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

by Patrick Grant

Less Stop Buying So Much Rubbish How Having Fewer, Better Things Can Make Us Happier ABISBOOK William Collins.

Genres: Nonfiction

368 pages, Hardcover

Published May 9, 2024

Reviews

[Jasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly informative and impactful. Will certainly be making some significant changes to my own lifestyle re. shopping and the companies I order from. We are blinded by what we ‘want’ and do not shop on the basis of what we simply ‘need’. The impact this has had on the economy and the planet is terrifying.

Only reason I didn’t give this book 5* was that it was a little repetitive at times and could probably have been 30-50 pages shorter. Otherwise, a brilliant read. Everyone can learn something from this book.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of very interesting information and food for thought.
If Patrick wants to change the world maybe every teenager should read and discuss this as part of their curriculum.

[Ciara H · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book.
Full of fascinating information about the loss of manufacturing in UK and the devastating impact that has had. Also covers the impact of the transfer of this manufacturing to other countries and the impact on those locations.
Discusses local vs global trade.
Discusses the benefits of using consumer power for good.
This book doesn't have answers to all the questions raised and also presents some aspects of manufacturing with rose-tinted glasses.
However, Grant truly believes in these causes. He has put his money where his mouth is, with varying success.
Perhaps aspects of the book are a little twee but they don't take away from the underlying focus. Buy less. Buy better. Buy local.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's passionate, compelling, and interesting. It's given me a lot of detail in areas that I had a vague idea about, but that's all. This book really goes into all the problems consumerism has created (and continues to create) and how it came about. I've never bought from the mega fast fashion online brands as I knew how bad they were, but I definitely buy way more than I need, so it's making me rethink my spending habits. It's also (maybe stupidly) never occured to me that most of the new clothes we buy are made from polyester, which is basically plastic and will never biodegrade. I'll definitely be trying to avoid this in new clothes from now on. I also had no idea of the sheer insane amount of new, cheap, plastic clothes that are made every year. Some of the stats are just mind-boggling - and completely stupid. It makes it very clear how complicit we all are in destroying ourselves without even realising it.
What I also love is that this book isn't just complaining - there's a very clear plan on how we could change things, and Patrick Grant has already started working on it. I loved that so much, because it ends up not being depressing at all, but inspiring.

[Zoë Halstead · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book came about after a 10 minute TED talk and I feel that it should just have been published as an essay. The book is over long, mildly depressing and very repetitive. I also find the author quite sanctimonious. 
As a textile graduate, I worked in knitwear manufacturing and the spinning industry in the 1990's. I, like the author, mourn the loss of the textile (and other) manufacturing industries in the UK due to cheaper labour and imports in/from other countries. However, the colonisation and slave trade that enabled the massive growth of the textile industry (particularly cotton) in the first place is glossed over in the author's retelling. 
Whilst I agree with the main ethos of the book (the reason for 3 stars) - only buying what we need, buying fewer but better quality items, repairing, reusing, recycling, making things with our own hands - the author, as a childless, middle aged man, is speaking from a position of huge privilege not afforded to many. 
Having said all that, most people would benefit from reading the statistics around fast fashion, how textiles are made, and garment makers working conditions, as they are all truly shocking. 

[Sandrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely worth a read! Opens your eyes on a lot of things to do with the economy, the planet and happiness even if you thought you knew about it already, and even if the ideal solutions given in the book seem a little too simplistic and naïve Who knows, maybe they aren't that simplistic and that naïve, maybe the answer to our happiness, the world economic health and the planet's health is that simple...

[Mezzie Elen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly fabulous book.
It took me 40 days to read because I couldn’ rush it
There is an incredible amount of research, wisdom and love in this homage to the “Well made” industry.
All that I hold dear Patrick G celebrates.
If you are a champion of cheap sweatshop produced goods , then this is not the book for you.
But if you still save to buy a heritage piece, take shoes to be mended, replace buttons, zips or darn a much loved piece of your wardrobe, then this IS the book for you.

[Lorna Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, interesting, though a bit rose tinted glasses about 'the good old days'

Also , a bit lacking in recognition about the joy of finding clothes to express your personality- something to wear when you are feeling joyous, something for more sombe days .
His Community Clothing may be great quality, but it doesn't excite me.

[Bertie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the author’s valuable perspective on slow fashion from the point of view of someone actively leading a business in this area. Major points off however for the copious chapters containing highly generalised, uncited history that presented more assumption of past attitudes and practices than essential nuance. It required depth and citation for academic acceptability or elimination.

[Sarah J · Rating 4 out of 5]

The waste of resources by the fast fashion industry is horrific.
This book has opened my eyes to the bad but there are also some great ideas for a brighter future. Buying locally must be the way forward along with buying quality over quantity.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Motivating me to really think about well, everything?? I already pretty much stopped buying clothes other than on Vinted but I'm going to try and do a lot better at thinking before buying anything, and maybe look into what other hobbies I can learn or even about-turn into a new career?

[Jane Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and informative read. I will think much harder about where I buy my clothes from in the future and how often I buy them. The basic message of buy local, buy good quality and buy what you need rather than what you want is persuasive.

[Milly Molly Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn’t realised just how ‘fast’ the ‘fast fashion’ industry is. I did feel some of his advice pertained more to men than women buying clothes, but still food for thought.