Book Club Selection — "Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle," by David Wann.

by Katy on January 14, 2009 · 8 comments

 

 

Simple Prosperity

 

The first  selection for The Non-Consumer Advocate book club will be the terrific Simple Prosperity : Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle, by David Wann

The Utne Reader writes:

“David Wann makes a compelling case that the current fiscal squeeze is really a good thing in Simple Prosperity. A coauthor of the best selling Affluenza, he covers a lot of solution-oriented ground, from conscientious consumption and cohousing to building human-scale neighborhoods and dismantling the fossil fuel economy…”

I am currently reading this great book, and it incorporates non-consumerism, frugality and simple living. Pretty much everything I write about, so I think it’s a great fit. I’ve also had it from the library for a few weeks and been able to renew it, so it should be widely available. (Although I did go buy my own copy.)

Here’s an excerpt:

It’s time for a new way of valuing the world and our place in it. The good news is that curing the pandemic of over-consumption at both the personal and cultural scale is not about giving up the good life but getting it back. What will we give up?  Mostly unwanted side effects like rising sea levels, debt, depression, waste, war, and inflation. Which would you rather have — a moderate, joyful lifestyle with fewer of these side effects, or the same old blowout with an even more miserable hangover?

When we change a few key priorities, many of our material wants will cease to be obsessions. It’s not just that we won’tneed the next generation of gadgets or clothes; we truly won’t even want them. Instead of fidgety, addictive consumption, our lives will be filled with the real wealth of sanity, health, hope, caring, connection, participation, and purpose.

We’ll start to discuss it on February first, which gives us more than two weeks to get going. It’s written in a very accessible style, and is easy to delve right into.

I’m really looking forward to discussing this great book. Let’s start reading!

Katy Wolk-Stanley

“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”

UPDATE: The author, (David Wann) has generously offered to be part of the book club discussion. I’m really looking forward to getting started!

{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

Wendy January 15, 2009 at 5:50 am

What a great pick! I read David Wann’s, “Affluenza” and found his style very accessible. I am looking forward to getting started on “Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle.”

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Debi Cole January 15, 2009 at 8:10 am

I’m so excited too!! I ordered one… (okay…it sounded like one of those good to have your own and pass around to everyone books!) Thank you again for your wonderful inspiring blog!! Hugs my friend!

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Jocele January 15, 2009 at 1:11 pm

That is a great book. I read it couple of months ago and really enjoyed it. I’d like to read it again, and will jump onboard with your book club, if you’ll have me.

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Jan January 15, 2009 at 1:34 pm

Yeah! Can’t wait to see if I can get it from my library!

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Pennie January 21, 2009 at 2:46 pm

I’m in!

Gotta find the book used somewhere local…my rural town library sucks.

Wish me luck!

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Viki S January 23, 2009 at 9:20 am

Sounds good. We have a fairly nice library here, so I’ll see if I can check it out. How will this work? Should we read so many chapters by a certain time? With a busy life, there’s not way I can finish it by 2/1. Do you want to set up some guidelines or something?

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rekindled January 25, 2009 at 10:36 am

Hi, I’ve just started reading this book and I look forward to joining in the discussion!

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Janet Hayward January 25, 2009 at 11:22 am

I’m reading “Affluenza” right now. This is an eye-opening book. I look forward to “Simple Prosperity.”

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