pursue their careers, nurture relationships, and try to keep their sanity, their identities, and their sense of humor intact. Tracking their progress -- and inevitable lapses -- Levine contemplates need and desire, scarcity and security, consumerism and citizenship. She asks the Big Questions: Can the economy survive without shopping? Are Q-tips necessary?

Not Buying It is the confession of a woman any reader can identify with: someone who can't live without French roast coffee or SmartWool socks but who has had it up to here with overconsumption and its effects on the earth and everyone who dwells there.

For the humor and intelligence of its insights, the refreshment of its skepticism, and the surprises of its conclusions, Not Buying It is sure to be on anyone's list of Necessities.

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