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The Overspent American: Upscaling, Downshifting and the New Consumer
 
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The Overspent American: Upscaling, Downshifting and the New Consumer (Paperback)

by Juliet Schor (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
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Customers buy this book with The Overworked America: The Unexpected Decline of Leisure by Juliet B. Schor

The Overspent American: Upscaling, Downshifting and the New Consumer + The Overworked America: The Unexpected Decline of Leisure
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Product details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st HarperPerennial Ed edition (April 1999)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0060977582
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060977580
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 13.5 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 559,578 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Synopsis
Discusses motivations for spending, why Americans save so little in spite of working long hours, and why dissatisfactions persist.

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (4)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Work less, spend less, and be more happy!, 11 May 1998
By A Customer
This book is a great read, and has changed my attitudes towards money, career and consumerism. I had long felt that no matter how much money I made, I'd still be mildly dissatisfied with my lifestyle. Armed with the knowledge that this book provides about how our culture and TV fuels my dissatisfaction, I feel that I can smoothly change my habits and lifestyle so that I can live happier without working harder or spending more.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A nice mix of objective and subjective views, 13 Aug 1999
By A Customer
The book caught my attention when I heard about it on the radio and read about it in a newspaper. I truly enjoyed the book.

A part of the reason I liked it so much is because the author describes American consumers with scientific approach. The figures are convincing. As some other readers commented, there are quite subjective portion which makes this book a human-written book rather than pure science book. We do not need to agree with the author although I happen to share many beliefs with her.

Over all, it is a good leisure reading book with deep insight. For overspent consumers everywhere (I know it is even worse in some other countries than in America), it won't hurt to read this book. For economically-suffering consumers like myself, it may make you feel slightly better than maybe we are just fine!

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars What is consumption for?, 24 Dec 1998
By A Customer
Juliet Schor's "The Overspent American", a sequel to her earlier work, "The Overworked American", assails our state religion of consumerism. While it is easy to laugh off the "downshifters" she praises, or make snide remarks about her well-paid position at Harvard or her residence in Newton, Massachussets, it is difficult to argue with Ms. Schor's basic thesis that much of our consumption is a joyless attempt to establish our social status in the eyes of others.

Ms. Schor is not the first commentator to decry "keeping up with the Joneses". This work is original in that she understands that the "Joneses" are no longer our next door neighbors, but a caricature of the upper-middle class presented in mass culture. The 90s version of keeping up is more pernicious than ever because the upper middle class standard is used as a reference by people who must spend everything they earn, and sometimes more, to even approach that way of life.

Her analysis of liptick purchase patterns illustrates her critique of mindless consumption; it is impossible to differentiate lipstick in terms of quality, yet women purchase large quantities of designer lipstick just to impress people by unveiling a case with a Chanel logo. Furthermore, Ms. Schor notes that more educated women are more likely to make "status" purchase, even when adjustments are made for income.

In fact, Ms. Schor is at her best when puncturing the pretentions of the educated, professional classes. She is funny and right about Ikea; it was the darling of yuppies when it represented a quirky, Scandinavian do-it-yourself sensibility. As Ikea became "McCouch", the affluent customers disappeared. If we are to call Ms.Schor a radical, it is for her understanding of the complex operations of class identity in the consumer culture.

Maybe her proposals for government intervention to put the brakes on the mindless cycle of work-and-spend are farfetched. Ultimately she does offer common sense advice that anyone can understand. Spend on what you genuinely enjo and forget about the futile, and pathetic, pursuit of impressing the rest of the world.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Made me look at SUV's in a new light
I could not believe how accurate Schor was when describing the typical spending habits of the middle class beast. I am one! Read more
Published on 9 Aug 1999

3.0 out of 5 stars editors made her tack on the dippy "suggestions" end section
Schorr is a fine writer with a good idea, but the lightweight and naive solutions she suggests to solve our overspending are clearly New York editor-think. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 1999

3.0 out of 5 stars Cutting back is very relative.
While thought provoking and insightful overall, Juliet B. Schor writes from a perspective that many of us will never peer from. Read more
Published on 28 April 1999

3.0 out of 5 stars good read for those trying to understand why they're in debt
This is exactly the type of book you want to check out of the library and read over a weekend when you are struggling to understand why even though you make a very decent... Read more
Published on 22 Sep 1998

4.0 out of 5 stars Put your economic self into perspective!
Although sometimes dry, the material in Schor's book is very thought provoking, and has in part helped me get a new perspective on life. Read more
Published on 20 Sep 1998

3.0 out of 5 stars Downshifting isn't so great. What's wrong with Consumerism.
Juliet Schor seems to have excessive consumerism and just plain consumerism mixed up. As a visitor to her home in Newton, MA, I know for a fact she can't be starving. Read more
Published on 22 Aug 1998

4.0 out of 5 stars We need to re-write the American dream.
This was an excellent sequel to Schor's book, "The Overworked American". Her original and referred research made it clear that her thesis was valid (bolstering the... Read more
Published on 6 Jul 1998

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, many people could use this reality check!
A real wake up call to how many of us live everyday! Lots of interesting statistics, and very matter of fact. Read more
Published on 30 Jun 1998

2.0 out of 5 stars Reads like a boring psychology book.
I am disappointed that Juliet Schor insulted many of her readers by using the out of date reference to women as housewives throughout her book. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 1998

4.0 out of 5 stars Readable thoughts on the consumer life.
This short, readable work considers how and why we hitch our selfhood to the things we buy. One of the best parts is the epilogue, which briefly considers the argument that we... Read more
Published on 28 May 1998

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