Better World Book Club discussion
Group Reads Discussion
>
The Story of Stuff
date
newest »
newest »
Mod
Story of Bottled Water (8 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se12y9...
Story of Electronics (8 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW_7i6...
Story of Cosmetics (8 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfq000...
Story of Cap & Trade (10 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA6FSy...
Story of Stuff (20 min video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLBE5Q...
Some of these are pretty simplified, but they tie in well with the book.
Mod
Has anyone seen it? It looks very relevant to my interests.
OK, we really need to read a warm and fuzzy book next because I'm getting ready to just give up and move to an island. Though, from what I'm reading, that will do me little good because we're trashing the Earth and it will have some effect on me, even if I am on an island. :( I just watched the "Story of Bottled Water" and I feel good that I don't buy bottles of water. I have my own water bottles that I fill at home. But, I do buy bottles of soda and tea so I am just to blame. I need to work on that. I did see a commercial for this water filter thingy. You fill the main water tank and it trickles down into individual glass water bottles. I was like, I NEED THAT! Alas, I do not. I'm perfectly capable of filling my own bottles. But it looked so cool!
OK, back to reading.
Amanda, I agree. It looks like the Good, Good Pig may take the vote, but I'm not sure that that'll provide all of the warm and fuzziness you'd like. For that restoration of sanity and joy and comfort I try to keep in mind something that Leonard talks about a lot in this book: we are all interconnected. And it's a concept that is popping up everywhere I turn. This past weekend, I saw the new documentary "I Am" where the idea of "what's wrong with the world" was answered with, "a lot" (see Story of Stuff ;) ) and the question, "what's right with it" was answered with, "we are and can be". In the film they scientifically showed that the heart is the most intelligent organ of the body and that the brain actually takes signals from the heart. The director then hooked himself up with electrodes that were connected to the living bacteria in yogurt, which were hooked up to a digital meter. When he spoke about things that were emotionally sensitive to him, the meter reading went off the chart. This served to show how what's going on inside of us affects those around us. That the spiritual ideas of "auras" and "energy" can actually be measured and proved scientifically. Why am I rambling on about this? It's simple. In all that's out there that we have to face about what's wrong with the world, it's so important that we keep our hearts open and positive and full of joy and love. It will have a positive affect on the rest of the planet, and all those that dwell within.
I'm curious to know how everyone thought the book compared to the video?
Mod
One thing I appreciated about the books was that it used books as an example, showing what goes into their production. There isn't a video for that yet. I don't know if I want there to be because the general populace will just use it as an excuse to continue to not read. O.o
I definitely increased my library use after reading that. Even though reading it DID cause me to stress out about every single thing I purchased for a time, I'm slowly gaining a little bit of balance in that regard. Instead of having a freak out after buying something I could have maybe done without, I try to feel better about when I purchase things used. I found five of the books mentioned in this group at a used book store in Raleigh. Pretty sweet. :)
I do wish more authors would read that particular part, because there are less damaging alternatives that could probably become standard practice if authors with enough fame insisted upon them. Someone get Stephen King to go green... and the rest will follow, lol.
Discuss! :)