Spree: A Cultural History of ShoppingTen years ago, Faith Popcorn declared "the end of shopping" in her bestselling book The Popcorn Report. But from the looks of things, shopping is as pervasive as ever; we are a culture obsessed and beguiled by the desire for consumer goods. Journalist and shopping addict Pamela Klaffke documents the history of shopping, from a time when cattle were currency to the current age of contemporary shopping phenoms like QVC and eBay. Topics covered include: The history of shopping malls and department stores Full of fun and informative sidebars and photos, Klaffke's book demonstrates that how we shop explains a lot about who we are. Pamela Klaffke is a writer, editor, and media consultant. She is currently the literary editor of the Calgary Herald and her semiweekly column about popular culture trends can often be read in various newspapers across Canada. Spree: A Cultural History of Shopping is her first book. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | 7 |
Authors Note | 9 |
13 | |
Consumers and Consumerism | 25 |
Inside the Retail World | 41 |
Shopping at Home | 61 |
Never Pay Retail Shopping for Bargains | 89 |
Secondhand Shopping | 103 |
Shopping and the Media | 135 |
The Fame Game | 153 |
Shopping and Gender | 165 |
The Dark Side of Shopping | 177 |
Shopping the Globe | 189 |
From the Crystal Palace to the Crystal Ball | 203 |
213 | |
222 | |