Recommended Books That Support "The Non-Consumer Advocate" Lifestyle
I'm a big reader. I would rather snuggle up in bed with a book than most anything else. I'm very happy to have finally entered that golden age of parenting, where I have blissful chunks of time to indulge this satisfying pleasure.
I also read audio books while commuting, doing dishes, cleaning, hanging laundry and similar similarly dull tasks. It's an addiction.
But I'm an open-minded reader - fiction, non-fiction, I devour it all.
There are certain books I have read through the years that are in-line with the ethics of frugality and green-living that I support on my blog. Here's just a partial list:
- "The Poisonwood Bible," by Barbara Kingsolver.
- "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn," by Betty Smith.
- "The Complete Tightwad Gazette," by Amy Dacyczyn.
- "Your Money Or Your Life," by Joe Dominguez and Vicky Robin.
- "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America," by Barbara Ehrenreich.
- "Living The Good Life," by Helen and Scott Nearing.
- "Confessions Of A Shopaholic," by Sophie Kinsella. (Because the power of a cautionary tale knows no bounds, plus I have a soft spot for British Chick Lit).
I'm sure there are scads of books I've left out, and many I've yet to read. That's what so great about reading -- you could never possibly run out of fresh material.
Which favorite books would you recommend for the Non-Consumer in each of us? Let me know in the comments section below.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
P.S. Don't forget to patronize the locally owned used bookshops in your community, or your local library.
I enjoy Tom Hodgkinson's books, How to be Idle, and How to be Free. They're funny, but also really counter-cultural in their gentle undermining of work and consumption.
And there's the classic Walden, by Henry David Thoreau, which is beautiful and radical.
What is your opinion on the Kindle device? It does save quite a lot of paper and allows for less expensive distribution of books. Just wondering what your take was on this. http://www.bentpage.wordpress.com.
Katy:
Have you read Animal, Vegetable, Mineral by Barbara Kingsolver? It's about her family's move to a farm and their experience of growing their own food and raising animals.
Hi Katy,
I really liked "Your Money Or Your Life". Nickle And Dimed was very sobering. I love my life!
There are tons of stories to download. Some of my favorite things to listen to right now are "Selected Shorts" and episodes of "Speaking of Faith" . I am sure you could find them with a Google search. Lots of NPR stuff too like "This American Life".
I love to be read stories. It feels like nurturing to me.
I also love your life 🙂 Thanks for sharing snipits of it with all of us.
In reply to comments from this morning.
I have not read, "Animal, Vegetable, Mineral," but do have it on hold at the library. I have loved all Barbara Kingsolver's novels, and look forward to reading this book.
My opinion on the Kindle device?
I am wary of an expensive piece of electronics that will be outdated in a few years, and becomes garbage if dropped.
However, I do see how it would be great for travelers, or people who simply can't spare the room for a dozen books.
I took the kids to hear a Mir Space Station astronaut speak last year, and he did mention that he brought his I-Pod into space. I suppose the Kindle would also be great for astronauts.
When a book gets dropped, the worst that can happen is bending of pages.
Books -- They are beautiful on a shelf, comforting in the hand, free at the library and don't need maintenance when filled with sand from a day at the beach.
I hope this answers your questions.
-Katy Wolk-Stanley
The Non-Consumer Advocate
I'd recommend Affluenza and to a (much) lesser extent Not Buying It.
Hi,
The book that started it all for me years ago was Simplify Your Life by Elaine St. James. She has others. Then I found the C Tightwad Gazette and Your Money or Your Life and the Nearing's books. These are the books I'd have on a desert island with me if only allowed 3. No, 4. ok all of St. J's books. and the Nearing's books. But that's it. Really.
I too love Kingsolver, but found A, V, M a wee bit elitist. And I was surprised by this as I've never felt that about any of BK's other books.
Any of Susanka's books....
NOT SO BIG LIFE,
INSIDE & OUTSIDE NOT SO BIG HOUSE,
NOT SO BIG HOUSE BOOK
all of them refocus the 'live large' lifestyle.
I highly recommend
A Very Small Farm by William Winchester
A small, sustainable farm. Lives very frugally. Totally inspiring.