From the back of the book:

Shopping is much more than the simple purchase of goods. As buying has become an essential part of life, shopping is irrevocably tied to our cultural identity, and we are a culture obsessed and beguiled by the desire of consumer goods.

In Spree, journalist and cultural columnist Pamela Klaffke reveals the ritual that is now daily routine. Her book is an entertaining and provocative study of shopping’s rich and enduring history, from Parisian arcades to American shopping malls, from the invention of cash registers and shopping carts to the varied shopping customs around the world, from game shows to online shopping and eBay.

Full of informative sidebars and fascinating photographs, Spree documents how shopping has evolved from a need, to a want, to a sport.