Consumer Culture

In this signal work of history, Bancroft Prize winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Lizabeth Cohen shows how the pursuit of prosperity after World War II fueled our pervasive consumer mentality and transformed American life. Trumpeted as a means to promote the general welfare, mass consumption quickly outgrew its economic objectives and became synonymous with patriotism, social equality, and the American Dream.

An Other Kingdom takes us out of a culture of addictive consumption into a place where life is ours to create together. This way depends upon a neighborly covenant—an agreement that we together, will better raise our children, be healthy, be connected, be safe, and provide a livelihood. The authors invite you on a journey of departure from our consumer market culture. Discover an alternative set of beliefs that have the capacity to evoke a culture where poverty, violence, and shrinking well-being are not inevitable.

The Mobile Wave argues that the changes brought by mobile computing are so big and widespread that it’s impossible for us to see it all, even though we are all immersed in it. Saylor explains that the current generation of mobile smart phones and tablet computers has set the stage to become the universal computing platform for the world. In the hands of billions of people and accessible anywhere and anytime, mobile computers are poised to become an appendage of the human being and an essential tool for modern life.

From “one of the great (greatest?) contemporary popular writers on economics” (Tyler Cowen) comes a smart, lively, and encouraging rethinking of how to use statistics. Today we think statistics are the enemy, numbers used to mislead and confuse us. That’s a mistake, Tim Harford says in The...

Denise Baudu arrives in Paris seeking work after her parents' deaths. Her uncle owns a small draper's shop being systematically destroyed by the massive department store across the street: The Ladies' Paradise. Despite her uncle's rage, Denise seeks employment there. She enters an environment transforming nineteenth-century commerce completely. The owner, Octave Mouret, understands that modern retail isn't selling goods but creating desires—women must be seduced through theatrical display, shopping must become entertainment. Émile Zola published The Ladies' Paradise in 1883 after ...

In the tradition of bestselling classics such as Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed and Benjamin Lorr’s The Secret Life of Groceries comes a character-driven exploration of the modern supermarket, unpacking what works and what doesn’t, and delivering a blueprint for a better way to shop...

A propulsive and wickedly entertaining debut thriller for fans of Laura Dave and Ashley Elston that explores the dark underside of the American dream, about a couple whose financial problems are seemingly answered when they begin receiving growing sums of money from an unknown source . . . a...

AMERICAN POP: Commercial Break — The 1950s Advertising Revolution offers a sharp, insightful journey through the golden age of American consumer culture. Far from a nostalgic tribute, this book critically examines how 1950s advertising reshaped not only markets but the very way Americans thought about identity, success, gender, fear, and belonging. Drawing from real ads, historical analysis, and cultural commentary, Commercial Break reveals how advertisers in the Atomic Age sold not just products but dreams, anxieties, and social scripts that would define American life for decades to come...

AMERICAN POP: ICONS — Disneyland: Building the American Dream Machine From the opening day chaos of “Dateline: Disneyland” to the timeless lure of Main Street, U.S.A., Disneyland and the Architecture of American Fantasy explores how Walt Disney’s theme park reshaped American culture—not just how we play, but how we shop, remember, dream, and believe. This rich cultural history reveals Disneyland as both a beloved destination and a blueprint for the modern American experience: a space where nostalgia is curated, identity is performed, and entertainment becomes infrastructure. ...

The only user-friendly beginner’s guide to Six Sigma Six Sigma is the most common—and perhaps least understood—methodology for streamlining processes in manufacturing, service delivery, management, and almost any other business activity. For business leaders seeking increased efficiency...

Persuading other people to say ""yes"" is an essential skill in life—whether you're selling a product, an idea, or yourself. Packed with tried-and-true tips and real-life examples, this revised edition walks you step by step through the fundamentals of successful selling, with an emphasis on...

In the market for a home, but don't know where to start? Not to worry! From financing, mortgages, and credit scores to closing the deal, bestselling real estate authors Eric Tyson and Ray Brown walk you step by step through the entire home-buying process. Discover how to: Harness the Internet to...

One of Porchlight's Business Books of the Year | One of Vox's Best Books of 2023 | An NPR Book of the Day | Required Reading from New York Post | One of Nylon's 13 May Books to Add to Your Reading List | One of PureWow's 14 Books to Read for AAPI Heritage Month | One of W Magazine's 14 Books to...

An illuminating look at the way the thoughts we have and the decisions we make are influenced by forces that aren't always in our control Why are people named Kim, Kelly, and Ken more likely to donate to Hurricane Katrina victims than to Hurricane Rita victims? Are you really more likely to...

Unveil the Hidden Force Shaping Your Desires and Driving Society Are your deepest desires truly your own? Or are they secretly sculpted by the world around you? Prepare to embark on a mind-bending journey into the heart of human motivation with "Mimetic Desire: The Hidden Driver of Culture and Conflict." This groundbreaking exploration reveals the invisible threads that weave our wants, needs, and aspirations into the very fabric of society. Discover how: • Your "personal" choices may be anything but • Social media amplifies our copycat tendencies • Rivalries and conflicts sprout from...

In a vastly overpopulated near-future world, businesses have taken the place of governments and now hold all political power. States exist merely to ensure the survival of huge transnational corporations. Advertising has become hugely aggressive and boasts some of the world's most powerful...

With updated information on new types of loans From adjustable-rate mortgages to balloon loans, this friendly, easy-to-understand guide helps you find your way through the home-financing jungle. Bestselling real estate authors Eric Tyson and Ray Brown cover everything you need to know about the...

Culture transformation expert Siobhan McHale defines culture simply: “It’s how things work around here.” The secret to the success or failure of any business boils down to its culture. From disengaged employees to underserved customers, business failures invariably stem from a culture...

Why do we get so embarrassed when a colleague wears the same shirt? Why do we eat the same thing for breakfast every day, but seek out novelty at lunch and dinner? How has streaming changed the way Netflix makes recommendations? Why do people think the music of their youth is the best? How can...

Few works of political and cultural theory have been as enduringly provocative as Guy Debord's Society of the Spectacle. From its publication amid the social upheavals of the 1960s to the present, the volatile theses of this work have decisively transformed debates on the shape of modernity...