Affluenza ─ How Overconsumption is Killing Us - And How We Can Fight Back

Based on two highly acclaimed PBS documentaries watched by 10 million viewers, Affluenza uses the whimsical metaphor of a disease to tackle a very serious subject: the damage done—to our health, our families, our communities, and our environment—by the obsessive quest for material gain. In cleverly titled chapters such as “Swollen Expectations” and “A Rash of Bankruptcies,” the authors examine the origins, evolution, and symptoms of the affluenza epidemic. They also explore cures and suggest strategies for rebuilding families and communities and for restoring and respecting the earth.

The 2008 economic collapse demonstrated how prophetic this book was and how relevant it still is. The third edition has been updated to reflect the role overconsumption played in the collapse and how our economy and society have changed since then. There is also information about new ways to measure social health and success, such as the Gross Domestic Happiness index, which could help us wipe out affluenza.

John de Graaf has worked with KCTS-TV, the Seattle PBS affiliate, for twenty-four years as an independent documentary producer. More than fifteen of his programs have been broadcast in prime time nationally on PBS. He is the recipient of more than 100 awards for filmmaking, including three Emmy awards. He is currently active in the Happiness Initiative (www.happycounts.org) and is an advisor to the prime minister of Bhutan.

Thomas H. Naylor is a professor emeritus of economics at Duke University and is the author of over thirty books. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, the Christian Science Monitor, the Nation, and BusinessWeek.

David Wann is an author, filmmaker, and speaker on the topic of sustainable lifestyles and designs. He has produced twenty videos and television programs, including the award-winning television documentary Designing a Great Neighborhood. Wann is president of the Sustainable Futures Society and a fellow of the Simplicity Forum. He worked more than a decade as a policy analyst for the US Environmental Protection Agency and codesigned the cohousing neighborhood where he lives.