Overview

In Shiny Objects, a cross between In Praise of Slowness and The Tipping Point, consumer behavior expert Professor James A. Roberts takes us on a tour of America's obsession with consumerism--pointing out its symptoms, diagnosing specific problems, and offering a series of groundbreaking solutions. Roberts gives practical advice for how to correct the materialistic trends in our lives which lock us into a cycle of financial hardship and stress. Shiny Objects, a new The Paradox of Choice for the modern reader, is more than a critique of capitalism--it's also an exploration into how we can live happier, fuller, more productive lives today.

Full Product Details

9780062093608

Table of Contents

Reviews

Shiny Objects is a superb explanation of how, why, and when Americans became obsessed with consumption. This book is both entertaining and thought-provoking as it forces the reader to confront his or her own views and values. For that reason alone, it is worth its weight in gold. --Jim Randel, author of The Skinny on Willpower: How to Develop Self-Discipline

An intriguing cultural history-cum-self-help book with abundant hard scientific data. --Publishers Weekly Marketing professor Roberts examines the perceived relationship between materialism and happiness in the quest for status, self-image, or comfort, and the havoc it is wreaking in individual lives and the U.S. economy. A far-reaching analysis of why we spend so much and how to break the habit. --Booklist Now along comes Shiny Objects, which promises to explore and explain Americans' possession obsession. Roberts' book contains hard evidence for some claims you probably already suspected were true... [and] includes some genuinely sobering statistics. Roberts knows his stuff. --Associated Press Dr. James A. Roberts, professor of marketing at Baylor, has studied consumerism in America and has revealed some of the secrets of marketers in his recent book Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don't Have In Search of Happiness We Can't Buy. --Baylor Lariat Roberts... gives us evidence that we can't buy happiness, or stress relief, despite the fact that the current version of the American Dream tells us otherwise. This [book] contains both the plain truth and real-world solutions for the financial dilemma many... are struggling with. --New Age Retailer Shiny Objects [is] an intellectual approach to an emotionally charged subject---consumerism--with suggestions on how to escape materialism and build a life with real meaning. --Shelf Awareness Without shying away from the unpopular truth, Roberts encourages us to step back, notice, and yes, even laugh at our obsession with shiny objects. Important research findings and Practical exercises help us embrace our values and understand that we can never get enough of what we don't really need. --April Lane Benson, Ph.D. author of To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop Shiny Objects is a superb explanation of how, why, and when Americans became obsessed with consumption. This book is both entertaining and thought-provoking as it forces the reader to confront his or her own views and values. For that reason alone, it is worth its weight in gold. --Jim Randel, author of The Skinny on Willpower: How to Develop Self-Discipline

""Now along comes Shiny Objects, which promises to explore and explain Americans' possession obsession. Roberts' book contains hard evidence for some claims you probably already suspected were true... [and] includes some genuinely sobering statistics. Roberts knows his stuff."" - Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers ""Roberts... gives us evidence that we can't buy happiness, or stress relief, despite the fact that the current version of the American Dream tells us otherwise. This [book] contains both the plain truth and real-world solutions for the financial dilemma many... are struggling with."" - New Age Retailer ""Shiny Objects [is] an intellectual approach to an emotionally charged subject---consumerism--with suggestions on how to escape materialism and build a life with real meaning."" - Shelf Awareness ""Marketing professor Roberts examines the perceived relationship between materialism and happiness in the quest for status, self-image, or comfort, and the havoc it is wreaking in individual lives and the U.S. economy. A far-reaching analysis of why we spend so much and how to break the habit."" - Booklist ""Dr. James A. Roberts, professor of marketing at Baylor, has studied consumerism in America and has revealed some of the secrets of marketers in his recent book Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don't Have In Search of Happiness We Can't Buy."" - Baylor Lariat ""An intriguing cultural history-cum-self-help book with abundant hard scientific data."" - Publishers Weekly ""Shiny Objects is a superb explanation of how, why, and when Americans became obsessed with consumption. This book is both entertaining and thought-provoking as it forces the reader to confront his or her own views and values. For that reason alone, it is worth its weight in gold."" - Jim Randel, author of The Skinny on Willpower: How to Develop Self-Discipline ""Without shying away from the unpopular truth, Roberts encourages us to step back, notice, and yes, even laugh at our obsession with shiny objects. Important research findings and Practical exercises help us embrace our values and understand that we can never get enough of what we don't really need."" - April Lane Benson, Ph.D. author of To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop

An intriguing cultural history-cum-self-help book with abundant hard scientific data. --Publishers Weekly Dr. James A. Roberts, professor of marketing at Baylor, has studied consumerism in America and has revealed some of the secrets of marketers in his recent book Shiny Objects: Why We Spend Money We Don't Have In Search of Happiness We Can't Buy. --Baylor Lariat Without shying away from the unpopular truth, Roberts encourages us to step back, notice, and yes, even laugh at our obsession with shiny objects. Important research findings and Practical exercises help us embrace our values and understand that we can never get enough of what we don't really need. --April Lane Benson, Ph.D. author of To Buy or Not to Buy: Why We Overshop and How to Stop Marketing professor Roberts examines the perceived relationship between materialism and happiness in the quest for status, self-image, or comfort, and the havoc it is wreaking in individual lives and the U.S. economy. A far-reaching analysis of why we spend so much and how to break the habit. --Booklist Roberts... gives us evidence that we can't buy happiness, or stress relief, despite the fact that the current version of the American Dream tells us otherwise. This [book] contains both the plain truth and real-world solutions for the financial dilemma many... are struggling with. --New Age Retailer Shiny Objects [is] an intellectual approach to an emotionally charged subject---consumerism--with suggestions on how to escape materialism and build a life with real meaning. --Shelf Awareness Shiny Objects is a superb explanation of how, why, and when Americans became obsessed with consumption. This book is both entertaining and thought-provoking as it forces the reader to confront his or her own views and values. For that reason alone, it is worth its weight in gold. --Jim Randel, author of The Skinny on Willpower: How to Develop Self-Discipline Now along comes Shiny Objects, which promises to explore and explain Americans' possession obsession. Roberts' book contains hard evidence for some claims you probably already suspected were true... [and] includes some genuinely sobering statistics. Roberts knows his stuff. --Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

Author Information

James A. Roberts is a professor of marketing at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where he has been a faculty member since 1991. Roberts is a nationally recognized expert on consumer behavior, and his research on compulsive buying, credit-card abuse, and the way that materialism affects our quality of life has been featured in media outlets including ABC's World News, NPR, the New York Times, USA Today, and Cosmopolitan.

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