Ruppel, who is a writer for the Atlantic Monthly, explores the downside of the American search for bargains. The quality of goods suffers as well as the wages of workers that produce and sell them. The price of the item is now the main factor in many purchasing decisions, and the buyer is often well aware that lack of quality is part of the deal. Ruppel describes the drastic changes we Americans have made as consumers in the last century, from a time when most people had very few possessions and the ones they had were used until they fell apart. From this, we have evolved into a throwaway society, in which items that break are tossed out and no repair is even attempted.

Two sections of this book really stood out : the chapter on Ikea and the description of farm raised shrimp. Ruppel took a field trip to Ikea headquarters and closely examines some of the furniture and the reasons why it is so cheap. She describes book cases, with sagging shelves that fall apart when moved. But it costs less than $100, and is easily replaced with another, also disposable. And as for the shrimp, the farms that raise them are unappealing and often dirty, but the low cost is the reason restaurants can have inexpensive all you can eat specials.

What to conclude ? Perhaps looking for items, like furniture that are made to last, maybe even long enough to pass on to someone else. Spend a little more and buy less. And when buying shrimp, look for fresh caught, and avoid those chain restaurant specials. Despite all the information provided, Ruppel is hopeful we can change our behavior and still enjoy shopping. And for another take on the subject, take a look at Confessions of an Eco-Sinner which I reviewed earlier this year.

Part memoir, part true crime and written by Jason Kersten, it’s about Art Williams, a maverick counterfeiter from Chicago. The story begins with Art’s childhood in a dysfunctional (natch) family. Art’s father, a small-time crook, abandoned the family when Williams was 11. His mother, diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia, is unable to look after their three kids. The family ends up on welfare in Bridgeport, on Chicago’s south side, amidst guns, drugs and gangs. Williams begins breaking into parking meters and is soon supporting the family by stealing cars. He then graduates to robbing local drug dealers. At this point, the fun has really just begun and Williams is 13 and we’re only on chapter 3.

Art’s mother’s boyfriend (a.k.a. Da Vinci) takes Art under his wing, introducing him to a future in counterfeiting. After Da Vinci disappears (presumably at the hands of a disgruntled client) Art is left to fine tune his talent on his own. He does so, taking his career onto a new level by using the newest technology available, coming up with a c-note, (I like to throw the lingo around) a hundred dollar bill so perfect, even law enforcement have trouble telling it from the real thing.

Art’s inevitable downfall stems from his inability to follow Da Vinci’s simple instructions–first, do not spend the notes yourself, and secondly, never spend them close to home. Art’s final undoing, however, is a result of visiting his father in Alaska. In a moment of weakness and, one can only think, an effort to finally win dear old dad’s approval, Art lets his dad in on the business. Art Senior wants a piece of the free money action but can’t follow the rules either.

If I was casting the movie, which is currently in the works, I’d put Johnny Depp in the lead role and Ray Liotta as the deadbeat dad. While you wait for the film, however, slap down some legal tender, get yourself a big old latte and enjoy this page turner. Sure, it may not expedite your retirement or improve your investment portfolio, but take solace in the fact that the feds aren’t chasing you. And then there’s all that money you’re saving by getting your stuff from the library.