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Empire of Things

How We Became a World of Consumers, from the Fifteenth Century to the Twenty-First
By Frank Trentmann
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Empire of Things by Frank Trentmann explores the historical journey of consumption, tracing its evolution from ancient practices to modern consumer society. The book delves into how accumulating goods has shaped economies, cultures, and personal identities, analysing the profound impacts on global civilisation over the centuries. It provides a rich narrative, illustrating how material possessions have influenced social and political behaviours globally.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the history of consumer culture and how material goods have shaped societies over time. It offers a sweeping exploration of how our consumption habits have evolved from the 15th century to the present, revealing intriguing insights into economics, politics, and daily life. This book may appeal to you if you have an interest in understanding the complex relationship between people and the objects they desire.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The epic history of consumption, and the goods that have transformed our lives over the past 600 years.

In this monumental study, acclaimed historian Frank Trentmann unfolds the extraordinary history that has shaped our material world, from late Ming China, Renaissance Italy and the British Empire to the present. Astonishingly wide-ranging and richly detailed, Empire of Things explores how we have come to live with so much more, how this changed the course of history, and the global challenges we face as a result.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Frank Trentmann's Empire of Things is lauded as a monumental and comprehensive history of consumer culture, beautifully weaving together a global narrative without falling into moralising. The work spans centuries and diverse cultures, offering profound insights into material desires and social norms, positioning itself as a field-defining book in the history of consumption. It is praised for its meticulous research, engaging writing, and its ability to provoke thought and expand perspectives on consumer society.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141028743

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 February 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 40.0mm

Width: 133.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 617g

Pages: 912

Collections

Education & Reference Finance & Economics Finance & Investment Frank Trentmann History & Archaeology History & Military Non-Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

Frank Trentmann is Professor of History at Birkbeck, University of London, and at the University of Helsinki. He is the author of Empire of Things and Free Trade Nation, and has been awarded the Whitfield Prize, the Austrian Science Book Prize, and the Humboldt Prize for Research, and was a Moore Scholar at Caltech. He grew up in Hamburg and lives in London.

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