PLENITUDE The New Economics of True Wealth

Listeners who need big-picture reasons to scale down their consumption will love this analysis of why we should adopt a simpler lifestyle—fewer toys, more joys. Schor makes her case with accessible studies and a relentless eye for the subtle ways the typical Western lifestyle is degrading our ecosystem. The Industrial Age consumption that is growing across the planet is simply not sustainable. But by living more creatively, self-providing more of what we use, and cooperating more with neighbors, she says, we can enjoy a more fulfilling way of life for generations to come. Karen White inhales audibly but reads with consistent, unerring clarity. The important message in this book might also sound more motivating if the gravitas in her performance were leavened by a more optimistic tone. T.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2012]