Why am I passionate about this?
Photography has its own language. It can be used to tell us things about the world in a way that words never can. Through photography I have explored the world and witnessed the huge difference in circumstances that exist. It has made me aware of how we all live in our own little bubbles of family, work, school, and neighborhood. I love books that take us outside those bubbles, and since becoming a Dad, reading and looking at books is a way for me to travel with my children to different places before they go to bed. I hope that these books can open up your and your children’s eyes.
James' book list on get your children thinking about the world
Why did James love this book?
I love the way that you get to travel around the world with this book. Its simple idea must have been a logistical nightmare to photograph; finding a home, people who would be willing to have the inconvenience of having all of their possessions taken out of their homes and placed in front of them.
Being nosey and inquisitive myself I enjoy the way you can peak into these families lives through the objects they own (or don’t own). I find the differences in the families circumstances and possessions a poignant visual representation of consumerism.
3 authors picked Material World as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
Called “Fascinating! An incredible book” by Oprah Winfrey, this beloved photography collection vividly portrays the look and feel of the human condition everywhere on Earth.
In an unprecedented effort, sixteen of the world’s foremost photographers traveled to thirty nations around the globe to live for a week with families that were statistically average for that nation. At the end of each visit, photographer and family collaborated on a remarkable portrait of the family members outside their home, surrounded by all of their possessions; a few jars and jugs for some, an explosion of electronic gadgetry for others.
This internationally acclaimed…