Empire of Things

Empire of Things traces the history of consumption and material culture from the 1500s to the present day. The book examines how people's relationship with possessions and consumer goods evolved across different societies and time periods. Trentmann analyzes consumption patterns through multiple lenses - economic, political, social, and cultural. The narrative moves through key historical developments like the Renaissance, Industrial Revolution, and globalization while exploring how they transformed human attitudes toward acquiring and using material goods. The work draws on extensive research spanning multiple continents and centuries to document changing habits of consumption. Primary sources include household inventories, trade records, personal accounts, and archaeological evidence from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. The book challenges simplistic narratives about consumerism and materialism by revealing the complex forces that have shaped human relationships with material possessions throughout history. Through this historical perspective, it offers insights into contemporary debates about sustainability, waste, and consumer culture.

Readers found Empire of Things comprehensive but dense, with many noting it requires dedicated focus to get through its 800+ pages. Multiple reviews cite the book's detailed research and global perspective on consumption patterns across societies. Liked: - Deep historical analysis beyond typical Western focus - Clear connections between past and present consumer behaviors - Rich examples and case studies - Thorough examination of consumption's environmental impact Disliked: - Overwhelming amount of detail and statistics - Academic writing style can be dry - Some sections feel repetitive - Length could have been condensed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (126 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (58 ratings) "Like drinking from a fire hose of information" notes one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads review states: "Exhaustive to the point of exhaustion, but rewards patient readers with unique insights into how we became a consumer society." Several reviewers recommend reading select chapters rather than cover-to-cover.

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🏺 The book traces the history of consumption across five centuries, from Renaissance Italy and Ming Dynasty China to our present global consumer society. 📚 Frank Trentmann spent over 10 years researching and writing Empire of Things, analyzing archives from multiple continents and incorporating materials in several languages. 🛍️ The author challenges the common belief that consumerism began in the 20th century, showing how societies in the 1500s already had complex relationships with material goods. 🌍 The book reveals how the Dutch East India Company shipped over 43 million pieces of Chinese porcelain to Europe between 1602 and 1682, fundamentally changing European consumption patterns. 🏭 Rather than focusing solely on the West, Empire of Things examines consumption patterns across cultures, including how Japanese consumers in the 1920s embraced department stores and modern shopping habits differently than their Western counterparts.