Elusive Consumption

In the context of rising consumerism and globalization, books on consumption are numerous. These tend to be firmly rooted in particular disciplines, however--sociology, anthropology, business or cultural studies--and as a result often present a limited view. Charged with the mission of unraveling what consumption means and how it operates, the world's leading experts were flown to a private location in Sweden to "battle it out." This pioneering book represents the outcome. Ranging from the "little black dress" to children's computer games, Elusive Consumption challenges our very understanding of consumerism and provides a state-of-the-art view of the highly commercialized society we inhabit today. Some might have it that consumers are unwitting pawns, completely lacking in agency. Others might argue that consumer choices are empowering and subtly shape production. Richard Wilk, Colin Campbell, John F. Sherry, Richard Elliott, Russell Belk, and Daniel Miller--who offers the most persuasive argument in this battle royal?

Karin M. Ekstr÷m is Associate Professor, Director and Research Leader and Helene Brembeck is Associate Professor and Research Leader, both at the Center for Consumer Science, Gothenburg.