- Hardcover: 374 pages
- Publisher: Viking Books (14 May 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0670020621
- ISBN-13: 978-0670020621
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 16.3 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 169,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Book Description
Acclaimed psychologist Geoffrey Miller uses evolutionary biology to reveal how the dizzying, brand-saturated world of modern consumerism really works.
--This text refers to an alternate
Hardcover
edition.
Product Description
A leading evolutionary psychologist probes the hidden instincts behind our working, shopping, and spending
Evolutionary psychology-the compelling science of human nature-has clarified the prehistoric origins of human behavior and influenced many fields ranging from economics to personal relationships. In Spent Geoffrey Miller applies this revolutionary science's principles to a new domain: the sensual wonderland of marketing and status seeking that we call American consumer culture. Starting with the basic notion that the goods and services we buy unconsciously advertise our biological potential as mates and friends, Miller examines the hidden factors that dictate our choices in everything from lipstick to cars, from the magazines we read to the music we listen to. With humor and insight, Miller analyzes an array of product choices and deciphers what our decisions say about ourselves, giving us access to a new way of understanding-and improving-our behaviors. Like Freakonomics or The Tipping Point, Spent is a bold and revelatory book that illuminates the unseen logic behind the chaos of consumerism and suggests new ways we can become happier consumers and more responsible citizens.
Evolutionary psychology-the compelling science of human nature-has clarified the prehistoric origins of human behavior and influenced many fields ranging from economics to personal relationships. In Spent Geoffrey Miller applies this revolutionary science's principles to a new domain: the sensual wonderland of marketing and status seeking that we call American consumer culture. Starting with the basic notion that the goods and services we buy unconsciously advertise our biological potential as mates and friends, Miller examines the hidden factors that dictate our choices in everything from lipstick to cars, from the magazines we read to the music we listen to. With humor and insight, Miller analyzes an array of product choices and deciphers what our decisions say about ourselves, giving us access to a new way of understanding-and improving-our behaviors. Like Freakonomics or The Tipping Point, Spent is a bold and revelatory book that illuminates the unseen logic behind the chaos of consumerism and suggests new ways we can become happier consumers and more responsible citizens.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Evolutionary psychologist Geoffrey Miller examines modern consumer culture through a scientific lens. The result is thought-provoking, useful and often witty, but a bit uneven. Miller does of fine job of explaining evolutionary psychology and, especially, of showing how the endless purchases that define "consumerist capitalism" come from an unacknowledged need to demonstrate physical characteristics or personality traits to others. This section of the book will interest anyone seeking original social critique. The highly focused discussion of the "Central Six" personality traits provides a stable foundation for evaluating other people or marketing to them. The final section, in which Miller proposes social alternatives to consumerism, challenges existing culture, but is not nearly as convincing (or, strangely) as witty as the earlier sections. getAbstract recommends this book to marketing and human resources professionals, and to any reader who wants to think deeply about the foundations of societies and their economies.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I can't recommend this book enough. I expected it to be rather academic but found it an easy read largely due to Miller's sharp wit. An excellent read for psychologists, marketers and anyone who is interested in human behaviour, evolution, consumerism or the development of society and culture. The book starts by examining how we engage in fitness signalling through the products we buy. Miller shows how false signalling through conspicuous shopping and identification with brands leads to false signalling. This is futile because despite the 'plumes' that people display in order to attract a better mate, we can easily judge a persons character withing minutes of meeting them. We pay huge premiums in our competitive quest for a mate and this makes fortunes for brands. In the second part of the book Miller examines the impact of consumerism on culture and how we can make better choices as consumers. He highlights the 'Central Six' character traits that can help us evaluate people we meet rather than rely on displays which may be misleading. Miller then offers some very radical and wildly original creative alternatives to concumerist displays, such as trait stamping by tattooing the central Six score on foreheads! However do not underestimate this book as although it is told with humour, it address important issues and makes you question how consumerism impacts society.
Format:Hardcover
If you have never read any evolutionary psychology, you may find the central ideas challenging! Keep going! - Miller's witty, engaging style will pull you through, and then lead you into a whole world you never know existed. If you want another way of understanding why we behave how we do, want to know why we're never fully satisfied by material purchases, or want to sell to others, this is the book you need. I can't reccomend it enough, and when you're finished, read The Mating Mind by the same author.
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