Pockets

An Intimate History of How We Keep Things Close

By: Hannah Carlson

Narrated by: Stephanie Cannon

Length: 6 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

A thought-provoking microhistory of the humble pocket that uncovers what pockets reveal about us—and why it matters.

It’s a subject that stirs up plenty of passion: Why do men’s clothes have so many pockets and women’s so few? In her captivating book, Hannah Carlson, a lecturer in dress history at the Rhode Island School of Design, shows us how we tuck gender politics, security, sexuality, and privilege inside our pockets.

Throughout the medieval era in Europe, the purse was an almost universal dress feature carried by men and women alike. But when tailors stitched the first pockets into men’s trousers 500 years ago, it ignited controversy and introduced a range of social issues that we continue to wrestle with today, from concealed pistols to gender inequality, as noted in hashtags like #GiveMePocketsOrGiveMeDeath.

This abundantly illustrated four-color book explores much more than who has pockets and why. How is it that putting your hands in your pocket can be seen as a sign of laziness, arrogance, confidence, or perversion? Walt Whitman’s author photograph, hand in pocket, for Leaves of Grass, seemed like an affront to middle class respectability. When W.E.B. DuBois posed for a portrait, his pocketed hands signaled defiant coolness.

Listeners of The Golden Thread by Kassia St. Clair and The Fabric of Civilization by Virginia Postrel will be enthralled. And Pockets is a perfect gift for the legions of people obsessed with pockets and their absence, and for anyone interested in how our clothes influence the way we navigate the world.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Hannah Carlson (P)2023 Algonquin Books

Critic reviews

“Who knew the humble pocket could hold so much history? In this enthralling and always surprising account, Hannah Carlson turns the pocket inside out and out tumble pocket watches, coins, pistols, and a riveting centuries-long social and political history.”—Jill Lepore, author of These Truths: A History of the United State

"If you’re a man, you might wonder why someone would write an entire book about pockets…if you’re a woman, the story of Pockets pretty much illuminates all of human history. Either way, once you pick up Pockets, you’ll never forget its weird and wonderful lessons of power and possession.”—Faith Salie, contributor to CBS News Sunday Morning and regular panelist on NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!

"From feminine codes of secrecy to the fascinating culture of smart textiles, Carlson’s book is that rare thing: an exhaustive social history that’s also un-put-downable. Pockets reminds us that what we hold close says everything about who we are, what we value, and why it matters.”—Jessica Helfand, Design Observer

Good book for those interested in the history of pockets

Good book for those interested in the history of pockets. Pockets were originally made out of necessity solely for white men. Others had to fight for the right to pockets! Women are still fighting for them today!

Very well researched, but not of interest to me in this level of detail 

The earliest history was interesting, but I got really tired of hearing about all the designers. And the technology futuristic uses. I guess I’m just not interested in these things.

Good read

Terrific study of something men take for granted and women don't know they're missing! Highly recommended.

Sad we can’t give 0 stores, this one deserves it

This book is trash. It should be thrown in the dumpster. It is so bad it’s unbelievable that authors this bad try to write books. The book is all about feminism. It’s not really a book about pockets. Every single chapter just goes back to how girls didn’t have pockets but boys do. So lame.