When you drop a box of unwanted items off at the local thrift store, where do they go? Probably across the countryâor even halfway across the worldâto people and places eager to reuse what you donât want.
In Secondhand, Adam Minter delves into the vast, multibillion-dollar industry that resells used stuff around the world. He follows the trail of unwanted objects from the closets, garages, and storage units of Middle America to epic used-goods markets in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Ghana, India, Malaysia, and beyond.
Secondhand takes us through the often painful and heartbreaking process of cleaning out a lifetimeâs worth of possessions and shows that used stuff still has a place in a world that values the new and shinyâit entertains us, makes fortunes, fulfills needs, and transforms the way we live and work.