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famousthecat's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.5
I really enjoyed this book and found it to be really interesting and a topic I (and I would guess most Americans) know little about. The author takes you from the Goodwills of Tucson to the secondhand technology refurbishing market in West Africa to rural India on a wide-ranging, well-researched exploration of what happens to all of our stuff when we're done with it.
craftygoat's review against another edition
3.5
3.5. I found parts interesting, but I wasn't crazy about the organization of the first 2/3 of the book. Too much jumping around for my taste - 1 page he's in one country, a couple of pages later he's in another, then quickly on to somewhere else. But I now know a little more about what happens when I drop off things off at Goodwill, so it was a worthwhile read. Most interesting to me: the rag-making industry (and how fast fashion makes the job more difficult); the developing world's repair and reuse of "rich man's trash"; and the idea of the consumers' right to repair.
jake_powell's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating survey of re-use, both as a sociological practice and as part of the global economy. At times felt like the author was avoiding some of the bigger questions, and his analysis didn’t always run too deep, but the anecdotes and interviews were enlightening and engaging.
harvestinghonor's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.5
Good book, though a little confusing at times when jumping around, though tells the story effectively
lspargo's review against another edition
4.0
Lots of interesting stories about where our secondhand stuff goes. I was surprised about how much of it does get reused, even though there was also a big emphasis on how we all have way too much stuff to begin with.
rc90041's review against another edition
3.0
Somewhat slapdash and jumbled, but engrossing and eye-opening. A quick read.
radbear76's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent book. Mr. Minter takes you through the rabbit hole of second hand goods and you find yourself popping out in really unexpected places. This book explains how the second hand market works, how it's driven by shifting tastes and market forces, and is influenced by biases. You definitely need to read this book.
barium_squirrel's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a fascinating and unique exploration of the global secondhand market. Have you ever wondered what happens to donated or recycled clothing, electronics, books, and more? This book will tell you! I learned a lot; and since the topic is relevant to my job, I would like to buy a copy.
mrskendallreads's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting look into what happens to our stuff once we discard it. The section on planned obsolescence was aggravating only because it confirms what everyone has always suspected. Laws and regulations won't fix the problem. The change will only come with a change in our spending habits.