The Overspent American: Why We Want What We Don't Need
Author: Juliet B. Schor
List Price: $13.00
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ISBN: 0060977582
Publisher: Perennial (01 May, 1999)
Sales Rank: 20,273
Average Customer Rating: 3.79 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5
A perspective on Consumerism
The statistical data presented in this book may now be outdated but it still is very insightful as it is. While there is personal accountability, many people may neither be quite aware nor they have realized the reasons why they are in debt very consciously. Some people lack financial goals or money management skills (even if they are considered high salary earners) fueled by lack of values and especially the seductions and 'pressures' to acquire more - that is to keep up, to give or please, to show, to belong, to be seen as. This may not be the first book written about frugality, I believe that this is a good read. It could make a person more aware of what consumerism is for. I suspect the reason why some readers weren't so pleased with this book was because it is more of 'whats and whys' written in an academic context ( a thesis) with so many lists of bibliography, notes and works cited that maybe others found irrelevant. But we need to understand the whys and whats in order to do the now what and how to...practically.
In terms of downshifting that is earning less and working less or leaving a 9-to-5 job, it may not be possible for others to do. The truth is its not for everyone. A reviewer said that downshifters look suspicious to him or her, well, I could understand the point too since there are many dishonest people everywhere and there will always be. Nonetheless, there are people who have done it with honesty and dignity.
I am merely a student of frugality and I have readt few books about the subject. For people who are interested about the idea of downshifting, I would like to recommend the book below:
"How to Survive Without a Salary: Learning how to live The Conserver Lifestyle" by Charles Long. Reviewers of this book seemed to be very pleased with the way it was written, including myself.
Rating: 3 out of 5
good read for those trying to understand why they're in debt
This is exactly the type of book you want to check out of the library and read over a weekend when you are struggling to understand why even though you make a very decent salary, you are living from paycheck to paycheck. While alternately overly-academic or anecdotal in parts, Schor does lay out some very real and fundamental facts about American spending habits. She gives broad strokes of what one can do to combat excessive consumerism (e.g. downshift, comparison shop, neighborhood pools on large items such as power mowers) and does a good job of not being finger-pointing or perjorative about Americans' lack of financial capability. Schor wants to help solve a pervasive problem in our society. Making people aware of why they spend the way they do is a big step in the right direction.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Makes You Think About Your Way of Life
Mrs. Schor brings up so many great points that hit so close to home, several times during my reading, I had to put the book down, and simply think for a moment about the sociological points on consumerism she brought up. Something she said, either applied to me, someone in my family, or a friend, or my neighborhood. This book really caused me to think about reevaluating my priorities. It made me think about whether buying my "things" really gives me satisfaction, or temporarily satisfies a void in my life.
However, this is one of many books that deals with extreme consumption, and simple living as a way to combat it. As with all these books, whenever the issue of "simple living" is discussed, there will be mentions of caring for the environment, and living with less. Any mention of caring for the environment suggests liberalism, which may annoy some readers. If you bother to read this book, be prepared for that angle, though the entire book is NOT liberal.
If you want to handle a book that was good, even though it is HIGHLY LIBERAL, read "Your Money or Your Life", by Dominguez and Robin. This book is familiar to whomever is reading this review. I'm sure of it.
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