This is a great book!! THE WASTE MAKERS was published in 1961 and it still rings loud and clear today. Here are some poignant quotes I have taken from it.
" ...the nation faces the hazard of developing a healthy economy within the confines of a psychologically sick and impoverished society" pg 316.
This links to the ever mounting consumption habits and the governing notion that a 'growing' economy is a 'healthy' thing. Fiscally, maybe but this isn't necessarily the case for us individuals. It has been found time and time again that consumption of objects does not give us happiness or fulfillment (as it is marketed to).
People ,"...gain their feelings of significance in life from these acts of consumption rather than from...achievements...personal worth and service to others."
This is another quote from Packard, and I think it can only be reinforced by the riots that were based on personal gain and looting as people feel like they are entitled to
objects as wealth should not be a limitation. A very skewed sense of entitlement indeed, no pride in the journey towards achieving goals, some individuals it seems see the final goal and wish to have it served on a plate to them.
Really recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in consumer behaviour and the idea of planned obsolescence. Makes you think about the free market economy in a very different way....
For me it's volatile and opportunistic - definitely not efficient or well-grounded.
