Shiny objects
Subtitle: we are what we spend--the story of the new American dream
By: James A. Roberts.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: HarperOne
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 353
ISBN-13: 9780061936647
Subjects: Consumption (Economics) -- United States; American Dream; Materialism -- United States
Description: Roberts, professor of marketing at Baylor University, studies why Americans believe and behave as if possessions will induce, increase, and enhance happiness. His inquiry provides ample psychological and historical insights as well as self-assessment quizzes on how much we spend and how vulnerable we are to status anxiety.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Shiny objects; title: Chasing the American dream; title: The American dream on steroids; title: The cat's out of the (shopping) bag; title: The treadmill of consumption; title: The cashless society; title: Money costs too much : sacrificing our life goals; title: Collateral damage : relationships; title: Why are we so materialistic?; title: Heaven help us (the prosperity gospel); title: Weapons of mass consumption; title: The three ingredients of self-control; title: Step away from the shopping cart (environmental programming); title: The carrot and the stick (behavioral programming); title: Your money or your life.