A very insightful book about our out of control consumer culture. Though it is about 6 or 7 years old, it is very prophetic about our current economic situation. It basically says that unbridled greed and consumption will lead to a massive economic downturn. Sound familiar? ( )

Although I agree with the overall premise of the book, that we should all consider how we spend our earnings and evaluate our wants versus our needs, I found this book to be very repetitive and preachy. ( )

This might be the closest possible thing to empirical evidence of our national misadventure in culture, and yet it remains conversational and light throughout. Americans should read it. ( )

Great book. And one that really makes you think about all the things we have and buy and think we need.
If you like this, I recommend www.thestoryofstuff.com as well =) ( )

Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic tackles — in excruciating detail — the “painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more.” In other words, the authors take on the American way of life; their metaphor-based argument — constructed largely from news clippings, sound bytes and anecdotal evidence — is that the all-consuming pursuit of material things in this country leads to everything from, at best, stress, bankruptcy, divorce, gridlock and chronic dissatisfaction, to, at worst, poor city planning (sprawl), the breakdown of families and communities, resource-exhaustion and environmental devastation. Love the book or hate it, much of it will ring true. — Jeanie Straub