Shopomania
Our Obsession with Possession
Shopomania is Paul Berton’s satirical dive into the history and psychology of modern consumerism.
Making the case that people’s innate desire to obtain more land, food, and materials is the main driver of human advancement, Shopomania examines the origins and evolution of the word “shop,” suggesting some new terms for understanding how people shop today. These terms include misshop (to overpay for an inferior product), shoponomics (the economics of shopping), and pseudoshop (the act of browsing instead of buying items).
Berton explores every aspect of shopping culture, from initial purchases to regrettable spending choices and efforts to sell products. The book includes examples of prominent people who embody these ideas. Comedian Ellen DeGeneres, for instance, is noted as a perpetual “reshopper” for continuing to buy and sell homes with her wife Portia de Rossi, failing to ever be satisfied with a purchase. Still, though it is often cynical in its view of human behavior, the book includes ideas for how people can engage in shopping in a way that is beneficial to humanity and the planet.
Shopomania is a reasoned examination of the culture of shopping that uses humor and incisive criticisms to encourage more thoughtful approaches to consumerism.
Reviewed by
Gail Hoffer-Loibl
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
