Monday, March 5, 2012

Book Review: Not For Sale

So, I read the book Not for Sale (by David Batstone) last week. I feel compelled to write about it, because I feel compelled to do something after reading it. It was one of the most eye-opening and horrifying books I have ever read.


Not for Sale gives a clear picture of the modern slave trade. Yes, slave trade. Happening today. Right now. Did you know that there are 30 million slaves today, more than at any other point in history? And they're on every continent -  especially Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and here, North America. I had heard of "human trafficking" before, and I had a general idea of what it entailed, but before I read this book I had no idea of the scope of the problem nor of the horrifying atrocities it perpetuates. I became so distressed while reading this book that I actually had to stop for a while.

It'd be hard for me to even come close to explaining everything as well as this book explains it, so I'm just going to direct you to the book (and its organization)'s website, here. Check it out - the info page I've linked to has a lot of stuff straight out of the book.

I also highly recommend checking your local library for the book. That's where I found the copy I read (which I just picked up on a whim), and I'm really glad I did. I'm not done thinking about this - I'm going to figure out a way to help. I have to, after reading that book. I won't be able to forget it.