Kind of rambling, to be honest. ( )

A four-star book in a one-star package

Although I was eager to read The Day the World Stops Shopping, I was appalled when I first opened it up—so much so that I almost gave up on it immediately and returned it, unread, in disgust. Why? Not only is the typeface unbelievably miniscule, the ink is so faint it is virtually impossible to read unaided. I am young and have reasonably good eyesight; I had to borrow my grandma’s lighted magnifier just to be able to read this book…and, even then, it was uncomfortable and made my eyes ache! I managed to stick with it just because I was especially interested in the topic, but I don’t really think it was worth it simply because of the damage it undoubtedly caused to my eyesight. It is unfortunate that poor decision-making on the part of the publisher (Ecco/HarperCollins) will discourage many potential, casual readers from actually reading this book because it does have a lot of important things to say.

This book really does contain a lot of compelling ideas and a fascinating discussion about consumer culture and its impact on the environment, our quality of life, & our mental health. It discusses a wide array of topics such as advertising, whaling, air conditioning, fashion, the Internet & digital goods, happiness, and 20th century light bulb cartels…all within the context of consumerism and its looming, inescapable presence in almost every aspect of our lives.

The author, J. B. Mackinnon, illustrates the dangerous pitfalls of emphasizing “growth” in business with an examination of enduring, centuries-old family businesses and their overwhelming focus on continuity and community rather than unbridled expansion.

He talks about the unintended consequences of “green” products and technologies that actually increase energy consumption and man’s carbon footprint rather than decreasing negative impacts on the environment.

Although he can be vague & he vacillates somewhat on the issue, Mackinnon seems to conclude that consumerism is almost certainly inevitable and unavoidable because civilizations seem to naturally gravitate towards it. Without the complicity of society as a whole, individuals who choose to live simply and to significantly limit their shopping activities will have very little positive environmental impact and will be unable to avoid consumerism altogether; they will invariably get dragged back into consumerism’s soul-sucking cycle to some extent. This was an especially disheartening, yet astute, observation. As operational systems cease to be supported, as employers increasingly oblige jobseekers to complete online applications, as businesses increasingly demand that apps and online services be used for orders and other business transactions, etc. individuals are consistently required to buy new cell phones, computers, and other products they may not want or need, simply because they have to function at some level within society. It really makes one stop and think about the nature of freedom and personal choice, or the lack thereof, in the face of inescapable social forces.

One small part of the book was disturbingly offensive. In Chapter 14, Mackinnon discusses the work of a “do-gooder” community action organization in England. At one point, a fruit tree planting project organized by the group is derailed because of the protests of one of the residents. Mackinnon says he feels it is important to point out that the irate resident who put a stop to the project was a middle-aged, white man. And this was important to point out… why? It seems to be important because Mackinnon wants to dismiss the validity of this man’s opinion as immaterial simply because he was old, white, and male—even though his concerns and complaints were quite legitimate (fruit trees do require a lot of care and can make a huge mess); after all, the trees were just a short-term project for Mackinnon and for the community action group, but the fruit trees were being planted at this man’s front door and would impact his living space for years to come.

It seems important for me to point out to Mr. Mackinnon that he himself is old, white, and male…is he trying to tell his readers that they just wasted several hours reading thoughts and opinions that are thoroughly invalid simply because of his own age, race, and gender? Give me a break. Mr. Mackinnon may want to consider omitting the self-deprecating ageism, sexism, and bigotry from his future writing endeavors.

Nevertheless, The Day the World Stops Shopping is a very thought-provoking work that should be read by everyone, but only if it is reprinted in a normal edition that is actually readable by the average person. ( )

This was a really good thought provoking read. It made me ponder a lot about modern consumption. My only critique would be that I wish it contained more actionable advice and tips. ( )