Consumer Detox: Less Stuff, More Life

by Revd. Mark Powley

Consumerism is everywhere. It shapes the way we eat, shop, rest, think, love and believe. We can't escape it, but how can we live well in the midst of it? We are daily seduced by a 250 billion dollar marketing machine. But how often do we consider how this might influence us?
The current prevailing orthodoxy is that life should be lived to the max. By contrast, Jesus modeled a life of joyful limitation -- free to do; free not to do. Consumer Detox, complete with the Detox Diary in the back of the book with suggestions for each chapter, encouraging stories, and space for writing personal reflections, is for those who want to break out of a lifestyle dominated by consumerism and journey toward a richer, simpler, more generous life.
Consumer Detox, written out of Mark Powley's experience of making a change in his own life, is a three part book that will help you break out of the consumer mindset, slow down to enjoy the natural rhythms of life, and live a life of generosity. This book isn't about living a smaller life but having a bigger vision, which can help you become everything you were made to be.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian Living

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2010

Reviews

[Emma B · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pretty interesting book about consumerism with a Christian twist. Although the religious parts were a bit much sometimes, the book is pretty short so it was ok.

[Mary Streets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book and considering it was written pre social media is fascinating. It’s made me pause to look around at how much of life may be circled around mindless consumerism. I like the lines being drawn between what we are called to do in eating and clothing. But the constant barrage of need for things for identity purposes or not to emphasize stewardship of said items and gratitude has become a norm.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is a hidden gem.

[Maria Helgesson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Denna bok började så otroligt bra, intresseväckande, välformad och genomtänkt, sedan vet jag inte riktigt vad som hände, men jag tappade intresset totalt när boken bytte fokus till den kristna tron. Det kändes som att den röda tråden försvann. Tyvärr

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a 4-star rating it's odd to start with a negative remark about this book, perhaps, but since it's prominent in the book, it's important.

The one BIG bad thing about this book is that it puts the Christian religion opposite to consumerism. It comes across a little arrogant. As if an atheist would not be able to experience the same values in life as a religious Christian person. As if we'd need a god or a church to experience the sacredness of life, love and quality time. He doesn't say that anywhere, but by constantly putting Christianity opposite consumerism, he implies it. I tried to listen to the audiobook by replacing 'God' and 'religion' with a more universal experience of the value of life and existence. But after some time I began to feel annoyed and offended, because as an author who addresses the world in warning for the dangers of consumerism - and very rightly so - , the more he mentioned religion as the opposite of consumerism, the less I felt he addressed anyone outside his religion. It began to feel like Christian supremacy and that was not a comfortable feeling. And being Dutch I am certainly not used to such a tone. Personally I think that this is a HUGE fail in an otherwise intelligent book that wants to convince the world we're not on the right track. Atheists and non-Christian people are part of the world too, you know. This will definitely put people off and that bugs me, because Powley's message is an important one and should not feel limited to a certain audience.

So, this irritation aside, I still gave the book 4 stars. How come?

Well, in the first place the author makes a good observation of how the market economy works and what the cost of that is. The REAL cost. And he shows how people are lured into spending their attention to other things than those that really matter. He also points out the implications of that. Powley deals with the problems market-economy thinking brings. He points out how un-social 'social' media really are and how we pay the price for it. And he offers an alternative. Even though he offers a religious alternative I do not feel drawn to, he shows that there IS an alternative. And any reader should be able to work out what alternative that could be for him/her if Powley's alternative doesn't appeal to them.

Consumer detox is not just about the currenlty hyping minimalism the title implies. The book is not just about less stuff. It's about more attention for your own life and everything in it that really matters. It's about daring to make choices that are different from the choices the masses make who follow the push of the market(ing) economy. It's about how the 'social' media lure us away from being social at all and how they grab our attention away from things that really matter.

There IS another way of living. And even though Powley's may not be mine, I appreciate the book in that it reminds me I am not the only one who feels like turning away from the ever-churning push of the market(ing) economy and social media. I just don't need a religion to do so, but I'm perfectly capable of filling my life with things that matter to me. So the reminder was welcome and I still do feel some support in the having listened to this book.

[Lawrence Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to ensure that consumerism does not become a life-long drug. Much of our living centres around being consumers, buying things that attract or just sound what we want. Whilst this book is now nine years old its content still resonates in those who are to some degree or other trapped in being consumers. It's not saying give it all up because there are still essentials that we need to purchase but it is saying there are far far fewer things we need and we can easily get away with a lifestyle that is not hooked on continually purchasing things we don't need. Some of this had already seeped into my life mainly because on retirement and a modest Civil Service pension I found I have to count the pennies. However, this book goes much further and through Christian teaching, it explains why and how we can live simpler less costly, less cumbersome lives without any longing for those possessions that really don't make us any better off. There are times while reading that you feel you are in some 24/7 Baptist church and want to say to Mark you've made your point just let's move on. This book is well thought out, makes you think and hopefully will drive you to stop being an addict to adverts, commercials and special offers! There is probably no better cure thinking twice or thrice about do you really need this or can you get away with what you have or even being radical and doing without. In fact I now think about what possessions I can sell - but then is that not keeping some other poor soul in the state of consumerism?
The book is based on Christianity and Jesus's teaching so some may find that hard going but actually as an active Christian I find it both refreshing and quite appropriate. Maybe the best part is the detox diary towards the end of the book where you can put some of the ideas and actions into practice!

[Z.T. Zaryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few disclosures to begin with. I listened to the audiobook, I’m not Christian (in fact I’m a non-believer), I had no idea going into this book that it was a Christian book.

What I liked: it’s a thoughtfully written case against our modern consumer culture. The references made throughout the book are relevant and on point. The narrator in the audiobook has a great voice - I want him to read all my books. The suggestions for removing oneself from consumption are deep and introspective.

What I liked less: Instead of coming from a point of view that Christianity can help us escape the consumer trap the book escalated to suggesting that Christianity is the only way out of the consumer trap. I also felt the connections drawn between the Bible and anti-consumer ideals were a stretch at times.

With that said, it was an interesting read, even for non-believers.

[Dearreader · Rating 1 out of 5]

Christian Propaganda. I feel cheated- i would have never bought it if i had know that it basically says the only was to beat consumerism is to turn to Christ. DNF at 16%. If the title where Consumer Detox for Christians I fell different.

[Ta0paipai · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate a lot of the ideas in this book. It covers so many forms of consumerism, and how it’s ingrained into everyday life. It is a little heavy on religious themes and seems to miss that religious overconsumption is also a thing.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was all Over the place so I couldn’t get much from it. I enjoyed it at times but overall, I didn’t get much from this so I wouldn’t recommend.

[Kalina K.]

70% tej książki odnosi się do Biblii/myśli katolickiej i rozpatruje treści z tej perspektywy.

Wg mnie tytuł i opis, który przeczytałam był mylący/nie wskazujący na tak hermetyczne treści.

[Phil Whittall · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the sake of full disclosure I should come clean that the author of this book is a good friend of mine and we're involved in Breathe together so it's a privilege to review his first book and it's a project I've been involved in from it's earliest drafts.

In a recent article on 'The Tyranny of Choice' the author of The Economist article devotes a paragraph to the 'voluntary simplicity' movement which must surely include Breathe of which Mark was one of the founders. The Economist says this movement 'promises to help people shed the distractions and stresses of the consumerist world and journey towards their inner wholeness' which is exactly what Mark attempts in Consumer Detox.

However The Economist says the wisdom of this movement amounts to, 'advice to shopping less often, keeping less stuff, watching less TV and sending fewer e-mails.' So is that it? Is that the best that we have to offer?

Thankfully, the answer is no. The Christian response is completely different,

"Simplicity isn't about getting by on 'what you need' instead of having 'what you want' (such a hard distinction to make anyway), simplicity is about wanting something else. We're not being asked to limit our desire; we're being asked to tether our desire to the wild vision of God....In other words, simplicity isn't about having a smaller life, it's about having a bigger vision." (p224 - original emphasis)

And that's the heart of this book, detoxing our souls from the effects of consumerism in order that we catch and live for this bigger vision. The book is in three parts: first coming to terms with what consumerism is and how it works; second identifying some pathways to a resistance and hope and thirdly adventures in a new way of living.

This is down to earth, real life and funny but with plenty of sharp thinking and enough theological depth to satisfy at a number of levels. Mark does an expert job of both calling out consumerism for the shallowness of its offer but also in pointing us towards something deeper and richer. It's also practical as at the end of the book it offers a 'consumer detox diary' with some suggestions of steps to take, talk about and take further.

Even though I'd read the manuscript several times already I still found reading it again helpful (surely a good sign about a book's usefulness and worth) especially about resting and stopping. In short this is now the book that I would recommend and give to anyone beginning the journey to a deeper discipleship in our materialistic and consumer driven society. Ironically given the subject matter this is a must buy.

[Caedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly? Why can't we give half starts? It deserves 4.5 stars! Apart from a few tiny things, I loved this book! I want everybody to read it so we can start a club! Seriously, the world needs a required reading list. Earth, I am assigning homework. Finish this book, and your assessment on it will be to change the world. I expect this to be finished by Friday.

[Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I entered into reading this book hoping for a list of practical things to do. That is not this book. However, and more importantly, it aims at what is at the heart (our heart) of the matter. It's an easy read and well worth it, and the end of the book does give some practical tips for moving away from a consumer mentality.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with some really interesting things to consider in our culture of "stuff". My only complaint would be that there wasnt as much actual practical advice, just more in the abstract regarding what we should aim for. Overall a good eye opening read.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the author had some good things to say, I found the writing style very hard to read. Really 3 one sentence paragraphs in a row. I just ended skimming parts of the book. He had some good points, I just wish his writing was more linear and readable.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book to read going into 2016. This is much more than a book about not spending so much money. It gets to the heart of consumerism and how it affects everything in our lives. Highly recommend!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book highly enough! Brilliant, witty, easy to read, rich theology. love love love it.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Quick read. Deals with issues greater than consumerism (which is a big issue in itself). Very encouraging, hopeful, and practical.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical and interesting with some real and helpful information about the advertising industry. A great read.

[Alan Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be required reading in school.

[Neil Hollow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good with an important message fro Christians.

[hayls 🐴 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5