Good read. Basic premise is that we decide meaning for brands and stuff that we surround ourselves with. Some interesting research was reviewed, and was much better that snoop. I was generally engaged with most of the chapters, but the last couple seemed a little tedious.

After reading this and Snoop, I would like more of a discussion and analysis on the irrational use of things around us to define ourselves or even shape who we become. There is still this notion in economics that everything is rational, when research by Goffman and others have shown that we sometimes make decisions and "face" changes for reasons that are far from rational. ( )

http://rivkat.livejournal.com/223641.... ( )

This book is a great introduction to the current lines of thinking within marketing and advertising. I found it both enlightening and disturbing. I was intrigued by the back story of products that I'm quite familiar with and interested in being introduced to some new trends. As I read, I found myself talking to others about some of the ideas in this book - just like one of the unpaid murketers that Walker refers to in his book. ( )

I liked the book overall- the back stories on popular brands, insights into how seemingly "average people" created cultural phenomenons, etc. However, I felt a lack of closure. It sort of fizzled toward the end. Maybe I just lost interest along the way and didn't realize it? ( )

The author knows some interesting things, but this is padded beyond what I can stand. Not recommended. Will Wilkinson has an interesting interview with the author and that's what got me to buy the book. Just watch the video, and skip the book: http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/1404... ( )