The Secret Life of Stuff; A Manual for a New Material World

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9780099546580
• ISBN10: 0099546582
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2011-10-01
• Publisher: Random House UK

Summary

Like The Omnivore's Dilemma, this inventory of how we consume stuff is a wake-up call--shocking but inspiring, facing facts and finding solutions Taking readers on a journey through everything around us and how we use it, this book uncovers the true origin and cost of stuff, and, while the inventory will shock, it is the first step towards overcoming waste. Environmental issues can feel overwhelming--there seem to be endless issues to be educated about, including climate change, biofuels, nuclear power, landfills, recycling, and non-renewables, but, in fact, it all comes down to one thing--stuff. How people use the earth's resources--whether a slice of bread or a cargo ship, a cotton shirt or a nuclear reactor--effects the environment. Over-consumption is not your fault, but it is not something you can ignore either. Hill shows how politicians, business people, and we, as consumers and citizens, together can create a new, and better, material world.

Author Biography

Julie Hill has worked in the environment movement for 25 years for environmental group Green Alliance, as well as for businesses and government.

Table of Contents

Future and Past
A tapestry	p. 3
Evie and Ed throw a party, 2040	p. 8
Stuff as waste	p. 13
The Stuff of Life
From the very beginning	p. 33
Deconstruct your home	p. 42
Exploring the material world	p. 47
Why Stuff Matters
Nothing comes free	p. 87
Where the limits lie	p. 108
Us and Stuff
The curse of the giant pink pencil	p. 127
The myth of the green consumer	p. 139
Letters from the real world	p. 162
Designing the Future
Where do products come from?	p. 179
Everything sustainably sourced	p. 187
Everything designed for recovery	p. 200
Nutrients cycled	p. 210
All energy renewable	p. 224
Stemming the flow of stuff	p. 239
Care with new promises	p. 246
From Here to There
Brighton and Beyond	p. 255
Humans grow up	p. 266
Notes	p. 298
Index	p. 345
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.