The Story of Stuff

Is Annie Leonard the Rachel Carson for our generation?

Her new book, The Story of Stuff, carries the subtitle, 'How our problem with overconsumption is trashing the planet, our communities and our health'. That about sums it up, I think. Published here in the UK at the end of May, it should prove to be a very interesting read.

It all started with this little animation on YouTube... This basically confirms everything I was afraid of about consumer society. There's one or two things in there that I didn't either, like the fact that this was all planned! It must be a conspiracy theorist's heaven.

What the story made me think of most is Rachel Carson. Rachel Carson was the herald of the green roots environmental movement and her book, Silent Spring (which I have just finished reading) was instrumental in bringing to the world's attention the fact the pesticides and insecticides were poisoning the world. Perhaps it's an exaggeration to suggest that Annie Leonard is the new Rachel Carson, but what she has to say has the same importance and we should all be listening.

Watch the video, read the book, and take a look at her website, Storyofstuff.org