{"product_id":"the-comfort-of-things","title":"The Comfort of Things","description":"Discover the profound insights of everyday life with this illuminating book that explores the lives of ordinary people in modern society. Through an engaging narrative, this insightful examination focuses on thirty households in a typical London street, revealing the aspirations, frustrations, and stories that lie behind closed doors. Readers will find that material possessions—like homes, pets, and cherished music—are not simply objects but vital expressions of identity and relationships. This compelling study goes beyond common perceptions of consumerism and materialism, showcasing how these elements intricately weave into the fabric of social connections between families, friends, and neighbors. With 300 pages of thoughtful analysis, this book invites you to reflect on what truly matters in our increasingly complex world. Whether you’re an anthropology enthusiast or simply curious about the intimate lives of others, this work provides a significant exploration into how we navigate our personal and collective realities. The book is brand new, published by John Wiley \u0026amp; Sons (UK) in 2009, and holds an ISBN of 9780745644042. Note: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNote: Shipping for this item is free. Please allow up to 6 weeks for delivery. Once your order is placed, it cannot be cancelled.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition: BRAND NEW\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9780745644042\u003cbr\u003eYear: 2009\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: John Wiley \u0026amp; Sons (UK)\u003cbr\u003ePages: 300\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDescription:\u003cbr\u003eWhat do we know about ordinary people in our towns and cities,\u003cbr\u003eabout what really matters to them and how they organize their lives\u003cbr\u003etoday? This book visits an ordinary street and looks into thirty\u003cbr\u003ehouseholds. It reveals the aspirations and frustrations, the\u003cbr\u003etragedies and accomplishments that are played out behind the doors.\u003cbr\u003eIt focuses on the things that matter to these people, which quite\u003cbr\u003eoften turn out to be material things ? their house, the dog,\u003cbr\u003etheir music, the Christmas decorations. These are the means by\u003cbr\u003ewhich they express who they have become, and relationships to\u003cbr\u003eobjects turn out to be central to their relationships with other\u003cbr\u003epeople ? children, lovers, brothers and friends.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf this is a typical street in a modern city like London, then\u003cbr\u003ewhat kind of society is this? It?s not a community, nor a\u003cbr\u003eneighbourhood, nor is it a collection of isolated individuals. It\u003cbr\u003eisn?t dominated by the family. We assume that social life is\u003cbr\u003ecorrupted by materialism, made superficial and individualistic by a\u003cbr\u003esurfeit of consumer goods, but this is misleading. If the street\u003cbr\u003eisn?t any of these things, then what is it?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis brilliant and revealing portrayal of a street in modern\u003cbr\u003eLondon, written by one the most prominent anthropologists, shows\u003cbr\u003ehow much is to be gained when we stop lamenting what we think we\u003cbr\u003eused to be and focus instead on what we are now becoming. It\u003cbr\u003ereveals the forms by which ordinary people make sense of their\u003cbr\u003elives, and the ways in which objects become our companions in the\u003cbr\u003edaily struggle to make life meaningful.","brand":"Smartfox Books","offers":[{"title":"Default","offer_id":41718155182213,"sku":"PR90744","price":49.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0562\/0213\/3637\/files\/image_STJWHEFMALYU.jpg?v=1781712738","url":"https:\/\/smartfoxbooks.com.au\/products\/the-comfort-of-things","provider":"Smartfox Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}