Hooked!: Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the Urge to Consume

by Stephanie Kaza (Editor)

At one time or another, most of us have experienced an all-consuming desire for a material object, a desire so strong that it seems like we couldn't possibly be happy without buying this thing. Yet, when we give in to this impulse, we often find ourselves feeling frustrated and empty. Advertisers, of course, aim to hook us in this way, and, from a global perspective, our tendency to get hooked fuels the rampant over-consumption that is having a devastating impact on the world's stability and on the environment.

According to the contributors to this unique anthology, Buddhism can shed valuable light on our compulsions to consume. Craving and attachment—how they arise and how to free ourselves of them—are central themes of Buddhist thought. The writings in this volume, most of which have never been previously published, offer fresh perspectives and much-needed correctives to our society's tendency to believe that having more will make us happier.

Hooked! includes a range of writings on how to apply Buddhist thought and ethics to understand and combat the problem of over-consumption as individuals and collectively. Contributors include popular Western teachers, Asian masters, scholars, and practitioners such as:



   •  Pema Chödrön—on what is actually happening at the moment we're "hooked," and how to get beyond that.
   •  Joseph Goldstein—on how mindfulness training can help us stop "wanting to want."
   •  Bhikshuni Thubten Chödrön—on how consumer mentality influences spiritual practice.
   •  Judith Simmer-Brown—on how cultivating spiritually based activism and compassionate action can help us address the negative effects of consumerism.
   •  Rita Gross—on how understanding moderation can curb overconsumption.
   •  Santikaro Bhikkhu—on practicing generosity in a consumer world.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Philosophy, Economics, Psychology

271 pages, Paperback

First published February 8, 2005

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantabulous—Wendell Berry isn’t included in this collection, but his work would have been very much at home. A collection of 17 essays addressing consumerism from multiple viewpoints. How much is too much? How much is too little? How would we know?

Best summation of the book: A few years back the Dalai Lama was presenting at a multi-day conference in LA. In traveling back and forth from the conference to his hotel room, he passed by a number of street vendors hawking the latest in technological gadgetry. On the third or fourth day he realized that even though he had no idea what the function of the items were, he knew that he wanted them. Being the Dalai Lama, he was able to stop, focus on the urge to consume, determine where the desire originated, acknowledge it and then move on. Most everyone is capable of doing the same thing, but we don't have the tools to do it. This book points the way.

[Steve Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book, it places the whole catstrophe of modern life lived through desire and the driven consumption directed at quenching it, in the context of the Buddhist world view. It offers much insight into human nature, into my own nature and how we relate to the stuff of our lives. I really enjoyed the read and it provided me with perpectives I would never have otherwise considered. A must read for anyone who is inclined towards conscious living. Wonderful

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I was looking for something to balance holiday consumerism, and it really did the trick. A great selection of essays (some better than others) that deconstruct the process by which desire is created, and give Buddhist-philosophy-based strategies for countering the craving. Good stuff.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading the book and WOW. Really gets you thinking about how we are so focused on material things. Some of us feel that buying things are going to make us whole, when its actually quite the opposite. I almost felt ashamed for some of the things I thought were so important.
Really good book

[Anna]

so far, so good. i love the commentary about "anti-consumerism" and how being so stringently "anti" can be just as mind-sucking as shopping/internet/food/drug addiction is. it's all about the middle...

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. While I appreciate the book, yep we consume to much. The authors tend to ramble and depending on the author veer towards politics a bit too much. Good concept and some of the articles were insightful but overall I skimmed enough that I cant say it was great.

[Jason Comely · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those rare books that has profoundly altered my worldview. It made me to look hard at my own consumption and start making necessary changes. Absolutely essential reading.

[Gabrielle Jarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hooked is a book to be re-read. Not to trash corporate and consumptive America, but to increase my awareness of how it affects me to spark a desire for consuming. The selection of writings is well chosen and enlightening. Her choice of writers and viewpoints is excellent. I loved many of the stories of hope. One is the story of Shoei Sugawara in Japan, who suggested solar panels for the Zen temple roofs in the 1980's. They were built in 2000 with the added bonus of being able to sell stored energy to the Toyko Electric Power Company! We will consume. Our awareness of our choices must increase. I completely liked the wide education Hooked gave to me.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

17 contributors
3 parts:
1) getting hooked: desire and attachment
2) Practicing w/ desire; using Buddhist's tools
3) B ethics of consumption

no index; 17 pages notes

an interesting read for someone looking for some insight into the B world (like me). Clearly there are many interp of B;

[Line Franzen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Et andet perspektiv på forbrug.
Hvem vi er, hvorfor, med et Budistisk perspektiv.
En fin bog til små refleksioner, men da det er små essays, er der ikke noget storladent eller noget der driver læsningen fremad... lidt trægt

[Emily Krueger · Rating 2 out of 5]

decent but repetitive

[J'aime Wells]

Didn't quite finish this before it had to go back to the library, but I read most of it, and came away with rhe impression that Buddhism is a valuable perspective from which to criticize consumerism.

[Beverly Appleton]

This book is best studied, not read. There is a lot of important insights if you take the time to absorb.

[Todd Toussaint · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a very strong collection of essays. There were two, maybe, that I found less illuminating than the rest, but each revealed *something* valuable. It deserves a reprint.

[John Fredrickson · Rating 1 out of 5]

These essays all touch on the same theme of sponsored desire and consumerism in our global economy. After the first couple of them, each additional essay came across as tiresome.

[al · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 8%:
10 pages in and the author has insinuated multiple times that religion will be the true cure to human overconsumption, that religion "would be supportive in questioning consumerist ideology from more deeply rooted values". Sure, maybe Buddhism can assist with this, but most religions, especially many of those who fall under Christianity, would not question consumerist ideology for three reasons:
1. Many Christian religions promote overconsumption by requiring specific books. Specific food storage. Hell, even specific undergarments. Many members of Christianity are textbook over-consumers.
2. Most religious people follow their leaders BLINDLY. Unless the leaders of the church started questioning consumerist ideology, religious people won't give a single shit about overconsumption and its disastrous effects on Earth.
3. Many religions believe that the world ending and burning and suffering etc etc is the sign of the Messiah returning. They are taught not to fear that because soon they will be saved!!!

Anyways, let's maybe consider that people who are actually concerned with the state of the environment would be the ones to turn this all around. Relying on religion to take care of that is distasteful and ignorant.

[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting collection of essays about how we get attached to consuming things. Would recommend even for non-buddhists as we all experience these desires and are surrounded by daily advertisements promoting ever more consumption of goods and services.

The acquisition of more and more objects does not quench our desire but only heightens desire for other objects not yet in one's possession and thus leads to increased dissatisfaction. There are few winners and many losers in this process. Even the winners are not real winners as they create oppression and inflict great suffering on many people. Desire builds upon desire, so we can never be satisfied. "self-denial is no more effective than self-indulgence in solving the problems of greed and grasping leading to suffering."

"The meaning of my life
buying and owning things
then throwing them away."

"I use this sort-of haiku as a working summary of consumerism."

Don't expect a really easy read, but it's not that difficult, either. All buddhist concepts are fully explained and accessible to anyone!

[M]

notes: unsustainability of massive consumerism; consumption as not inherently problematic but required for survival; globalization as social monoculture; attachment vs. commitment; renunciation of excess; no hierarchy of compassion; addiction to escaping uneasiness; pursuit of acquisition vs. contemplation; advocating for conscious/ethical (not anti-) consumerism; dhammic socialism; exposing identity formation and reinforcement; global consumerism as cycle of violence and desire; not too much/not too little/just enough; commodification and objectification of time; simplicity, frugality, and moderation; inclusive decision-making and open disclosure

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the few books I re-read. Bhuddist writings tend to do that to me. I particularly love the subject matter of this book. So much of American society is about *getting* caught up in consumerism and abiding greed and desire. It is nice to read thoughtful, contemporary writings that explore and counter greed/desire/consumerism. I also like that it is pointed out that being "anti" something can be just as much of a hook as being "for" something. It is still attachment, right?

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the essays in this collection were better than others, but overall they were pretty good. The messages got fairly repetitive near the end of the book but new case studies/examples were introduced. Some of the essays have relevance for folks teaching critical development studies, on sustainability issues, or on globalization (the editor is an environmental studies professor).

[Nick Mather]

Excellent collection of essays, mostly by Western Buddhists on how to overcome the urge to mindless consumption. Very user friendly and approachable by Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. There is much here to help us be more mindful of our spending and consuming and as a result, create a more livable and just world.

[Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is decent, but definitely aimed at those with a bent toward the spiritual side of Buddhism, and seems to have mostly been written by aging hippies from California. None of this is bad, or wrong, of course, just not up my alley.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written and representing many perspectives, this book gives many opportunities to explore the values of consumption and denial.

[Niko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting to think about Buddhism and how in Amrecia our urges rise to greed desire and consumerism, sometimes within the framework of Buddhism itself.

[Kaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some essays in this are better than others, but overall worth reading. Made me think about how to be a conscious consumer.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aruduous. At times more like a textbook than a book to read for fun.

[Christine]

Natalie from Balboa suggested this title.

[Alohadudenyc · Rating 5 out of 5]

a fantastic collection of writings about consumerism--from a buddhist perspective. a great read--especially in today's repressed econony. a reminder of how we can all-too-easily become "hooked."

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book. very good gut check

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It's a nice discussion of being careful of desires..but also of desires of no-desire.