Rubbish Theory

The Creation and Destruction of Value - New Edition

Michael Thompson, Joshua O. Reno

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Paperback

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English

Pluto Press
20 June 2017

Society & Social Sciences; Cultural studies; Sociology

Rubbish is something we ignore. By definition we discard it, from our lives and our minds, and it remains outside the concerns of conventional economics. However, this book explores the dynamics through which rubbish can re-enter circulation as a prized commodity, in many cases far exceeding its original value. Antiques, vintage cars and period homes, after being discarded as valueless, can, even after many years, become priceless.

First published in 1979, Rubbish Theory has become foundational in its field. Today, it is as relevant as ever. This edition includes a new afterword revealing how the consequences of our compulsion to discard are far from inevitable, and going on to explore how we can transform our troublesome wastes into valuable resources.

By: Michael Thompson
Foreword by: Joshua O. Reno
Imprint: Pluto Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: New edition
Dimensions: Height: 215mm, Width: 135mm,
Weight: 389g
ISBN: 9780745399782
ISBN 10: 0745399789
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 20 June 2017
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Foreword by Joshua O. Reno Preface Introduction to the New Edition 1. The Filth in the Way 2. Stevengraphs - Yesterday’s Kitsch 3. Rat-infested Slum or Glorious Heritage? 4. From Things to Ideas 5. A Dynamic Theory of Rubbish 6. Art and the Ends of Economic Activity 7. Monster Conservation 8. The Geometry of Credibility 9. The Geometry of Confidence 10. The Needle’s Eye Afterword (co-authored by M. Bruce Beck) Notes Index

Michael Thompson is a Senior Research Scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria. He is also an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Science, Innovation and Society, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

Reviews for Rubbish Theory: The Creation and Destruction of Value - New Edition

'Original, insightful, and entertaining' -- Ian Stewart, author of Seventeen Equations that Changed the World (Profile Books, 2012) 'Witty and wide-ranging scholarly scholarly study ... a fascinating contribution to cultural theory' -- The Guardian 'A remarkably original and creative book, far ahead of its time. Thompson's analysis is not only a major contribution to the anthropological theorising of waste and value, but it is also highly relevant for the contemporary dilemmas of growth and environmental destruction' -- Thomas Hylland Eriksen, author of Overheating (Pluto, 2016) 'Highly recommended' -- CHOICE