Based on two highly acclaimed PBS documentaries watched by 10 million viewers, <strong>Affluenza</strong> uses the whimsical metaphor of a disease to tackle a v... » 

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 like Swollen Expectations and A Rash of Bankruptcies, the authors examine the origins, evolution, and symptoms of the affluenza epidemic. Yet they also explore cures and suggest strategies for rebuilding families and communities and for restoring and respecting the earth. Demonstrating that now, more than ever, Americans need ways of fighting the affliction, this edition includes a new introduction and updated figures, adds information on the impacts of stress and overwork, and provides an in-depth look at various campaigns and movements offering solutions for today's problems. Engaging, fast-paced, and accessible, it reexamines a serious, far-reaching issue for a wide audience.John de Graaf is an independent producer of award-winning television documentaries, including Affluenza and Escape from Affluenza, and is the national coordinator of Take Back Your Time Day (timeday.org). He is the editor of Take Back Your Time and coauthor of the children.s book, David Brower: Friend of the Earth. David Wann is the president of the Sustainable Futures Society and has written or edited seven books, including Superbia! 31 Ways to Create Sustainable Neighborhoods, and has produced many videos and television programs about sustainable designs and lifestyles. Thomas H. Naylor is Professor Emeritus of Economics at Duke University and is the author of thirty books, including Downsizing the U.S.A. and The Vermont Manifesto. David Horsey is the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.s Pulitizer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist. «