! i I Page 40 RAIN February/March 1983 The Durability Factor Roger B. Yepsen, Jr. editor Rodale Press 33 East Minor St. Emmaus, PA 18049 $14.95 paper, 1982,360 pp. Imagine what Consumer Reports would look like if Rodale published it, and you get a flavor of this book. Who else would start a consumer guide with a lecture on waste-not-want-not, and'end it with a surprising ramble by Stewart Brand about the nuclear arms race? In between, the book is filled with advice on how to find durable cars, clothes, tools, houses, appliances, typewriters, watches, and much more. TTiis is not just general analysis of how and what to do, but it also mentions specific products and makes product comparisons. There are many anecdotes worthwhile by themselves: the man who repairs fountain pens; old pickups that on icy mornings are "the only ones that start"; the Hamilton Beach mixer that has made 5,000 loaves of bread; a mysterious light bulb, mentioned in Flipley's Believe It or Not, that has been burning since 1901. It is a practical guide for consumers, a refreshing perspective on ecologically- based consumption, and an interesting popular culture history. Only thing I wondered about by the end was how the poor person feels that just does not have the capital—even though in the long run they could "save money" by investing in durable items. Until we figure that out, manv are doomed to a life of boxes filled with broken bargains. 4^^^ 4^^^ 4^HP^ RAIN 2270 NW Irving, Portland, OR 97210 (503) 227-5110
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