Total Garbage: A Book Review – Can We Really Fix Our Waste and Heal the World?
Edward Humes, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, isn’t afraid to dive headfirst into the, well, garbage. You might remember his last deep dive into the world of trash with his eye-opening book, Garbology. Published in twenty thirteen, it was basically a big ol’ exposé on America’s, let’s be honest, kinda gross obsession with waste.
Now, Humes is back at it with a brand-spankin’ new book: Total Garbage (out in twenty twenty-four). This time, he’s cranking things up a notch. We’re not just talking banana peels and busted TVs here, folks. Humes is tackling the whole shebang—the environmental impact of, well, pretty much everything we do.
This review, fresh from the digital pages of the California Review of Books, takes a closer look at Total Garbage and what makes it such a timely—and dare we say, hopeful—read.
Familiar but Foreboding
Humes kicks things off in Total Garbage by revisiting some familiar territory. Remember those mountains of plastic we were supposed to be recycling? Yeah, about that… Humes reminds us that those haven’t magically disappeared. In fact, the whole recycling system is still pretty much a hot mess.
Waste Not, Want Not – But It’s More Than You Think
Hold up, though, because Total Garbage isn’t just a rehash of Garbology. Humes takes a way broader approach this time, showing us that “waste” goes way beyond our trashcans. Get ready to think about:
- Those gas stoves everyone’s arguing about? Yep, their emissions are on the menu.
- Building and designing eco-friendly homes? That’s in there too, with a focus on passive house design.
- Renewable energy (we all knew that was coming, right?)
- Food waste (because who hasn’t tossed a sad-looking head of lettuce?)
- Industrial agriculture (yup, even our food systems get a hard look)
- Electric cars (are they really the heroes we want them to be?)
- That zero-waste packaging that looks so darn cool (spoiler: it’s complicated)
Humes’ M.O.: Making a Big Mess Digestible
Okay, we get it. “Total Garbage” doesn’t exactly scream “beach read.” But here’s the thing: Humes is really good at taking complex, kinda depressing topics and making them not just understandable but actually engaging. He’s like that friend who can explain literally anything, and you actually want to listen.
He’s got this knack for breaking down complicated stuff into bite-sized pieces, and he’s not afraid to throw in a little humor along the way (because let’s face it, we all need a chuckle when we’re talking about the impending garbage apocalypse).
Total Garbage: A Book Review – Can We Really Fix Our Waste and Heal the World?
Edward Humes, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, isn’t afraid to dive headfirst into the, well, garbage. You might remember his last deep dive into the world of trash with his eye-opening book, Garbology. Published in twenty thirteen, it was basically a big ol’ exposé on America’s, let’s be honest, kinda gross obsession with waste.
Now, Humes is back at it with a brand-spankin’ new book: Total Garbage (out in twenty twenty-four). This time, he’s cranking things up a notch. We’re not just talking banana peels and busted TVs here, folks. Humes is tackling the whole shebang—the environmental impact of, well, pretty much everything we do.
This review, fresh from the digital pages of the California Review of Books, takes a closer look at Total Garbage and what makes it such a timely—and dare we say, hopeful—read.
Familiar but Foreboding
Humes kicks things off in Total Garbage by revisiting some familiar territory. Remember those mountains of plastic we were supposed to be recycling? Yeah, about that… Humes reminds us that those haven’t magically disappeared. In fact, the whole recycling system is still pretty much a hot mess.
Waste Not, Want Not – But It’s More Than You Think
Hold up, though, because Total Garbage isn’t just a rehash of Garbology. Humes takes a way broader approach this time, showing us that “waste” goes way beyond our trashcans. Get ready to think about:
- Those gas stoves everyone’s arguing about? Yep, their emissions are on the menu.
- Building and designing eco-friendly homes? That’s in there too, with a focus on passive house design.
- Renewable energy (we all knew that was coming, right?)
- Food waste (because who hasn’t tossed a sad-looking head of lettuce?)
- Industrial agriculture (yup, even our food systems get a hard look)
- Electric cars (are they really the heroes we want them to be?)
- That zero-waste packaging that looks so darn cool (spoiler: it’s complicated)
Humes’ M.O.: Making a Big Mess Digestible
Okay, we get it. “Total Garbage” doesn’t exactly scream “beach read.” But here’s the thing: Humes is really good at taking complex, kinda depressing topics and making them not just understandable but actually engaging. He’s like that friend who can explain literally anything, and you actually want to listen.
He’s got this knack for breaking down complicated stuff into bite-sized pieces, and he’s not afraid to throw in a little humor along the way (because let’s face it, we all need a chuckle when we’re talking about the impending garbage apocalypse).
Roll Up Your Sleeves: Time for Action
One of the things that sets Total Garbage apart is that it’s not all doom and gloom. Don’t get me wrong—Humes doesn’t sugarcoat the environmental challenges we face. But here’s where the “hopeful” part comes in: sprinkled throughout the book are these awesome “Do This” lists. These little nuggets of wisdom offer practical, actionable steps we can all take to, you know, not completely trash the planet.
Want to Fight Food Waste Like a Pro? “Stick a Fork in It”
Take the chapter on food waste, for instance. It’s a real eye-opener (did you know that up to forty percent of all food produced globally ends up in the trash? Yikes!). But instead of just leaving us wallowing in guilt, Humes introduces us to Anne-Marie Bonneau, the mastermind behind the Zero-Waste Chef blog.
Bonneau drops some serious knowledge bombs about reducing food waste, like:
- “Shop your refrigerator” before hitting the grocery store. That’s right, those slightly wilted veggies in the back deserve some love!
- Avoid overbuying produce (we’re looking at you, two-for-one deals!).
- Embrace the art of recipe adaptability. No zucchini for that bread recipe? No problem, use those overripe bananas instead!
- Practice portion control, and load up on those veggies instead of always making meat the star of the show.
See? Simple, practical changes that can make a real difference.
Your “What You Can Do Right Now About Waste” Cheat Sheet
And it gets even better. Humes wraps up Total Garbage with a master list—a grand finale of actionable steps aptly titled “What You Can Do Right Now About Waste.” This list is like a treasure trove of easy, everyday things we can all do to lighten our environmental footprint. Think:
- Giving those single-use plastic bags the side-eye (and bringing your own reusable bags, obviously).
- Kicking the plastic water bottle habit (a reusable water bottle is your new BFF).
- Cooking with the windows open to vent those harmful pollutants (who knew?).
- Actually powering down your computer when you’re done with it (we’re all guilty of leaving it on, right?).
- Making soup your culinary spirit animal (it’s a great way to use up leftovers!).
- Channeling your inner fixer-upper and repairing things instead of always opting for that shiny new replacement.
These are just a taste of the practical tips Humes serves up. Trust us, this list is pure gold.
A Dose of Reality, a Sprinkle of Hope
So, what’s the overall vibe of Total Garbage? Well, it’s definitely a wake-up call. Humes doesn’t shy away from laying out the environmental challenges we face, and some of the statistics he cites are, frankly, kinda terrifying (did you know that Americans make up just four percent of the global population but consume a whopping twenty-four percent of the world’s resources? Yeah, we need to talk about that).
But here’s the key takeaway: Humes isn’t advocating for some crazy, radical, overnight transformation. He’s all about gradual change—shifting our mindsets, making conscious choices, and adopting new habits. It’s about recognizing that even small actions, when multiplied by millions of people, can have a huge impact.
The Bottom Line: Read This Book
Despite its title and subject matter, Total Garbage is a surprisingly uplifting read. Humes manages to inject a sense of hope and even humor into a topic that could easily send us spiraling into despair. He empowers us with knowledge, arms us with practical solutions, and ultimately leaves us feeling like we can actually make a difference.
In a world grappling with the very real consequences of our wastefulness, Total Garbage is more than just a book—it’s a call to action. It’s a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of our planet (and let’s be real, that should be all of us).
