 | Gary Cross - An All-Consuming Century.jpg
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The triumph of consumerism in 20th-century America has received mixed reviews, which indicates that this country's puritanical heritage has proved to be no match for the market forces dominating our contemporary life. Cross (history, Pennsylvania State Univ.) has written extensively about American society. His Kids' Stuff examined changes in children's toys, but this time he focuses on products and trends that appeal to adults, from the introduction of Henry Ford's Model T in 1908 to the current American love affair with bargain shopping. Cross asserts that even the Depression, the two world wars, and the counterculture of the Sixties did no lasting damage to the growth of commercialism. Exploring the economic causes of this triumph and documenting the social and environmental costs of America's desire for goods, Cross argues that consumerism diverts people from ethnic and class warfare. Even though his study is far more suggestive than conclusive, it will still nicely supplement other recent works on consumerism. Academic and large public libraries should consider.
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