Úselo y Tírelo (Use It and Throw It Away) is a sharp, ecological critique by Uruguayan author Eduardo Galeano
The book is not merely an environmental treatise; it is a philosophical critique of how "waste" has become a central pillar of the modern economy. Galeano argues that the logic of the market has permeated every aspect of human life, transforming objects, time, and even people into disposable commodities.
Use it. And don’t throw it away.
While Galeano is most famous for Open Veins of Latin America, Úselo y Tírelo is essential for understanding his ecological vision. He views the fight for the environment as inseparable from the fight against capitalism and colonialism. Notable Quotes for Reflection
The "Desechables" (The Disposables): Galeano writes about the "nobodies" of the world, specifically marginalized people in Latin America whom the system labels as "economically inviable". He highlights how children in Colombia, once called gamines, are now often referred to as desechables (disposables), marked for death by a society that prioritizes profit over life. uselo y tirelo eduardo galeano pdf
The most ethical method: Purchase El libro de los abrazos as an eBook from legitimate platforms (Amazon Kindle, Google Play Books, Apple Books, or Kobo). Once purchased, you can legally extract the single page as a PDF for your personal reference.
Locate it legally – Try searching on:
Why should you care about a 35-year-old fragment from a Uruguayan writer? Because it predicts our present with terrifying accuracy:
The "Discardable" Human: Galeano highlights a grim social parallel: just as consumer goods are made to be replaced, millions of people are treated as "economically unviable" or "disposable" by the global market. Úselo y Tírelo (Use It and Throw It