Edward F. Fischer Libros

"This book takes a behind-the-scenes look at the world of Third Wave coffee to uncover what makes a great coffee. Traders stress the material conditions of terroir and botany, but just as important are the social, moral, and political values that farmers, roasters, and consumers attach to the beans. Third Wave roasters earnestly pursue a craft, searching for new flavors, while smallholding Maya farmers in Guatemala see coffee as part of a cycle of agricultural regeneration, as well as a source of extra income. This book connects the quest for quality among Third Wave tastemakers in the United States to the lives and internet-fueled aspirations of Maya producers, showing how profits are made by artfully combining coffee's material and symbolic qualities"--

What could middle-class German supermarket shoppers buying eggs and impoverished coffee farmers in Guatemala possibly have in common? Both groups use the market in pursuit of the "good life." But what exactly is the good life? How do we define wellbeing beyond material standards of living? While we all may want to live the good life, we differ widely on just what that entails. In The Good Life, Edward Fischer examines wellbeing in very different cultural contexts to uncover shared notions of the good life and how best to achieve it. With fascinating on-the-ground narratives of Germans' choices regarding the purchase of eggs and cars, and Guatemalans' trade in coffee and cocaine, Fischer presents a richly layered understanding of how aspiration, opportunity, dignity, and purpose comprise the good life.