The World of Consumption: The Material and Cultural Revisited

by Ben Fine

This completely updated and revised new edition presents an analysis of the cluttered landscape of studies of consumption examining themes such as the world of commodities, economic imperialism and globalization and the consumer society.

Genres: Economics, Philosophy

328 pages, Paperback

First published December 16, 1993

Reviews

[unperspicacious]

GR has listed this down as one book instead of two different editions; both are for the most part different works altogether (though their underlying thrust is the same). They are ten years apart (1993, 2002) and some of the conceptual and empirical focus has shifted since. Neither book can really be read alone. Both are devoted to a search for a Grand Unifying Theory of Social Science with re: to the political economy of consumption aka the 'systems of provision' approach. The writing is clearly pitched at a very advanced audience; not just those familiar with marxist political economy but also historians, cultural theorists, psychologists, economists, anthropologists, sociologists and so forth. Either Ben Fine is a genius from another planet...or I am just thick...or both....or neither. Maybe things will make more sense in a couple more years' time. Maybe.