I Want That!: How We All Became Shoppers (A Cultural History)

I Want That!: How We All Became Shoppers by Thomas Hine is a lively cultural history of shopping, exploring how buying, choosing, and using objects became such a central part of modern life. With humour and insight, Hine looks at shopping not just as spending money, but as a deeply human activity tied to identity, belonging, desire, responsibility, fantasy, and power.

The book moves through history from prehistoric trade and ancient marketplaces to medieval fairs, Renaissance shopping districts, department stores, ready-to-wear clothing, malls, boutiques, superstores, and the rise of online shopping. Along the way, Hine shows how our habits as shoppers have been shaped by culture, technology, economics, and social change.

A smart and entertaining choice for readers interested in consumer culture, retail history, psychology, sociology, marketing, and the everyday behaviours that shape modern society.

Hardcover, Very Good