CONSUMERISM haute qualité IN WORLD HISTORY Peter Stearns Society Culture Global Goods Services

From the rear side cover: The desire to acquire luxury goods and leisure services is a basic force in modern life. Consumerism in World History explores both the historical origins and worldwide appeal of this relatively modern phenomenon. By relating consumerism to other issues in world history, this book forces reassessment of our understanding of both consumerism and global history.

Consumerism in World History draws on recent research of the consumer experi­ence in the West and Japan, while also examining societies less renowned for consumerism, such as Africa. Raising new issues about change and continuity in Western history and discussing specific societies in world history, the book presents:

• human societies before consumerism and how they have changed
• the origins of modern consumerism in Western society
• the extent to which consumerism undercuts traditional regional cultures
• consumerism in Russia, East Asia, Africa and the Islamic Middle East
• contemporary issues and evaluations of consumerism.

This ground-breaking study is the first of its kind to deal with consumerism both as an international and historical phenomenon. Consumerism in World History is a fascinating exploration of the world we live in, and is compulsive reading for the general reader and students alike.

The condition of the book is generally very good. The cover has one or two minor scuffs, and some light wear along the edges and corners, but the spine is tight and intact, and all pages are clean, intact, unblemished and tightly bound.