Less cover art

Less

Stop Buying So Much Rubbish: How Having Fewer, Better Things Can Make Us Happier

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Less

By: Patrick Grant
Narrated by: Patrick Grant
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About this listen

‘Utterly brilliant. We all need to read this book’ CLAUDIA WINKLEMAN

'Patrick’s book is fascinating and sobering and makes a compelling argument for going back to basics’ JOE LYCETT

We used to care a lot about our clothes. We didn’t have many but those we had were important to us. We’d cherish them, repair them and pass them on. And making them provided fulfilling work for millions of skilled people locally.

Today the average person has nearly five times as many clothes as they did just 50 years ago. Last year, 100 billion garments were produced worldwide, most made from oil, 30% of which were not even sold, and the equivalent of one bin lorry full of clothing is dumped in landfill or burned every single second. Our wardrobes are full to bursting with clothes we never wear so why do we keep buying more?

In this passionate and revealing book about loving clothes but despairing of a broken global system Patrick Grant considers the crisis of consumption and quality in fashion, and how we might make ourselves happier by rediscovering the joy of living with fewer, better-quality things.

Weaving in his personal journey through fashion, clothing and the other everyday objects in his life, this is a book that celebrates craftsmanship, making things with care, buying things with thought and valuing everything we own. It explains how rethinking our relationship with clothing could kickstart a thriving new local economy bringing prosperity and hope back to places in our country that have lost out to globalisation, offshore manufacturing and to the madness of price and quantity being the only things that matter.

'Presents a new way of thinking about the things we buy' KEITH BRYMER-JONES

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Patrick Grant (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
Art & Literature Beauty, Grooming & Style Labour & Industrial Relations Personal Development Politics & Government Social Sciences Thought-Provoking Inspiring Fashion Happiness

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What listeners say about Less

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why is Patrick not in government

truly eye opening! anyone who is struggling with life should listen.well read and easy to listen to. thank you

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Absolutely wonderful

Thought provoking and historical info. I love hearing him read it. Thank you Mr Patrick Grant

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Relevance, kind, hopeful

Gentle plea to us all who are guilty of over consumption. Thought provoking but in my case preaching to the converted but l have recommended this wonderful book to all my friends and colleagues. Well done Patrick and huge thanks for all your honest toil in everything you have done. Lynda xx

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So much sense

Wonderful, thoughtful and thought provoking - what is said makes so much sense, something those of us of a certain age probably already recognise deep down.

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Life Changing

A brilliantly well researched book. it has really changed the way I think about how I spend my money. It made me yearn for the values of my childhood and long to be close to some of the dear people who raised me again. Can we ever go back to those halcyon days? I don't know, but I am going to give it a go.

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A very powerful message, delivered beautifully

This book really gives you food for thought. It held my attention from beginning to end. Thanks for highlighting some of the things that pass us by and the reasoning behind being sustainable. I will definitely be changing my spending habits and doing my best to buy British from now on. Well done!

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Great!

Well read and beautifully put across.

Really inspiring stuff and certainly made me reevaluate my wardrobe. Listen to this book and buy better and locally.

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Thought provoking and authentic

A nicely told tale of the possibilities for the country and its citizens with a little more thought and creativity from those able to influence direction and better ways of living where the aspirations are based on better ways of being.

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A resonance of needing less

Patrick does highlight well the crass consumerism of the fast fashion industry. He also discusses in depth his passion and activity to have people buy better, more durable, good quality goods (not just clothes!). He highlights the need for us as a country to look at our education system and the current workplaces the youth are going into.

Read or listen to it - it will help make you ponder some of your buying choices going forward.

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Fantastic timely piece of work

Everyone should read this once imo. So much wisdom in here for decisions from the smallest to those shaping our country.

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