"At its heart, Shopomania poses questions worth every reader's time--why are our lives so shopping-centric? Are there ways to tame endless shopping-incitements in our lives? Do we really need to buy so much stuff? Shopomania is highly recommended, and since it encourages the reader to carefully reconsider their own consumption habits, it's one shop purchase that effectively pays for itself!" -- Midwest Book Review " Shopomania is Paul Berton's satirical dive into the history and psychology of modern consumerism." -- Foreword Reviews " Shopomania is the improvised explosive device that Paul Berton has planted under the concept of shopping in all its forms. More explicitly, he has used surgical tools, corrosive chemicals and a wealth of words like "clandestine" and "limoncello" to destroy our previous regard for humanity's built structures and made objects. The Adam Curtis of retail, Berton has destroyed my last remaining pleasure in life but isn't it better to know the truth about our stuff? Isn't it?" --Heather Mallick, Toronto Star "Paul Berton has given us a remarkable gift--a funny and endearing vocabulary for shopping that tells the story of how buying stuff has captured our imagination and shaped our lifestyles. Who knew that a book about shopping would be a page-turner? You'll be amazed at how much of your own life you see in Berton's delightful and profound book." --Alex Sévigny, communications professor, McMaster University "Paul Berton takes readers on a sardonic, frightening and hilarious journey through the world of consumerism. This book is a must-read primer for understanding how our thirst for acquiring and showcasing things has exacted heavy tolls on our psychology, on our society, and on the environment. Cataloguing the symptoms of our shopaholic culture, Berton shares wisdom about breaking the shackles imposed by our possessions.

" --Mark Cleveland, PhD, professor and Dancap Chair in Consumer Behavior, University of Western Ontario "Paul Berton's Shopomania is a fascinating and highly entertaining insight into why we shop and the relentless pressure on us to shop. It's a delightful read, so buy this book! (But no pressure.)" --Adrian Raeside, author of Wildlife for Idiots.