Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior
by Geoffrey Miller
List Price:
Our Price: $1.60
You Save: $25.35 (94%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.71 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Geoffrey MillerEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-05-14
ISBN: 0670020621
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Viking Adult
Book Reviews of Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior
Book Review: safe for consumption
Summary: 5 Stars
True to the spirit of this book, I purchased a flawless copy of it at a library book sale for $5 (I believe it was an unread review copy). As an insatiable reader of Evolutionary Psychology books, I immediately read it, even though I have several thousand other books previously purchased from library sales waiting in my queue. This is one of the most entertaining books I have read, both in terms of its academic content and the writing style (the author has a great sense of humor). The book does not assume background knowledge, though I found that it tied together ideas I had previously encountered in books such as "The Moral Animal", The Third Chimpanzee", "The Red Queen", "The Origins of Virtue", "The Economic Naturalist", etc. (all of which I also highly recommend). The description of consumers as narcissists (great spelling bee word, I hope I got it right) and the various discussions of the central six personality traits are quite thought-provoking. The author isn't afraid to discuss issues backed by evidence that are, however, "politically incorrect", such as the negative effects of the dearth of shared norms in culturally diverse communities. The book also stays consistently well-written and informative throughout (i.e. it shows no evidence of the last third of the book being rushed to meet a deadline or padded to meet a length requirement). The section toward the end about consumption taxes and negative/positive externalities should be required reading for everyone.
One final thing I admire about the book. Concerned parties (author, publisher, editor, etc.) didn't submit a fake 5-star first review posted by someone who has only reviewed one book and writes in an obviously promotional style. I think this book will receive great reviews based on merit. I actually read the book and highly recommend it.
Oh, one other thing. The jacket design is superb. The picture reminds me of myself hunting/gathering at Trader Joe's.
Summary of Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior
A leading evolutionary psychologist probes the hidden instincts behind our working, shopping, and spendingEvolutionary psychology-the compelling science of human nature-has clarified the prehistoric origins of human behavior and influenced many fields ranging from economics to personal relationships. In Spent Geoffrey Miller applies this revolutionary science's principles to a new domain: the sensual wonderland of marketing and status seeking that we call American consumer culture. Starting with the basic notion that the goods and services we buy unconsciously advertise our biological potential as mates and friends, Miller examines the hidden factors that dictate our choices in everything from lipstick to cars, from the magazines we read to the music we listen to. With humor and insight, Miller analyzes an array of product choices and deciphers what our decisions say about ourselves, giving us access to a new way of understanding-and improving-our behaviors. Like Freakonomics or The Tipping Point, Spent is a bold and revelatory book that illuminates the unseen logic behind the chaos of consumerism and suggests new ways we can become happier consumers and more responsible citizens.
Economics Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Economics Books
The Day Wall Street Exploded: A Story of America in Its First Age of Terrorby Beverly Gage
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2009-01-28; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.33
Price in other shops:
Coal: A Human Historyby Barbara Freese
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2004-01-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.99
Price in other shops:
Econometric Models and Economic Forecastsby Robert Pindyck, Daniel Rubinfeld, Robert S. Pindyck, Daniel L. Rubinfeld
McGraw-Hill/Irwin; Published: 1997-07-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $88.50
Elements of Dynamic Optimizationby Alpha C. Chiang
Mcgraw-Hill College; Published: 1992-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $375.84
Macroeconomicsby Campbell McConnell, Stanley Brue
McGraw-Hill/Irwin; Published: 2006-10-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $30.00
Empire of Wealth: The Epic History of American Economic Power (P.S.)by John Steele Gordon
Harper Perennial; Published: 2005-10-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.28
Price in other shops:
A Term at the Fed: An Insider's Viewby Laurence H. Meyer
HarperBusiness; Published: 2006-01-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.74
Price in other shops:
Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (Harper Business Essentials)by Jim Collins, Jerry I. Porras
HarperBusiness; Published: 2002-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.81
Price in other shops:
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisionsby Dan Ariely
Harper; Published: 2009-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.38
Price in other shops:
The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers: Economic Change and Military Conflict from 1500 to 2000by Paul Kennedy
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 1989-03-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.65
Similar Books and other products
The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Natureby Matt Ridley
Harper Perennial; Published: 2003-04-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.31
Price in other shops:
Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisionsby Dan Ariely
Harper Perennial; Published: 2010-04-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.70
Price in other shops:
Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behaviorby Geoffrey Miller
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2010-05-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.37
Price in other shops:
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Collins Business Essentials)by Robert B. Cialdini
HarperBusiness; Published: 2006-12-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.92
Price in other shops:
Influence: Science and Practice (5th Edition)by Robert B. Cialdini
Prentice Hall; Published: 2008-08-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.98
Price in other shops:
Sperm Wars: Infidelity, Sexual Conflict, and Other Bedroom Battlesby Robin Baker
Basic Books; Published: 2006-01-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.74
Price in other shops:
Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping--Updated and Revised for the Internet, the Global Consumer, and Beyondby Paco Underhill
Simon & Schuster; Published: 2008-12-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.29
Price in other shops:
The Evolution Of Desire - Revised Edition 4by David M. Buss
Basic Books; Published: 2003-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.18
Price in other shops:
The Consuming Instinct: What Juicy Burgers, Ferraris, Pornography, and Gift Giving Reveal About Human Natureby Gad Saad
Prometheus Books; Published: 2011-06-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
The Mating Mind: How Sexual Choice Shaped the Evolution of Human Natureby Geoffrey Miller
Anchor; Published: 2001-04-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.24
Price in other shops: