Unsustainable: Amazon, Warehousing, and the Politics of Exploitation

Amazon has grown to become one of the most successful businesses in history, but its rise is only made possible by the exploitation of workers' labor and resources. Unsustainable looks inside the company's warehouses to reveal the real-world repercussions of these strategies, providing fresh insight into one of the most important and far-reaching struggles of our time.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 356 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2023
Publisher: University of California Press

From Humble Beginnings to Historical Success: Amazon's Journey

Amazon, a company that began with humble origins, has emerged as one of the most successful businesses in history. Its relentless pursuit of fast and convenient Prime delivery has led to the establishment of a vast global network of fulfillment centers and warehouses. However, a closer look inside these facilities reveals a darker side to the company's growth. In their book, "Unsustainable: The Rise of Amazon and the End of Human Progress," Juliann Emmons Allison and Ellen Reese take an in-depth exploration of the company's warehouses and expose the exploitative practices that drive its success.

Through a chilling case study of the socioeconomic and environmental harms associated with the largely unchecked growth of warehousing in Inland Southern California, one of the nation's largest logistics hubs, where Amazon is the largest private-sector employer, the authors shed light on the real-world repercussions of these pernicious strategies. They trace the rise of grassroots resistance to the warehouse industry by workers and communities across this region, the country, and the globe, providing fresh insight into one of the most important and far-reaching struggles of our time.

The book highlights the devastating impact of Amazon's warehousing operations on workers and communities. It exposes the low wages, lack of job security, and poor working conditions that workers endure in these facilities. The authors also shed light on the environmental toll of the warehouse industry, including the significant carbon emissions, air pollution, and waste generation that result from the massive scale of operations.

Furthermore, "Unsustainable" explores the broader societal implications of Amazon's growth. It questions the impact of the company's dominance on local economies, the erosion of traditional retail jobs, and the concentration of power in the hands of a few multinational corporations. The book raises important questions about the future of work, the role of government regulation, and the need for a more sustainable and equitable economic system.

In conclusion, "Unsustainable: The Rise of Amazon and the End of Human Progress" is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dark side of corporate success. It provides a powerful critique of Amazon's practices and sheds light on the urgent need for a more sustainable and equitable economic system. By exposing the real-world repercussions of Amazon's growth, the book serves as a call to action for workers, communities, and policymakers to work together to create a future that is both prosperous and sustainable.

Weight: 488g
Dimension: 151 x 230 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520388383