Consumed cover art

Consumed

The Need for Collective Change; Colonialism, Climate Change & Consumerism

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Consumed

By: Aja Barber
Narrated by: Aja Barber
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About this listen

Aja Barber wants change.

In the 'learning' first half of the book, she will expose you to the endemic injustices in our consumer industries and the uncomfortable history of the textile industry; one which brokered slavery, racism and today's wealth inequality. And how these oppressive systems have bled into the fashion industry and its lack of diversity and equality. She will also reveal how we spend our money and whose pockets it goes into and whose it doesn't (clue: the people who do the actual work) and will tell her story of how she came to learn the truth.

In the second 'unlearning' half of the book, she will help you to understand the uncomfortable truth behind why you consume the way you do. She asks you to confront the sense of lack you have, the feeling that you are never quite enough and the reasons why you fill the aching void with consumption rather than compassion. And she makes you challenge this power disparity and take back ownership of it. The less you buy into the consumer culture the more power you have.

Consumed will teach you how to be a citizen not a consumer.

©2021 Aja Barber (P)2021 Octopus Publishing Group Beauty, Grooming & Style Personal Development Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Discrimination Money Capitalism
All stars
Most relevant  
A very relevant topic and one that should definitely be discussed more often. However the author’s focus on black issues in America, whilst important, distracted from the global impact of the industry and the people truly exploited by the industry, the garment workers in underdeveloped countries. Internships in the fashion industry do not warrant a chapter long discussion regarding exploitation in my opinion. Especially when you compare “taking out the trash” type of exploitation to working long hours in badly lit and ventilated warehouses for below the minimum wage.

The voice actor’s over theatrical reading was also rather….grating…

A great topic but not great delivery

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I purchased this book as I have turned my back on fast fashion and am already making sustainable garment and other purchase choices. When I purchased this book I had no idea that the author was a black woman, but soon became very aware, as the book is very much about how consumerism affects African Americans. Whilst this is worthy content, and certainly an issue which needs to be brought into the light, there was a waggling finger pointed at white people as the wicked consumers.
I read the entire book hoping this tirade would cease, but the thread and sentiment is right through the book. I found the statistics and Fast Fashion information very interesting but would have preferred less on Colonialism and Black Lives Matter content.

Black Lives Matter in the context of Fast Fashion

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This book addresses a lot of concepts I’d never considered before. I think we all want to create less waste but I never thought about it in terms of clothing. Like others I always thought donating used clothes to charities was “good”. This book gave a great history of the fast fashion industry and has definitely made me not want to support it anymore, to think about where to put my money and how best to use my privilege.

Fast fashion sucks

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This is read by Aja, who points out the tricks fast fashion plays on consumers, from psychological to ‘sustainable’ - we need to slow down fashion, and put makers not ourselves, at the heart of our choices, and Aja give practical advice on how to get started, and leads by example when it comes to taking bigger actions.

Well read, clear and compassionate message for the world

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Absolutely loved it, cannot recommend highly enough. Just listen to it and take it in. A flawless breakdown of first world privilege and our overfeeding and unnecessary consumption

Consumed, a tale of our society

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I wish this was taught in schools. Life changing. Not just community minded by global, and down to small personal revolutions too. You’re enough. We’ve been fed so much garbage, our appetite for it only grows and it’s an empty hunger. One that destroys lives, livelihoods, and our planet. It enriches the worst and the fewest.
This book is fucking fantastic. Human and planet forward. Deeply affecting, eye opening, a call to action, and not without hope or humour. Read it.

Everyone needs to read this!

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.