Consumer Behavior Books - Page 12

The Industrious Revolution: Consumer Behavior and the Household Economy, 1650 to the Present

Jan de Vries

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Editorial Review:

In the long eighteenth century, new consumer aspirations combined with a new industrious behavior to fundamentally alter the material cultures of northwest Europe and North America. This "industrious revolution" is the context in which the economic acceleration associated with the Industrial Revolution took shape. This study explores the intellectual understanding of the new importance of consumer goods as well as the actual consumer behavior of households of all income levels. De Vries examines how the activation and evolution of consumer demand shaped the course of economic development, situating consumer behavior in the context of the household economy. He considers the changing consumption goals of households from the seventeenth century to the present and analyzes how household decisions have mediated between macro-level economic growth and actual human betterment. Ultimately, de Vries' research reveals key strengths and weaknesses of existing consumer theory, suggesting revisions that add historical realism to economic abstractions.

Microeconomics and Behavior

Robert H. Frank, Amy Jocelyn Glass

List Price: $115.05 By: Mcgraw-Hill College Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $0.12

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Mathematical--no. Fascinating--yes! 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful.

It's rare to find a text as enjoyable to read as Frank's in any subject, let alone microeconomics. The reader looking for the standard calculus-based, mathematical approach to micro should look elsewhere (Jehle and Reny is a great place to start). That's simply not the point of this text--the point is to provide the insight behind the models, as well as to promote critical thinking about the shortcomings of the traditional assumptions economists make. This text, combined with Jehle and Reny if one desires rigor as well, provides FAR more than any other single or multiple text combination available.

Judgment, Choice and Rationality 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

As of late, microeconomic and macroeconomic theory has been incorporating social, psychological and social-psychological theory and concepts into the fold. This makes sense, for the quantification sans-psychology (social psychology) of analysis has been poor.

This author is well-versed in this area and articulates well the concepts which are important. However, as my colleagues have stated, the book does leave much to be desired in the mathematical-sense.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Judgment, Choice and Rationality (defined).

This book should be included in undergraduate curriculum.

Five stars because it accomplishes what it was designed for (non-mathematical approach to microeconomics).

Regards,
Tyler Markowsky

Editorial Review:

This book covers the essential principles of microeconomics by exploring the relationship between economic analysis and human behavior. Its clear narrative appeals to students, and its numerous examples help students capture economic intuition. This book both introduces modern topics not often found in intermediate textbooks and encourages students to think like economists.

Catalyst Code: The Strategies Behind the World's Most Dynamic Companies

David S. Evans; Richard Schmalensee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Definitely shifts the way you view business models... 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Companies like Google and eBay have business models that are touted as "revolutionary". But the same concepts allowed businesses like Diners Club and Sotheby's to change the business landscape many years ago. That "something" is explored in Catalyst Code: The Strategies Behind the World's Most Dynamic Companies by David S. Evans and Richard Schmalensee. Once I had the concept of a two-sided business explained to me, a lot of things started to click...

Contents:
What Is a Catalyst; Build a Catalyst Strategy; Identify the Catalyst Community; Establish a Pricing Structure; Focus on Profitability; Compete Strategically with Other Catalysts; Experiment and Evolve; Cracking the Catalyst Code; Additional Readings; Notes; Index; About the Authors

The catalyst spoken of in the book involves bringing together two groups of people who have complementary needs but no way to meet those needs without a common ground. For instance, Diners Club allowed customers to dine out now and pay later. Restaurants who took Diners Club knew they would attract cardholders and have a guarantee of payment. The trick was that Diners Club had to convince cardholders that there were enough outlets in which to use the card, while convincing outlets that there were enough customers to make it worth their time. The companies that can create and grow these catalysts stand to capture a large market following. A more modern example is eBay. They were the most successful at providing an electronic marketplace bringing together buyers and sellers without the confines of geography or quantity of product. By making the service free for buyers, eBay was able to attract potential customers for sellers. Sellers are willing to pay the transaction fees in order to get access to that buyer group. Evans and Schmalensee do an excellent job in examining this type of business model, and they open your eyes to a different way of looking at companies.

Once you understand the concept of two-sided businesses, it's tempting to start labeling *all* businesses as two-sided. For instance, stores are bringing together producers and customers. But there are market forces that come into play, and the authors do help you differentiate between traditional one-sided businesses and actual two-sided models. I also had a bit of trouble at first accepting software companies as two-sided businesses. But after some thought, I can see how a company like Microsoft would be a two-sided business with their Windows operating system. The platform provides a way for developers to build software that conforms to a agreed-upon standard, and for customers to buy software that will run on their computers. It also explains how a newer two-sided model (Linux) can threaten Microsoft and render their current advantage obsolete.

I enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it to anyone studying how businesses work. I'd also recommend it to anyone looking to replicate the success of stories like MySpace. You'll be able to avoid some common errors and increase your chances of succeeding.

Editorial Review:

In an economy where markets, consumers, and technology are ever-changing and increasingly interdependent, economic catalysts businesses that bring together a number of groups who need each other and make it easy for them to work together are essential. Think of the credit card industry. This trillion dollar industry brings merchants and consumers together. Google creates value for its customers, and makes billions for itself, by bringing searchers and advertisers together. Companies that do this right and transform their pricing practices, incentive plans, and organizational structures are today's power brokers. Of course, catalysts have been around as long as marketplaces. But now, more than ever, they drive the economy. Doing business in this world isn t for the faint of heart but Catalyst Code maps it out, showing where the opportunities and pitfalls lie.

Chinese Furniture: A Guide to Collecting Antiques

Karen Mazurkewich, A. Chester Ong

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Chinese Furniture: A Guide to Collecting Antiques 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.

For those interested in learning about Chinese furniture, this is a very useful book. It is well written and illustrated and gives a good over-all survey of the field. It isn't written for experts, but for the "lay" person who wants to know something about the field either for personal interest or because he/she is beginning to collect.

Editorial Review:

The international market for antique Chinese furniture is booming, and masterpieces from the Ming and Qing dynasties are now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Chinese Furniture is a survey of these collectibles-from the very best hardwood pieces featured to standard softwood specimens still available on the Asian market. The book presents an overview of carving styles, wood types, regional variations, class distinctions and restoration techniques.

With this renewed interest in antique furniture, a forgery market has emerged. Thousands of factories in southern China are churning out brand new or refurbished furniture and passing them off as antiques. Chinese Furniture unearths these forgeries and serves as an indispensable reference guide to collectors.

Shocked, Appalled, and Dismayed! How to Write Letters of Complaint That Get Results

Ellen Phillips

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 51 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

How to get the best of shoddy shops, crooked car-dealerships, and heartless HMOs--without having to hire an attorney.
    
The Miss Manners of the consumer kvetch shows readers how to go postal, with complaint letters designed to melt the heart and sting the conscience of the most obdurate, negligent, or customer-hostile corporations.  

Drawing on her experience as a pen-for-hire for irate consumers--and on the advice of clients, attorneys, and CEOs--Ellen Phillips shows readers:              
- Who to write to, what to say, what to ask for  
- The names and addresses of over 600 major companies
- How to draft personal petitions covering everything from tenant-landlord disputes to workman's compensation
- Suggestions on what steps to take to avoid litigation
- Consumer Smarts for automobile buyers
- How to protect yourself from fraudulent business solicitations
- Navigating the courts to ensure the well-being of your family and children
- Help in getting proper coverage from your HMO
- And--because sometimes the world is on your side--how to write the perfect thank- you note.

Delightfully readable, easy to use, and filled with the addresses of hundreds of corporate customer relations offices and state and federal agencies, Shocked, Appalled, and Dismayed! is an essential resource for anyone who wants to reach out and scold somebody.

Hoopla

Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Warren Berger

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 13 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

They’ve been called "visionary" by both Newsweek and Time, hailed as "the ad world’s most talked-about agency" by USA Today, and dubbed "the next big thing" by Business 2.0. They launched the Mini car craze in America, took on Big Tobacco in the controversial Truth campaign, sexed up Virgin Airlines, and made Burger King sizzle once again. And they did it with bold publicity stunts, infectious viral marketing strategies, funny masks, folding paper, outrageous Internet hoaxes, and a weird, garter belt–wearing chicken who became a cultural sensation. And this random madness has a very sound method to it: Hoopla. In Hoopla, the secret inner workings of this freewheeling, break-the-mold idea factory are revealed for the first time. Veteran journalist Warren Berger, who has tracked and reported on the CP+B phenomenon over the past decade, fully examines and deconstructs the methods that lie behind the agency’s seeming madness, while the striking images throughout the book (captioned by the CP+B creative team) provide insights into the logic, intuition, mischief, and passion that leads to the creation of Hoopla. The result is a fascinating journey into a realm of unbridled creativity. See the madness. Read the method. Hoopla. Hoopla also includes practical, step-by-step advice on how to find and promote big ideas (even on a shoestring budget), and how to generate excitement and hype in today’s cluttered, noisy communications landscape. If you’re a marketer, a communicator of any type, or anyone who needs to get out a message and generate some buzz, Hoopla will change the way you think about the art of communication.

Financial Regulation after the Subprime and Credit Crisis

Morris Goldstein

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Editorial Review:

The recent subprime mortgage and credit crisis has impacted nearly all Americans. It is too late to prevent this crisis, but it is not too early to look at what caused it and what can be done to avert similar situations in the future."Financial Regulation after the Subprime and Credit Crisis" presents an insightful analysis of the crisis' catalysts, and most importantly advances a practical plan to overcome the deficiencies of the existing regulatory regime.What lessons have we learned about regulatory reform, models of securitization, and liquidity requirements? This book addresses issues central to the debate for strengthening regulatory design through a reduction of home foreclosures, an imperative to improve the performance of credit-rating agencies, and an agreement on executive compensation. By identifying strategies for modification within the market, Goldstein proposes workable reforms that respond appropriately to current financial vulnerabilities and minimize the likelihood of a future crisis.

Winning the Toughest Customer: The Essential Guide to Selling to Women

Delia Passi

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

If she had a choice, would she buy from you? 
 
Developing the skill and know-how to attract and retain female customers has never been more critical to success—annually, women consumers spend $3.7 trillion, women business owners spend $1.5 trillion, and women make or influence over 94 percent of all purchases.  You need her business to succeed.  If you don’t get it, someone else will.

Yet to many sales professionals, understanding women customers is a daily challenge: the way women interpret behavior, hear unexpected meanings, take in “peripheral” information, and how they view the overall sales process. As a result, women’s wants, needs, and expectations are often misunderstood.

Winning the Toughest Customer: The Essential Guide to Selling to Women reveals how salespeople can thrive with this complex market segment by providing the tools to customize selling to women, and then to anybody else. This notable guide shows professionals how to meet the expectations of female customers and benefit from women’s legendary loyalty and viral marketing potential. 

With Passi’s seven-step sales process that clearly shows how to win sales in this powerful market, you’ll learn how to:
 
* Understand why women reach different purchasing decisions than men

* Master ten steps to building solid relationships with female customers

* Incorporate the newest selling techniques to increase sales and garner repeat business. 

In Winning the Toughest Customer, author and industry expert Delia Passi shatters gender and sales myths with boldness and humor, enabling salespeople and entrepreneurs to properly communicate and close the deal with the most influential buying market segment in the world. 

Affluenza: When Too Much is Never Enough

Clive Hamilton, Richard Denniss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Hopefully the start of a trend - the reduction in consumption 4 out of 5 stars.
13 of 14 people found this review helpful.

A chilling tale of modern consumption gone mad, of the availability of so much yet causing so little happiness. It seems the more we consume the less happy we are. Our houses are bigger than ever, but our families are smalle. OUr children go to the best schools but we hardly see them. We have more money than ever before yet we are crippled under staggeringly high debt, more than ever before - the authors ask the question - what is going on?

They support this ably with graphed research however unfortunately the graphs were not well referenced so I have no idea as to their veracity, so when they mention a 23% proportion of 20-50 year olds 'downsizing' their lifestyle in the last 10 years I just don't know where they got this figure from, or indeed how valid. However while this was a distraction, I did find this book had some extremely major strengths
1 - it is well written,
2 - it is more than just scare tactics, It is thoughtful and thought provoking about the way we live
3 - it offers actually practical solutions as well as philosophical idealism. The conclusion is a series of ideals and how we can go about meeting them.

There have been others talking about the unhappiness bought about by mass consumerism, this is a nice book to start at to understand the issues.

Editorial Review:

Anyone concerned about the level of their personal debt or frustrated by the rat race of aspiring to an affluent lifestyle will appreciate this critique of the effects of over-consumption. This analysis pulls no punches as it describes both the problem and what can be done to stop it. Analyzing the increasing rates of stress, depression, and obesity as possible effects of the consumption binge currently gripping the Western world, this report tracks how Australians overwork, the growing number of things thrown out, self-medicated drugs, and the real meaning of the word choice.

Being the Shopper: Understanding the Buyer's Choice

Phil Lempert

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Take a Tour Through the Mind of a Shopper

"What's my test of a book I've been asked to review? Pure selfishness. How intense are the underlinings? How many quotes can I add to my presentations? How often are the things I believe 'for sure' effectively challenged? Phil Lempert's Being the Shopper is off the charts on all three counts. And not-so-incidentally, though Phil is a 'supermarket guru,' this book will inform anyone who markets anything."
-- Tom Peters, coauthor, In Search of Excellence

"Being the Shopper is gourmet reading . . . a delicious and healthy resource for the smart shopper and forward-thinking marketer. Set your taste buds for Lempert's cutting-edge insights and pragmatic advice on the one experience we all share!"
-- Chip Bell, author, Customer Love and Customers as Partners

"Phil Lempert convinces me I'm something called a consumer. It seems I'm obtuse, savvy, sensual, and picky-- and that my dynamics and demographics are constantly changing. So if you want me to buy something, you ought to try and understand me. reading Being the Shopper seems (to me) a real good place to start."
-- Barry Gibbons, former Chairman/CEO of Burger King
author and entrepreneur

"Rarely do you come across a book that's as meaningful to students and 25-year marketers alike. Being the Shopper delivers to both audiences by enlightening the reader on how to approach critical issues if you want to succeed in today's incredibly demanding environment. It's easy to talk about listening to the voice of your customer, but Mr. Lempert provides a refreshing guide as to how you really can do it."
-- Brian Perkins, Worldwide Chairman, Consumer Pharmaceuticals and Nutritionals Group, Johnson & Johnson

"Is there anything more American than choice? We expect it, we demand it, we revel in it. Phil Lempert understands what your customers really want, and how you can help them find it."
-- Steve Rivkin, President, Rivkin & Associates
coauthor, IdeaWise and Differentiate or Die