This book is arguably the definitive guide to understanding consumerism as a way of life in the twenty-first century. In his original and accessible introduction to the field, Mark Davis takes the reader on a tour of major theories of consumerism to show how they each offer enlightenment in our dark times of social, economic, and environmental crises.

Drawing upon critical thinkers such as Adorno, Baudrillard, Bauman, Marcuse, Ritzer, and Zizek, Davis explores the various ways in which consumerism impacts upon, and shapes our perception of, the everyday social world, including: the rise and fall of ‘reality’ TV; the enduring global dominance of the marketing and advertising industries; trends in so-called ‘ethical consumerism’; credit cards and new forms of e-shopping; and, the wider impact of new communications technologies on our human relationships.

Consumerism: A Critical Introduction invites the reader to rethink how and why we now live the way we do and will be of particular interest to students of sociology, social policy, political theory, cultural studies, media / communications studies, and human geography.