The economy says we must consume more: even the slightest reduction in spending leads to mass unemployment and bankruptcy. The planet says we consume too much: America is burning through the Earth's resources five times faster than it can regenerate. And despite efforts to green our consumption through recycling, energy efficiency or solar energy, we are yet to see a reduction in global carbon dioxide emissions. Exploring this paradox, renowned journalist J.B. MacKinnon decided to conceptualize a hypothetical situation in which humanity one day stops making unnecessary purchases. He traveled the world to find examples, from the big box stores of America to the hunter-gatherer cultures of Namibia to communities in Ecuador that consume only what they need. And then the thought experiment became a shocking reality: the coronavirus brought shopping to a halt, and MacKinnon's ideas were tested by reality. Using experts in fields ranging from climate change to economics, the author explores how living with less will change the planet, society and ourselves. PDF A4 saved publishing layout of the book.