Where am I Wearing?, Kelsey Timmerman
Where am I Wearing?, Kelsey Timmerman
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Where am I Wearing?
A Global Tour to the Countries, Factories, and People That Make Our Clothes

Author: Kelsey Timmerman

Narrator: Mirron Willis

Unabridged: 9 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 07/20/2020


Synopsis

Where Am I Wearing? traces the author's journey from Honduras, to Bangladesh, to Cambodia, to China, and back again to discover the origins of his favorite clothes, including his sandals, pants, boxers, and t-shirt.  It intimately describes the connection between impoverished garment workers' standards of living and the all-American material lifestyle.  It is a personal and intimate look at globalization and outsourcing, answering the questions: "How are the lives of foreign workers affected?", "Why are these workers so poor?", and "How guilty should we feel?" Timmerman's travels to the people who made his clothes reveal that globalization isn't a black or white, good or bad, issue.  It's much more complex.  Where Am I Wearing? bridges the gap between global producers and consumers by introducing readers to the human elements of globalization names, personalities, hopes, and dreams with the economic and political elements serving as a backdrop.  Whether it be bowling a few frames with workers in Cambodia, riding a roller coaster with workers in Bangladesh, or dining on their floor during a power outage, the book puts a face on the impersonal force of globalization.  Not only does it show readers why they should care about the workers that make their clothes, it gives them a reason to care. In this revision, Kelsey completes the story by travelling back to a small village in Honduras to find a key garment worker from the first edition.   However, he is now living in California. Kelsey heads north from Honduras to track him down, and discovers him living a double life, with a new, expecting, American wifewhile continuing to support his Honduran girlfriend and kids back home.  The man shares his complex story of love and sacrifice, heartache and hope, and life as an illegal immigrant.

Reviews

Goodreads review by S. on July 01, 2009

Thought-provoking. Takes on both sides of the "sweatshop" debate. I'm reading clothing lables--and getting an education. Highly recommended. UPDATE: Now that I've finished reading this book, hmmm... Several thoughts. First of all, while it does not go "in depth" and take on the politics of consumeris......more

Goodreads review by Matt on January 12, 2009

While I was excited about the concept and goal of this book I found it a little light in the content department. I understand it is a complex issue, but I was also looking for a little more resolution in the end other than being "an engaged consumer". I would still say it is worth reading, if just f......more

Goodreads review by Molly on August 07, 2013

I read this book because I have to teach it, and it is a decent choice for the freshman seminar common book. But the author is trying so hard to come off as a folksy "just like you college students" flip flop dude that it gets tiresome. The factual parts were good, and I think my students will relat......more

Goodreads review by نورهان on May 08, 2020

( لا يجد الإجابة إلا من يؤرقه التساؤل) بيجوفيتش قالها وقليل من ينفذها ومنهم كاتب كتاب ( أين تصنع ملابسنا؟) كاتبنا كان بريد يعرف رحلة تصنيع بعض من الملابس التي يرتديهتا، ورغم أن الأمر قد يبدو للبعض تافه أو لا قيمة له، الكاتب سافر للصين وهندوراس وكمبوديا وبنحلاديش من أجل أن يصل لإجابات وفد وصل لها وطرح......more

Goodreads review by Bookstax on May 16, 2010

I really wanted this book to go MUCH more in depth into the ramifications of consumer society on the workers who support our ability/desire/insistence on the availability of cheap clothing, shoes and accessories. I also almost felt like the author approached the whole project kind of casually. I exp......more