Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life Of Garbage
By Heather Rogers
The New Press
By Heather Rogers
The New Press
Gone Tomorrow details the evolution of everyday Americans'
trash, the disposal of those discards, and how throwaway
packaging is a major cog in the machine of capitalism. Those
unfamiliar with the history of garbage will be shocked to discover,
among many other facts, that U.S. residents used to actually repair
what was broken, and that before modern sanitation practices,
urban dwellers would just dump their trash in the street (one of the
few times in the book curbside pick-up actually sounds like a great
idea).
trash, the disposal of those discards, and how throwaway
packaging is a major cog in the machine of capitalism. Those
unfamiliar with the history of garbage will be shocked to discover,
among many other facts, that U.S. residents used to actually repair
what was broken, and that before modern sanitation practices,
urban dwellers would just dump their trash in the street (one of the
few times in the book curbside pick-up actually sounds like a great
idea).
Once author Heather Rogers begins chronicling the post-World War II era—when our culture of
waste and the manufactured idea of built-in obsolescence was first introduced—we get to the
heart of the many reasons why American’s throw so much stuff away (and the truth about
recycling). 200+ pages may seem a bit daunting, but Rogers’ thorough research is needed to
truly comprehend why garbage is such a problem, and why it is largely kept out of sight (and
thus, out of mind). It can be all overwhelmingly depressing at times, but the situation is not
completely hopeless, as the author details several ideas that have been presented to reduce
consumption, and, ultimately, what is tossed out. Readers of Gone Tomorrow will be surprised
at how much they not only learn about garbage, but about America and themselves.
--Bart Bealmear
waste and the manufactured idea of built-in obsolescence was first introduced—we get to the
heart of the many reasons why American’s throw so much stuff away (and the truth about
recycling). 200+ pages may seem a bit daunting, but Rogers’ thorough research is needed to
truly comprehend why garbage is such a problem, and why it is largely kept out of sight (and
thus, out of mind). It can be all overwhelmingly depressing at times, but the situation is not
completely hopeless, as the author details several ideas that have been presented to reduce
consumption, and, ultimately, what is tossed out. Readers of Gone Tomorrow will be surprised
at how much they not only learn about garbage, but about America and themselves.
--Bart Bealmear