The Impulse Society

Rampant consumerism drives today’s technologically dominated society, says behavioral economist Paul Roberts. The marketplace focuses on constantly catering to every desire, real or imagined. This puts the values of a greater society on a collision course with bad politics, the push to consume and detrimental business practices aimed at short-term financial results. Roberts weaves a complex story of life in modern America – and perhaps elsewhere, as well – using an incisive, interdisciplinary approach. He cites sources in psychology, sociology, economics, political philosophy and management. The result is a cogent, intelligent story about cultural change and a consumer society gone awry. Roberts, author of two other smart yet discouraging tomes – The End of Oil and The End of Food, details the socioeconomic forces he finds are making US society more selfish. He provides a sobering account of self-centered corporate thinking, myopic consumerism and an emerging oligopoly. The good news is that Roberts also offers potential cures. Though perhaps he’s just too bleak, getAbstract recommends his solid contemporary social criticism to businesspeople, policy makers, consumers and change agents.