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Stop Buying So Much Rubbish: How Having Fewer, Better Things Can Make Us Happier

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By: Patrick Grant
Narrated by: Patrick Grant
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About this listen

‘Utterly brilliant. We all need to read this book’ CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN

'Patrick’s book is fascinating and sobering and makes a compelling argument for going back to basics’ JOE LYCETT

We used to care a lot about our clothes. We didn’t have many but those we had were important to us. We’d cherish them, repair them and pass them on. And making them provided fulfilling work for millions of skilled people locally.

Today the average person has nearly five times as many clothes as they did just 50 years ago. Last year, 100 billion garments were produced worldwide, most made from oil, 30% of which were not even sold, and the equivalent of one bin lorry full of clothing is dumped in landfill or burned every single second. Our wardrobes are full to bursting with clothes we never wear so why do we keep buying more?

In this passionate and revealing book about loving clothes but despairing of a broken global system Patrick Grant considers the crisis of consumption and quality in fashion, and how we might make ourselves happier by rediscovering the joy of living with fewer, better-quality things.

Weaving in his personal journey through fashion, clothing and the other everyday objects in his life, this is a book that celebrates craftsmanship, making things with care, buying things with thought and valuing everything we own. It explains how rethinking our relationship with clothing could kickstart a thriving new local economy bringing prosperity and hope back to places in our country that have lost out to globalisation, offshore manufacturing and to the madness of price and quantity being the only things that matter.

'Presents a new way of thinking about the things we buy' KEITH BRYMER-JONES

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Patrick Grant (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
Art & Literature Beauty, Grooming & Style Labour & Industrial Relations Personal Development Politics & Government Social Sciences Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Inspiring Happiness

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This book really gives you food for thought. It held my attention from beginning to end. Thanks for highlighting some of the things that pass us by and the reasoning behind being sustainable. I will definitely be changing my spending habits and doing my best to buy British from now on. Well done!

A very powerful message, delivered beautifully

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Well read and beautifully put across.

Really inspiring stuff and certainly made me reevaluate my wardrobe. Listen to this book and buy better and locally.

Great!

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A nicely told tale of the possibilities for the country and its citizens with a little more thought and creativity from those able to influence direction and better ways of living where the aspirations are based on better ways of being.

Thought provoking and authentic

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Patrick does highlight well the crass consumerism of the fast fashion industry. He also discusses in depth his passion and activity to have people buy better, more durable, good quality goods (not just clothes!). He highlights the need for us as a country to look at our education system and the current workplaces the youth are going into.

Read or listen to it - it will help make you ponder some of your buying choices going forward.

A resonance of needing less

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Everyone should read this once imo. So much wisdom in here for decisions from the smallest to those shaping our country.

Fantastic timely piece of work

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Superb book and much needed point of view. I absolutely loved Patrick's narration and I am grateful for the research. The eye watering statistics of the sheer waste of the world's resources in the fast fashion industry are just incredible. It is also empowering to know that if we actively choose not to be sucked into fast fashion consumerism, we can all help to make a better world for future generations and the world we live in.

Briiliant

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This audiobook (well read by the author ) touches on many topics in an interesting and thought provoking way. Part memoir, part social and economic history , part philosophy and part economic and industrial strategy. We’d certainly have a happier and more equitable society if politicians and manufacturers took to heart his thoughts on public procurement, quality versus cost, sustainability and reshoring manufacturing…..and that’s just a part of the book. Well worth a listen.

Really excellent- a book written with skill and care

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I enjoyed listening to Patrick and his evident joy in life.
I am now Eighty and many of the ideas he proposes are what I grew up with.
What he says about the purchase of PPE from China during lockdown vindicates what I felt at the time, but how do ordinary people influence change in the circumstances?
I really empathised with the talk about fabrics in the past. I recall the lovely dresses I made in the sixties with vogue patterns and even the coats I made for myself. Fortunately I know my way to Linton Tweeds.

How easy it is to practice many of the ideas in here

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And this book explains why. Head turning, and really made me think about what I want and need and the difference

We need to think differently…

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Really thought provoking real. I’m now revaluing how I consume and hope to do better from now on.

This book will change how I set up my new business. Thank you!

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