Stefani Abr Abr itibaren Rättvik, İsveç
Lust is defined as a passionate desire for something, which just about describes the yearnings of many of the people who appear in this book. Whether it is lust for an addition that costs as much as the original house; a kitchen with an eight-burner stove (I would die before cooking a meal that required eight burners); a McMansion for which the occupants can not afford furnishings because they are so overextended; or an overpriced tract home. What you cannot see in the above photo is that this house is probably only 15 feet from its neighbor....but at least there was enough space to turn the garage so it does not face the street. Houses like that are often called "snout houses" and some cities, like Portland, have moved to ban them. "House Lust" is exceptionally well-researched, informative, and interesting. It never lags and never bores the reader with statistics like Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You ---which basically was haphazard and disorganized, whereas McGinn's writing was organized and engaging. He proceeds logically from one topic to another, making for easy reading. I especially enjoyed McGinn’s personal involvement in his research - as when he spent the night in a model home, got a realtor’s license, and also when he bought a rental property so as to get firsthand experience. These things gave him a lot of credibility. McGinn was writing this book as the housing bubble was bursting and he adjusted his writing accordingly. I am a real fan of Sarah Susanka’s “not-so-big” values and really loved it when McGinn asked her to accompany him on a tour of a Toll Brothers house - she did not like it! No surprise there - not only because many of these houses are so overdone, but also because the quality is certainly nothing Susanka would ever approve of. This was a great look at the psychology behind house lust and our most recent housing boom.
Eric Schlosser presents a deeper, desperately needed, perspective on the fast food industry. The writing style strikes a good balance between simple facts and narratives that convey the emotional and human aspects of the impact of fast food while presenting information in an honest way. I was impressed with the breadth of this book. Schlosser reveals the far reaching influence of the fast food nation, covering such topics as the environmental impact, the economics of the franchise and enormous agribusiness, the human right's and food safety issues within the meatpacking industry, and the impact on the health of the world as obesity and diabetes grow as the consumption of fast food becomes more commonplace. A well written and informative book, this is mandatory reading for all who participate in the fast food nation and those with the capability to change it.
Reviewed here.
Another great read from Sue & Kinsey! Thanks girls!! :)