Look around you. How many of the things you own were bought in the last year or two? That smartphone you're holding, the laptop on your desk, even the washing machine in your laundry room - chances are, they feel a little less "new" and a little more "outdated" with each passing day. We're constantly bombarded with the next big thing, the upgraded model, the must-have feature. It's an endless cycle of acquiring and discarding, and it leaves us feeling perpetually behind, our wallets lighter, and our landfills overflowing. For too long, we've accepted this as the natural progression of technology and innovation. We've been led to believe that products simply reach the end of their useful lives, or that our desire for the latest gadget is an inherent human trait. But what if that feeling of obsolescence isn't natural at all? What if it's not a bug in the system, but a deliberate feature? This book, The Unplanned Truth: How Planned Obsolescence Cheats Consumers and Harms Our Planet, pulls back the curtain on one of the greatest marketing scams of our time: planned obsolescence. We'll expose how corporations intentionally design products to fail prematurely, become unfashionable quickly, or simply stop working with newer systems. You'll discover the subtle, and not-so-subtle, ways they manipulate our desires and convince us to replace perfectly good items. More than just a exposé, this is a call to action. We'll explore the devastating financial toll this scam takes on consumers and the catastrophic environmental impact of our throwaway culture. But most importantly, we'll equip you with the knowledge and tools to resist. From understanding how planned obsolescence works to embracing the burgeoning right-to-repair movement, you'll learn how to make smarter choices, extend the life of your possessions, and ultimately, reclaim your power as a consumer.