Review 734: The Trafficker Next Door

The Trafficker Next Door: How Household Employers Exploit Domestic Workers by Rhacel Salazar Parreñas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a fairly short book on a topic that could certainly use a longer treatment. The book starts by discussing one case in depth, which was revealed in the magazine The Atlantic in 2017. Eudocia Pulido was given as a “gift” at the age of 18 to Alex Tizon’s mother. (Tizon is the author of the article.) Pulido was essentially a slave for over 45 years. Pulido’s parents in the Philippines never knew what happened to their daughter, as they died before she was given any freedom or money, which occurred after Tizon’s mother died. She worked for many decades without pay, unable to contact anyone, without control over her own life.

Another chapter focused on domestic migrant workers in Singapore, Dubai and UAE, and how employment agencies exploit these women, such as charging enormous fees to the worker. Coupled with very low wages they could go six months to a year before seeing any money. Some of the employers, rich households, would monitor how much their domestic worker would eat, many losing 10-15% of their body weight in the first few months of employment. Employers also monitor their movements and communication, not allowing them to call home, or leave their house whenever they would like, as their working hours are nearly round the clock. They cook, clean, do laundry, take care of the children, whatever their employers demand and in return get very little, a place to sleep and not much else.

The last chapter looked at the employers, or exploiters. Often, they used excuses for their own behavior for trafficking these women. Even some of the employers were expats from western countries, one would hope they would do better, such as the author herself. Parreñas was living temporarily in Singapore and was able to hire a domestic worker but did not go along with the agency agreements for pay. She paid off the worker’s agency fees immediately, gave her worker more pay than the agency’s suggestion, fed her well, and gave her set working hours that were not overly long nor egregious. Once off the clock the employee had freedom to do as she pleased. This is one of those books that makes you wonder about humanity; how we can be cruel to others over and over again.

Review 210: Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World

Land: How the Hunger for Ownership Shaped the Modern World by Simon Winchester
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This latest book by Simon Winchester attempts to cover a broad subject, perhaps too broad, for human’s relationship with land. While there are many facts and tidbits gleaned in this book, it is not long enough to cover the world entirely. Huge parts of land are missing, notably South America, most islands, much of Asia and Europe. He focuses instead on points here and there, he narrows in and those parts I thoroughly enjoyed. One that struck me particularly is with the Netherlands, creating new land  and their building of new land in the 1980s, by taking it away from the North Sea away, creating a new province of Flevoland. 

I found the book was well organized, yet each section could have more breath. Also, once could argue there was no rhyme or reason to why certain points on the map were covered and other areas skipped. When confronted with native people’s being disposed of their land, and the attempts to recover it, well definitely Winchester could have written more, and perhaps with more compassion. He certainly seems to take affront at how much land is owned by so few in Britain, and rightly so. 

Don’t expect the book to be through, but there is much here that can have you asking, just how much land does one need?

Thanks to Harper and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

 I listened to the audio book which was narrated by the author. Narration was fine.

Review 98: Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale

Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale by Adam Minter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay, this book may really change my life. It has opened my eyes to stuff, especially clothing. This was a fascinating look at where used goods go throughout the world. One of the eye-openers is how the quality has decreased in manufacturing. Which industry you may ask, just about all. There are still companies, and exceptions, where things are made to last, but that is no longer the norm. What I found particularly distressing to read is how "fast fashion" has replaced reasonably made clothes to ones that last no more than a few washings. Then there's how quickly a washer or dryer may last, not too long. Sigh.

This is a book that will change your life, or at least your viewpoint on stuff.
Excellent read! Highly recommended.



Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.