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The High Price of Materialism Paperback – August 29, 2003

by Tim Kasser (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 143 ratings
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A study of how materialism and consumerism undermine our quality of life.

In The High Price of Materialism, Tim Kasser offers a scientific explanation of how our contemporary culture of consumerism and materialism affects our everyday happiness and psychological health. Other writers have shown that once we have sufficient food, shelter, and clothing, further material gains do little to improve our well-being. Kasser goes beyond these findings to investigate how people's materialistic desires relate to their well-being. He shows that people whose values center on the accumulation of wealth or material possessions face a greater risk of unhappiness, including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and problems with intimacy—regardless of age, income, or culture.

Drawing on a decade's worth of empirical data, Kasser examines what happens when we organize our lives around materialistic pursuits. He looks at the effects on our internal experience and interpersonal relationships, as well as on our communities and the world at large. He shows that materialistic values actually undermine our well-being, as they perpetuate feelings of insecurity, weaken the ties that bind us, and make us feel less free. Kasser not only defines the problem but proposes ways we can change ourselves, our families, and society to become less materialistic.
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  1. Print length
    166 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Bradford Books
  4. Publication date
    August 29, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    6.06 x 0.48 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    026261197X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0262611978
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent, thorough, insightful examination of object hedonism and its psychological costs. Well-written to boot."--Amitai Etzioni, University Professor, George Washington University and author of "The Monochrome Society"

"Does money buy happiness? For years, social scientists knew relatively little about this important question. Now that has changed. On the basis of more than a decade's worth of original research, Tim Kasser provides a powerful answer--materialism undermines human well-being. "The High Price of Materialism" is a path-breaking work that suggests a fundamental rethinking of our values, behaviors, and economic structures. Deserves the widest possible readership."--Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology, Boston College; author of "The Overworked American"

"Kasser powerfully argues that when we feel more vulnerable, we exhibit more sharply defined materialistic tendencies"-- pwforecasts, ""Publishers Weekly""

& quot; An excellent, thorough, insightful examination of object hedonism and its psychological costs. Well-written to boot.& quot; -- Amitai Etzioni, University Professor, George Washington University and author of The Monochrome Society

& quot; Does money buy happiness? For years, social scientists knew relatively little about this important question. Now that has changed. On the basis of more than a decade's worth of original research, Tim Kasser provides a powerful answer--materialism undermines human well-being. The High Price of Materialism is a path-breaking work that suggests a fundamental rethinking of our values, behaviors, and economic structures. Deserves the widest possible readership.& quot; -- Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology, Boston College; author of The Overworked American

& quot; Kasser powerfully argues that when we feel more vulnerable, we exhibit more sharply defined materialistic tendencies& quot; -- pwforecasts, Publishers Weekly

" An excellent, thorough, insightful examination of object hedonism and its psychological costs. Well-written to boot." --Amitai Etzioni, University Professor, George Washington University and author of "The Monochrome Society"

" Does money buy happiness? For years, social scientists knew relatively little about this important question. Now that has changed. On the basis of more than a decade's worth of original research, Tim Kasser provides a powerful answer--materialism undermines human well-being. "The High Price of Materialism" is a path-breaking work that suggests a fundamental rethinking of our values, behaviors, and economic structures. Deserves the widest possible readership." --Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology, Boston College; author of "The Overworked American"

" Kasser powerfully argues that when we feel more vulnerable, we exhibit more sharply defined materialistic tendencies" -- pwforecasts, "Publishers Weekly"

--Amitai Etzioni, University Professor, George Washington University and author of "The Monochrome Society"

--Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology, Boston College; author of "The Overworked American"

About the Author

Tim Kasser is Associate Professor of Psychology at Knox College, Illinois.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bradford Books; 9.3.2003 edition (August 29, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 166 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 026261197X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0262611978
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.06 x 0.48 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 143 ratings

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Tim Kasser

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
143 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book interesting and thought-provoking, with great insights. They also say the findings are sobering. Readers describe the book as an excellent read.

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Thought provokingReadability
8 customers mention "Thought provoking"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book interesting and thought-provoking. They say it provides first-hand scientific research that's presented without jargon.

"Thank you for writing this book. It was a thought provoking read...." Read more

"Good information and needed knowledge." Read more

"...The findings are sobering. People who strongly value the pursuit of wealth and possessions:1. Report lower psychological well-being2...." Read more

"...Some really good summaries of studies and great insights...." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read. They also say it's an excellent read.

"Great read and one that should be recommended to your friends, family, and colleagues. Some really good summaries of studies and great insights...." Read more

"good book, useful!" Read more

"This is SUCH a fantastic book! I highly recommend it. Really helps you step back and get some perspective on your own habits." Read more

"Great Read...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Dominic Trimboli
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read.
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2024
Verified Purchase
Thank you for writing this book. It was a thought provoking read. There is real data demonstrating a direct link between materialism and low life satisfaction and happiness, to depression and anxiety, to physical problems. We as a society need to reprioritize our focus to the things that bring us joy if we wish to be truly happy.
3 people found this helpful
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Salah Abdulaziz
4.0 out of 5 stars "Informative"
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2020
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Good information and needed knowledge.
3 people found this helpful
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Sally K. Severino
5.0 out of 5 stars The High Price of Materialism
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2010
Verified Purchase
If you believe, as many do--including psychologist Tim Kasser, that materialism is one of the "religions" of the twenty-first century, you will want to read this book.

He calls materialism "affluenza" and defines it as an infectious disease in which one becomes addicted to having. The vaccine for this disease, he proposes, is mindfulness.

He presents findings from his research and that of others on the materialistic lifestyle. The findings are sobering. People who strongly value the pursuit of wealth and possessions:
1. Report lower psychological well-being
2. Report insecurity
3. Seek materials as a coping strategy in an attempt to satisfy needs
4. Report fragile self-esteem
5. Report shorter, less positive and more negative relationships
6. Tend to treat others with less generosity, less empathy, and more manipulation
7. Experience less personal freedom and authenticity

I recommend this book.
18 people found this helpful
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nightreader
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well done
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2016
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Great read and one that should be recommended to your friends, family, and colleagues. Some really good summaries of studies and great insights. If you're concerned at all about this subject matter or your own outlook on life, give this a good read.
2 people found this helpful
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Barbara Marks
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking.
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2014
Verified Purchase
Interesting & thought provoking. Good commentary on correlation between happiness & money. Of course Jesus already explained it perfectly 2000 years ago and it goes along perfectly with all the research.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book has helped to change my perspective on the impact that capitalism is having on our society. A must read for every American affected by the commercialization of everyday living.
One person found this helpful
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JJ Rock
3.0 out of 5 stars Reads more like a term paper
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2006
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Before reading this book, I read "The Paradox of Choice : Why More Is Less" by Barry Schwartz. I thought this book would take things to another level over that book. I ended up very disappointed.

This book discusses studies that Kasser has been involved in. While some of the studies were interesting, I felt like I was reading a scientific journal rather than the unique way that Schwartz presented his material. This book would have better been titled "Why Materialism will not make you happy".

The Schwartz book is a very interesting and thought provoking read. This book is more like a dry term paper, 3 stars was stretching it for me.
16 people found this helpful
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Teddy and Me
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2007
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I am still reading this book, but I am so enjoying it. This book explains the reasons that we as a country and a culture are becoming more and more discontent and unhappy. Our materialistic ideas and concepts, largely due to the media, TV, movies, commercialism are so polluted and distorted by the idealogy that we need more and more "stuff" and things to be happy......this of course never works!! Highly recommend this book....to anyone who will listen!!
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Anthony
5.0 out of 5 stars Life changing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2020
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Life changing but wish he hadn’t used the American psychiatrist diagnostic manual to compare problems... that book has been totally exposed as worthless by the likes of Dorothy Rowe
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Yo
5.0 out of 5 stars Synopsis vieler globaler Studien zum Zusammenhang von Materialismus und Lebensgefühl
Reviewed in Germany on September 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
für ein gebrauchtes Buch in einem super Zustand. Postweg von Übersee dauert schon sehr lang - das hat mich verwundert. Inhaltlich für mich nichts Neues, aber in Details höchst spannend und gut zu wissen.
Gerne wieder.
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Antonio Soligo
4.0 out of 5 stars A good recipe
Reviewed in Italy on August 24, 2014
Verified Purchase
... and the dish we will eat will be our consciousness of the future.
Materialism is doping our lives and this analysis shows which are the connections among different people in different states and the danger we share if the search for goods and products will overwhelm our empathy with us and others.
This book summarizes a very good research. It will reward you with some interesting facts and figures.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Money is not bad, it is the love of money that is blinding.
Reviewed in Canada on November 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
"The love of money is the root of all evil" 1 Timothy 6:10. Key word: love of money. When you fall in love with money; the stats in the book that Tim Kasser compiled tell the story of the disease of consumption and materialism in the search for happiness. "It is not about the money, it's the money" Bill Graham, Rolling Stones Manager; Filmore; Winterland Productions. It's an eye opener. A game changing outlook. Worth the money.
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Ashley
5.0 out of 5 stars Good product
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2022
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Good product
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