What happens when you make a conscious decision not to shop for a whole calendar year? Is that even possible, given the consumerist, materialistic and capitalistic nature of modern society? People are always after some latest fashion, gadget or vehicle. Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping by Judith Levine is an experiment that the author (and long time partner Paul) decided, after one year-end shopping burnout, to essentially not buy anything for a whole year. Of course since she essentially still need to live, exceptions to the non-shopping experiment are food and other essentials. Non-essentials like paid entertainment, clothes and luxury items are not allowed.
So the twelve months of the year make up each chapter as the author learns how one can simplify their life from other people and organizations who teach other people how to live with just the basics.
Personally, I wouldn't do it for kicks - if I had a nice book advance to write about it, then I would do it, and be more stringent with the rules. Since I am living at home with just about everything taken care of, don't eat out too often, and with my income not enough to be taxed on, so all I basically have is a disposable income which could go into my nest egg.
Not a bad read - though I'm not sure how many people are willing to try it for real.
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