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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Waste Not summary
Erin Rhoads
Make a Big Difference by Throwing Away Less
19 mins
Brief summary
In 'Waste Not' Erin Rhoads shares her journey towards a zero-waste lifestyle. She offers practical advice and tips on reducing our dependence on single-use items and adopting a more conscious approach to living that benefits both our health and the planet.
Table of Contents
Waste Not
Summary of 6 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 6
The less you consume, the less waste the earth has to absorb.
The idea of “zero waste” might sound crazy at first, but consider this: When a leaf falls off a tree, it’s broken down by microorganisms, which in turn sustain bugs that sustain birds that sustain . . . well, you get the picture. Nature itself is a zero-waste system.
Or at least it was until human beings came along. And while we got along with nature pretty well for millenia, during the Industrial Revolution, new technologies introduced mass production. So as we extract fossil fuels and raw materials from the earth to make new products, waste – often, toxic waste – is a major result. In fact, every environmental threat stems from human actions.
And though things like using solar panels and recycling diligently can help, those efforts still use resources. That’s why it’s important to reduce consumption.
The key message is: The less you consume, the less waste the earth has to absorb.
Everything you buy requires energy – not just when it’s produced, but when you throw it away. Just think about the impact of plastics, which can take more than 500 years to break down. Plastics don’t nourish the soil; instead, they clog it up – and they’ve now made their way into our food and our water.
Even worse, plastics now end up stuck inside the noses of sea turtles and in the malnourished bellies of Laysan albatrosses, who often mistake plastic for food. And while plastic doesn’t break down quickly, it does break up into microplastics. Along with the microbeads often found in face wash, those all end up in the ocean. In fact, in 2016, scientists estimated that Europeans consumed roughly 11,000 bits of microplastic in their seafood every year.
But what about recycling? Doesn’t that prevent waste?
Not necessarily. A little recycling symbol doesn’t mean an object can be recycled indefinitely. Most plastic can only be recycled once before the end of its lifespan. And while paper can be recycled ten times, recycling is also a market-driven business, so stock can sit for a long time before anything is done with it.
Meanwhile, we continue to buy more stuff. In fact, we’re encouraged to do it. That’s because products are designed with planned obsolescence in mind – they’re meant to fail so that we have to purchase new ones.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. In the next blink, we’ll get into how you can start making small changes in your life to make a big positive impact on the world we live in.
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What is Waste Not about?
Waste Not (2019) is a practical guide to changing your consumption lifestyle in order to have a big, eco-friendly impact. Learn how to enjoy the conveniences of the modern world without leaving behind a pile of modern trash.
Waste Not Review
Waste Not (2018) by Erin Rhoads is a thought-provoking book that sheds light on the global issue of waste and offers practical tips on how to reduce our environmental impact. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- With insightful research and eye-opening statistics, it illuminates the scale of the waste problem, making it impossible to ignore.
- Through personal stories and experiences, the author shows that living a waste-free lifestyle is not only feasible but also rewarding and fulfilling.
- The book provides practical strategies and actionable steps to minimize waste in our daily lives, empowering readers to make a positive change for the planet.
Who should read Waste Not?
- People who want to reduce their waste output
- Parents looking to educate their kids about recycling
- All those concerned with climate change
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Waste Not FAQs
What is the main message of Waste Not?
The main message of Waste Not is to reduce waste and live a more sustainable life.
How long does it take to read Waste Not?
The reading time for Waste Not varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Waste Not a good book? Is it worth reading?
Waste Not is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in reducing their environmental impact. It provides practical tips and inspiration for living a more sustainable life.
Who is the author of Waste Not?
The author of Waste Not is Erin Rhoads.
What to read after Waste Not?
If you're wondering what to read next after Waste Not, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- How Bad Are Bananas? by Mike Berners-Lee
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- Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
- The Epic of Gilgamesh by Anonymous
- KIND by Graham Allcott
- Buddhism – Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen
- The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss
- How to Speed Read People by Patrick King
- How the World Eats by Julian Baggini