Includes bibliographical references (pages 213-221) and index

Shopping gets its start -- Consumers and consumerism -- Inside the retail world -- Shopping at home -- Never pay retail, shopping for bargains -- Second-hand shopping -- Shopping for a living -- Shopping and the media -- The fame game -- Shopping and gender -- The dark side of shopping -- Shopping the globe -- From the Crystal Palace to the crystal ball

"Shopping is much more than the simple purchase of goods. As buying has become an essential part of life, shopping is irrevocably tied to our cultural identity, and we are a culture obsessed and beguiled by the desire for consumer goods. In Spree, journalist, culture columnist, and shopping addict Pamela Klaffke reveals the ritual that is now daily routine. Her book is an entertaining and provocative study of shopping's rich and enduring history, from Parisian arcades to American shopping malls, from the inventions of cash registers and shopping carts to the varied shopping customs around the world, from game shows to Internet shopping and eBay. Book jacket."--Jacket

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