There are few clear and direct predecessors to the Renegade Consumer philosophy.
While there are many writings that address one point or another of the general subject, they do so only in part—and in twice part, at that: in only in part of the source writing, and in only partial applicability to the Renegade Consumer synthesis.
In a nutshell, there are few if any predecessors that isolate consumerism itself as the problem. Consumerism is invariably seen as a symptom, effect or sidelight of some other social, economic, spiritual or political ill, and not—as Renegade Consumer may be unique in seeing it—as the ill, and root cause of other ills.
Furthermore, even those writers that see consumerism as a problem tend to address the solution as a vague “not spending so much”—tepid advice to families to watch their spending, not think more about it. That's somewhere between unhelpful and counterproductive.
It would be only marginally productive to list things here that largely go their own direction, even if they contain a kernel of RC compatibility. That list can be found by any web search on “consumerism” or other key topics, and it is up to the knowledgeable reader to sort things out.
Over time, writings that are of interest and support to Renegade Consumer philosophy, ideals, individuals and the movement will be linked here. To make them more immediately useful to visitors, each will have a framing critique of what parts apply to Renegade Consumer and what parts may be contrary or irrelevant. Suggestions are welcome.
Food
- Salt Sugar Fat
Michael Moss
Random House 2014
SSF is a 100% Renegade book that happened to precede the formal unveiling of the Renegade Consumer movement. Besides revealing the competitive insanity of the food conglomerates, Moss details — often through candid interviews with food industry scientists and executives — exactly how food products are processed, manipulated and engineered precisely to increase sales, even at the cost of gross unhealthiness. This book saved me an enormous amount of effort in trying to say the same things in the forthcoming book, in far less space and with far less authoritative information. Highly recommended not only for the reveal on the food industry's marketing practices, but as insight into how all consumer good manufacturers will use any strategy that's legal and increases profits, regardless of the ultimate cost to consumers.