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The Idea of Waste

On the Limits of Human Life
Brief Description
A compelling rumination on detritus as an essential, meaningful, yet often problematic facet of human existence. This book starts with the premise that waste is inevitable in human society. The Idea of Waste explores how we have grappled with both the material reality and the spectre... Read More
Format: Hardback
$5799
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The Idea of Waste

An exploration of both the reality and the spectre of waste throughout history.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A compelling rumination on detritus as an essential, meaningful, yet often problematic facet of human existence.

This book starts with the premise that waste is inevitable in human society. The Idea of Waste explores how we have grappled with both the material reality and the spectre of this shape-shifting phenomenon throughout history, utilising it, dreaming of overcoming it, yet never escaping it.

John Scanlan explores what waste is and why it seems to be intrinsic to human life, at every turn, in every age and epoch. Finally, he demonstrates how waste never disappears, but rather only proliferates anew. The compelling narrative shows waste to be both an enduring material consequence of human activity and an idea or state of being.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781836390343

Publisher: Reaktion Books

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 24 March 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Reaktion Books

Illustration: 40 illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 304

About the Author

John Scanlan is a cultural historian at the University of Central Lancashire. His previous books include On Garbage (2005), Memory: Encounters with the Strange and the Familiar (2013) and Rock 'n' Roll Plays Itself (2022), all published by Reaktion Books.

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