The world of goods : towards an anthropology of consumption

Bibliographic Information

The world of goods : towards an anthropology of consumption

with a new introduction Mary Douglas and Baron Isherwood

Routledge, 1996

[Rev. ed]

  • : hbk
  • : pbk

Available at  / 28 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This revised edition with new Introduction from a leading anthropologist and an economist is unique in being about consumption but not a sermon for consumers, nor a moan against consumerism. The World of Goods bridges the gap between what anthropologists know about why objects are desired and what economists say about the specialised topic called consumption behaviour. The economist treats the desire for objects as an individual urge grounded in psychology; according to the anthropologist it is for fulfilling social obligations and represents the distribution of goods as a symptom of the form of society. It is a totally different perspectice and raises issues that lie beyond economics. The World of Goods asks new questions about why people save, why they spend, what they buy, and why they sometimes but not always make fine distinctions about quality. It is well-understood now that consumption goods communicate, create identity and establish relationships. But not so well-known that goods exclude as well as include, and that the pattern of their flow shows up the form of society. This book will be essential reading to students and lecturers in anthropology and economics.

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

  • NCID
    BA29156978
  • ISBN
    • 0415130468
    • 0415130476
  • LCCN
    96002582
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    London ; New York
  • Pages/Volumes
    xxvii, 169 p.
  • Size
    22 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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