Affluenza: Fact-Heavy Book Carries a Lightweight Message

My cure is to buy a bigger house. Then when I move my old house "full" of stuff into my new very much bigger house I have so much extra room I have to buy more stuff to try and fill it up.

It is so much fun.

My work gives out free shots to prevent influenza, but I never realized how important they were! Ironic then that I go there to make money to buy the stuff I need… ohhhhh, wait… AFfluenza… now I get it!

Seriously, should this debate really be about whether folks want more, more, more…??? Or would a more meaningful debate be about the non-sustainability of our culture? I don't care if you like to accumulate stuff, as long as the production of that stuff isn't destroying the planet that I like to hike on. Chances are that it is.

So I guess less is more!

I'm going to rent a jacked up truck and run over little bunny wabbits in the desert. WOO-HOO!!!

Maybe I'll pull an Ed Abbey and fire beer bottles out the window while I'm at it. The menu? STEAK BABY!

When confronted by those who adorn themselves with conspicuous halos the proper reaction is to p*ss them off.

Moo Cow Steak? Pffft! Bison is soooo much tastier and healthier. But…at twice the price of cow it must be evil :-P

I do also need a Jeep Rubicon as well to go with my dream shack. So again, if money and possesions are evil, please by all means send them my way.

>>> George – that was stupid. Just being honest.

My wife has told me so for almost 32 years!

Atchoo atchoo, I'd better drink plenty of fluids, rest in bed, and take a MerinoUL. Now where is that tracking number…

Twelve-step needed immediately. Please help me, I'm stupid and affluenza infested. Not to mention a blind wretch. PM me for an address where to send your checks. Thanks in advance.

The reviewer wrote, "Going lighter (although those exact words are not used in the book) is the message."

I see it differently. Telling an "affluenza patient" to go lighter is like telling an alcoholic to drink less.

The authors mentioned "the lack of purpose and joy in people’s lives". To me, that is the key. The message is for us to look deep into ourselves… and discern/develop a worthwhile purpose for our lives — our calling. Fulfilling that purpose can bring us joy and satisfaction — and remove our perpetual need to otherwise "fill that hole" with stuff — heavy or light.

And instead of buying it you can check it out at a local library. Of course, then you're not being a good citizen and supporting the author, megabookstore, truckers, etc.