DOC And Still I Rise: Black America Since MLK by Henry L. Gates; Kevin M. Burke in History

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“Empire of Things isn't just an insightful and surprisingly entertaining read; but a crucial one.”—NPR What we consume has become a central—perhaps the central—feature of modern life. Our economies live or die by spending; we increasingly define ourselves by our possessions; and this ever-richer lifestyle has had an extraordinary impact on our planet. How have we come to live with so much stuff; and how has this changed the course of history?In Empire of Things; Frank Trentmann unfolds the extraordinary story of our modern material world; from Renaissance Italy and late Ming China to today’s global economy. While consumption is often portrayed as a recent American export; this monumental and richly detailed account shows that it is in fact a truly international phenomenon with a much longer and more diverse history. Trentmann traces the influence of trade and empire on tastes; as formerly exotic goods like coffee; tobacco; Indian cotton and Chinese porcelain conquered the world; and explores the growing demand for home furnishings; fashionable clothes and convenience that transformed private and public life. The nineteenth and twentieth centuries brought department stores; credit cards and advertising; but also the rise of the ethical shopper; new generational identities and; eventually; the resurgence of the Asian consumer.With an eye to the present and future; Frank Trentmann provides a long view on the global challenges of our relentless pursuit of more—from waste and debt to stress and inequality. A masterpiece of research and storytelling many years in the making; Empire of Things recounts the epic history of the goods that have seduced; enriched and unsettled our lives over the past six hundred years.