Barber - Con$umed: how markets corrupt children, infantilize adults, and swallow citizens whole

In this powerful and disturbing critique, Benjamin Barber takes dead aim at a fundamental fallacy of our time: the equation of capitalism and democracy. No one who cares about the future of our public life can afford to ignore this book.

Jackson Lears, author of Fables of Abundance and Board of Governors Professor of History, Rutgers University

Barber, the prophetic author of Jihad vs. McWorld (1995), delivers a frightening analysis of the way consumerism is vitiating shoppers in the United States and around the world. Significant work.

Kirkus Reviews , starred review

As Ben Barber took scholarly pot shots at the relentless efforts of marketers to manipulate the needs and wants of gullible consumers, I applauded. This book is not merely a lament. It is a guide to help us make our way from where we are to where we need to be.

Bob Kerrey, president, The New School

An alarming study of the ways in which our child-centric culture is changing media. [Barbers] observations on the dumbing down of the broader culture are quite troubling.

Connecticut Post

Consumed should be required reading for college students and all Americans who are concerned about the corruption of our values. Benjamin R. Barber turns his powerful analytical and research skills toward the infantilization of Americans citizens by the unrestricted market. His message simply must not be ignored if we hope to have a peaceful and sustainable future for our children.

John de Graaf, coauthor of Affluenza

[Barbers] hypothesis that consumer culture has turned adult citizens into children by catering only to the lowest common denominator rings only too true. This lifelong study of the effects of capitalism and privatization reveals a pervasiveness of branding and homogenization from which there is no turning back.

Booklist

[Barbers] thoughtful, intelligent commentary reveals the tiny, mean-spirited truth behind the facades of seemingly untouchable institutions.Its almost guaranteed that at least one of your preconceived notionswill be exploded by the truths in this book, but Barber is never satisfied by laying waste to cultural mores: he always plants newer, stronger ideas in their wake.

Conscious Choice

Barber is at his best when he bluntly defends capitalism for what it isa profit-dependent construct. The wealth of information included here, juxtaposed with Barbers thoughtful analysis, [is] an enriching experience.

Tribune (UK)

Every page demonstrates how widely Mr. Barber has read and how deeply he has thought things through. He succeeds in getting you to use your head.

National Post (Ontario)

Powerful. In this well-documented book, the author explores how capitalism has evolved from production and its related values of hard work, responsibility, democracy, and citizenship to consumerism (or hyper-consumerism) characterized by inequalities, immaturity, indulgence, and childishness focused on faux needs. [ Consumed gives] hope for achieving the common good.

Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences

Lucid and readable. Barber offers a comprehensive look at whats wrong with modern capitalism, whos to blame, how we got here and (tentatively) how to fix it. Chapter One, Capitalism Triumphant, should be required reading for anyone with disposable income. Barbers analysis is clear, forceful and spot-onan urgent book about a topic that affects all of us.

Berkshire Eagle (Mass.)

For
Cornelia Barber
Who knows how to shop, and why shopping isnt enough