madameblogalot

I just came across a video blurb for Raj Patel’s newest book The Value of Nothing. I have never read or heard anything put out by Patel, but I found the ideas presented in this new book to be very thought provoking.

Patel strives to bring out the ideas of over-consumption, something that I do believe most of us in modern America struggle with. I like how he juxtaposes the value we have placed on certain items, such as factories vs. forests and “value meals” vs. vegetables and fruits. Just from watching the video, I would be interested in the reading through the book to see what ideas he is really presenting. I don’t want to go to an extreme, say, where the trees or animals have more value than a human life, but I do think it’s time the pendulum gets balanced.

I think that it is time to re-evaluate where we all are in our lives, in history and what kind of legacy we want to leave those coming behind us. I don’t think that all of what has brought us here is evil, but I do think it’s important to see how we got where we are and how we can improve on areas that need improvement. I think that is part of learning. I tell my daughter that is exactly why we have to study history.

I know we will not be on this earth forever. I do believe it too will pass away. But as long as we are here I believe we are called to be the best stewards of it that we can be. I am going to check out the chance win a copy of this new book. It should at least provide some very interesting reading and some really good things to think about.