Must-Have
The Hidden Instincts Behind Everything We Buy
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Vintage Publishing
Published:5th Aug '10
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Acclaimed psychologist Geoffrey Miller uses evolutionary psychology to reveal how the dizzying, brand-saturated world of modern consumerism really works.
And what can the story of Aladdin teach us about today's world?
In this brilliantly original, provocative and witty book, Geoffrey Miller - acclaimed author of The Mating Mind - takes us on a journey through the surreal wonderlands of marketing, advertising, and media to explore the hidden instincts behind our choices.
Why do we buy? What is it that governs our choice of car? How does advertising really work? And what can the story of Aladdin teach us about today's world?
In this brilliantly original, provocative and witty book, Geoffrey Miller - acclaimed author of The Mating Mind - takes us on a journey through the surreal wonderlands of marketing, advertising, and media to explore the hidden instincts behind our choices. Combining this with the latest developments in evolutionary psychology, genetics and consumer research, he explains why we buy what we buy and how we can escape the excesses of twenty-first century consumerism.
Frankly gripping * The Times *
Ingenious, and brilliantly argued * Literary Review *
One of the punchiest evolutionary psychologists now publishing ... a major work of subversion ... it couldn't be more timely * Evening Standard *
Intelligent, engaging, exasperating and funny * New Scientist *
Superb... Stimulating and full of wit * Prospect *
Evolutionary psychology is a young discipline, but Miller, a professor at the University of New Mexico, is using it to shed light on consumer behaviour in a capitalist world, as he believes blunt instruments have been used to examine it in the past -- Alastair Mabbott * The Herald *
His cost-benefits analyses of showoffery are pure logic, cool, and witty with it, and in the end, add up to an intelligent programme to shift human signalling systems toward more enjoyable forms of display that wont cost us the Earth -- Vera Rule * Guardian *
A thought-provoking analysis of how marketing really works and it's relationship to our ancient psychological traits -- Inbali Iserles * Independent *
ISBN: 9780099437925
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 24mm
Weight: 267g
384 pages