Non-Consumer Advocate Book Club Finalists

by Katy on January 12, 2009 · 8 comments

 

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I presented the idea for a Non-Consumer Advocate book club, and received lots of great book suggestions. Some of which I’d already read, others were ones I had been meaning to read. A few were ones I’d not heard of, and I put them on hold at the library.

Here are some of your books suggestions, (plus a few of my own) that I would really enjoy discussing:

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl, by Timothy Egan.

Your Money or Your Life, by Joseph Dominguez and Vicky Robin

Voluntary Simplicity, by Duane Elgin

Simple Prosperity : Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle, by David Wann. 

I’m also open to fiction. I’m currently listening to the audio book of The Grapes of Wrath, which is so overwhelmingly moving that I can sometimes only take it for an hour or so.

I was thinking we could announce the book and then start discussing it three- four weeks later. (Please let me know if this is too much leeway, or not enough.)

It’s not too late to suggest something else, as I plan on continuing with different books.

I’m really looking forward to starting up The Non-Consumer Advocate book club. So please write your preferences in the comments section below.

Katy Wolk-Stanley

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

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Wendy January 12, 2009 at 5:57 am

“Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence”by Joseph R. Dominguez and Vicki Robin

After watching the DVD, “Century of Self” (Adam Curtis), I reflected on this book which is known as the bible of the modern simplicity movement. “Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence” (Dominguez and Robin). Interestingly, my husband who is a lightweight backpacker has also heard this book is a favorite among lightweight backpackers because of its focus on doing more with less. There is a book/audio titled, “Transforming Your Relationship With Money” also by Dominguez in which “Your Money or Your Life” is based.

I am looking foward to reading about the final selection for the book club.

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Anne January 12, 2009 at 7:47 am

I know how much you love your public library…why don’t you reintroduce your readers to the joy of free books.

You could be a little random and choose the book with the most copies in libraries or the least…

To check go to Wordcat.org and enter the title and your zipcode and search. To see how many copies are available in libraries in the world look at the light blue box under the “libraries” tab.

Also be aware that often a library won’t ILL a book until it is over 6 months old.

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mindfulmama January 12, 2009 at 8:51 am

“Letter to My Daughter” by Maya Angelou.

I am in the midst of reading it and love it. My mother gave this to me to help me slow down and take a breath once in a while. It would be a good read to dig in deeper and make us think about the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ a bit more.

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Charyl January 12, 2009 at 6:08 pm

“Little Heathens: Hard times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression” by Mildred Armstrong Kalish. I just finished this book, which I borrowed from the library. Its an easy read with incredible insight thru the eyes of a child. It also has great recipes. Fun, yet much to ponder. From cooking to character. Look forward to the Book Club.
Charyl Va Beach, VA

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SR January 13, 2009 at 6:02 am

I have never read Your Money or Your Life but have heard it talked about so much i feel like i dont have to. I am wondering does the author give credit to Thoreau who said “The true cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.”

i think a book club is a nice idea

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Viki S January 13, 2009 at 8:58 am

I love the idea of a book club! Are we going to just pick one book or are you going to offer a few books and a few clubs at a time? Hmmm…

Are most of us women on here? There’s always “Gift from the Sea” by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. Granted, it’s pretty “girly” and very short, but powerful.

I believe there’s a website that goes along with Your Money or Your Life. If I’m not mistaken, they even have a little webclass to go with it, but I could be wrong (highly likely).

Please give us a start date and end date to make sure we’re on top of things and don’t get behind (as I often do) or miss it all together! Thanks!

Viki

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Alexis Ahrens January 13, 2009 at 10:42 am

Hey Katy,

How about Animal, Vegetable, Mineral by Barbara Kingsolver? It’s coming at nonconsumerism from a locavore* angle, and I just love it! She is such a beautiful writer, and in this book, she tells the story of her family’s year of living on their farm in Appalacia and their commitment to only eating locally grown/raised food.

The way she tells it, it’s compelling, and has made me rethink how I put food on my family’s table. This is a book that can change people’s habits and change the world. Powerful!

*Living in Portland, I’m sure you know what the term means, but for others, a locavore is someone who chooses to only buy locally grown food, preferably organic. There are a bunch of great reasons for this, but read her book if you want to find out about them.

Cheers!

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