The World of Goods

by Mary Douglas, Baron Isherwood

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.

Genres: Anthropology, Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Nonfiction, Material Culture, Design

200 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1979

Reviews

[Ike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This woman could write about ham sandwiches and I would read it.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to read this book on finding it cited, of all things, in a book on kitchen design-- in reference to the trend toward "trophy" kitchens that no one actually cooks in. It's an early work in structuralist anthropology that attempts to address the failure of economics to predict the consumption and distribution of goods. It's a great antidote to Thorsten Vleben's simplistic ideas about "conspicuous consumption" proposing a more nuanced way of looking at "Goods as an information system." It was far more helpful to me than I would have ever anticipated. The core idea to note (primarily for myself) is that property (as in collections of goods) exists as an intelligible system arranged by consumers to "make sense" within their cultural position. As such, it is important to take note of properties beyond the material in any discussions of them. For example, a house isn't simply a shelter but also a status marker that allows them access to a system of information that they wouldn't otherwise be able to access-- a guy who lives in a cardboard box is simply denied any access to becoming a well compensated executive. Things don't just satisfy needs, and aren't simply purchased to be "conspicuous" markers-- they are part of the way that we negotiate culture and our place in it. A dense but rewarding read (speaking as a non-specialist).

[Jake ... · Rating 5 out of 5]

Por um olhar antropológico a obra busca primeiro transpor a ideia do consumo pensado como consumismo de algumas análises sociológicas. Aqui os autores trarão a importância do consumo nas relações socais e nas construções das trocas de laços simbólicos. O consumo é portanto, analisado a partir das teias de significados culturais.

[Leonardo]

...un tratamiento antropológico del gusto o disgusto por los bienes sociales

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[Abraão · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muito mais que falar de "bens", os autores retratam a discussão de sua definição, seu uso e seu surgimento. Incrível o capítulo nomeado "Tecnologia do Consumo". Ele fornece um pano-de-fundo teórico sobre o marketing e o desenvolvimento de marcas a partir das medidas que criaram nos usuários - ou que os usuários criaram no mercado, fica a discussão.

[!Tæmbuŝu]

KOBOBOOKS

[dv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interessante il modo in cui "attacca" la prospettiva economica del consumo di beni costruendoci sopra una teoria socio-antropologica fondata su concetti a volte brillanti (la natura sociale del consumo e le sue categorie), a volte non pienamente convincenti (la netta separazione tra consumo e mercato).