Product Description

This book provides an introduction to the historical and theoretical foundations of consumerism. It then moves on to examine the experience of consumption in the areas of space and place, technology, fashion, `popular' music and sport. Throughout, the author brings a critical perspective to bear upon the subject, thus providing a reliable and stimulating guide to a complex and many-sided field.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #373770 in Books
• Published on: 1998-07-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Review
`This book is useful because of its clear layout and accessible use of language. It provides a short history of consumerism, an overview of theoretical approaches and the argument that we live in a designer society. It then covers a series of case studies: spatial organization of city, consumption of technologies, fashion, popular music and sport' - The Year's Work in Critical and Cultural Theory

`Miles's study [is] an important contribution to our understanding of the contemporary human condition…. the value of the book is in its character of a well-informed and informative, not unduly partisan, comprehensive "state of the art" survey of topics and issues raised and discussed by the researchers and analysts of life in the society of consumers. Students and researchers alike will find it useful as a reference book and an excellent starting point for their own exploration. But "ordinary consumers" could gain as well from pursuing Miles's study. They would learn a lot about the springs that set them in motion while staying themselves in hiding. Combining these two characteristics (and so two uses and two circles of readership) is what all sociological books strive to achieve, but not many do' - Zygmunt Bauman

Customer Reviews

Interesting an insightful
This was recomended reading for a Uni course, expecting to flick through it and pick up bits I wanted, I was pleasntly surprised to find a easily accesable book. I am not kean on over technically language, abstract notions, and overly long sentaces, this has none of them. I must say I am not a kean reader, and I only really read in the feilds I study, but this was throghly interesting and engaging. His general theory is down to earth and makes sense, but its also backed up and developed through the use of well developed examples. A good read, for those interested in sociology, and those who are not.