Stuffocation

January 15, 2015
A reasoned and passionate argument for culling the clutter and plugging into the joys of experiential living.Incredible as it may now seem, Americans once had to be taught to be conspicuous consumers. As Wallman skillfully points out, we used to be quite thrifty, the product of hard-calloused generations who understood the need to make scarce things last. The rise in consumerism required a revolution in advertising and the invention of an entire new industry whose sole purpose was to create want and desire in the citizenry, turning time-honored frugality into a seemingly endless desire to consume more. But the fantastic success of all those mid-20th-century "Mad Men" has come with hidden costs that are only now being fully understood. Mountains of junk have risen in the midst of the "throwaway" culture, and it's not only altering people's psyches and making them increasingly unhappy. It's also making them-and their flammable hoarders' dens-dangerous to the neighbors. "Even in full, heat-resistant firefighting gear," writes the author, "a fire that has flashed over will kill you in less than two seconds." The perilous nature of these developments has prompted many to try and escape the clutches of overconsumption before it's too late. Some try the minimalist route, restricting their possessions to the bare essentials. Others attempt to take a page out of Walden. Still others try to "chill out" and cut back on their consumption. After careful consideration, however, Wallman finds none of these earnest efforts to be effective remedies for rampant materialism. Instead, he proposes a revolutionary new shift in which consumers begin to value real-life experiences-those that expose them to other people and generate stories-more than all that junk piling up in the garage. The author is no zealot, and he freely acknowledges that things can be cool, even advantageous. In the end, however, experiences must trump stuff. A provocative, challenging discourse likely to spur some to action.

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February 1, 2015

Journalist and cultural forecaster Wallman uses his professional expertise to explore a phenomenon which he dubs "Stuffocation"--the feeling of discontent that sometimes comes from accumulating a large number of material possessions. He explores the history and sociology behind how American consumers have accumulated more stuff than they need and outlines the resulting societal problems and psychological pressures. Three movements that combat stuffocation are discussed in detail: minimalism (owning as few possessions as possible), the "medium chill" (a laid-back lifestyle), and simple living (existing with the items that one needs). Wallman relies heavily on interviews and personal anecdotes from people who have successfully purged stuff from their lives. However, his main argument is to advocate for a lifestyle based on experiences instead of things, as he believes that encounters are more fulfilling than material goods. He speculates on what an experiential culture could look like and how it could evolve. Additionally, the appendix outlines techniques for readers to become experientialists using the frameworks explored in the text. VERDICT Recommended for readers who would like to reduce their possessions and need a bit of inspiration. [See Prepub Alert, 9/8/14.]--Rebekah Kati, Duke Univ. Pr., Durham, NC

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2015
With the widespread appeal of advice for conquering clutter, Stuffocation is perfectly poised to garner fans. Wallman's mantra that we've had enough of stuff and need experience more than ever will find a welcome audience among readers eager to divest themselves of items that serve no purpose, sentimental or otherwise. The revelations come fast and furious as he asserts that acquiring stuff is often just an easy way to ignore the tougher questions of life, dodging Why am I here? and How should I live? for Will that go with the top I bought last week? Tart and often funny, Wallman provides a brisk history of shopping and marketing strategies that have resulted in our throwaway culture. He introduces downsizing rebels both philosophical and extreme, and his erudite explanation of economics and the gross domestic product will be an eye-opener for those long ago persuaded that more is better. A scintillating read that will provoke conversation (or at least closet cleaning).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)