Bill Brown (1)

Very accessible and a good coverage of theory, literature and the social history of the intersection (and intermingling) of people and things. It includes all the big theorists I would expect in such a discussion - Heidigger, Lacan, Benjamin, Marx, etc. - and very succinctly covers their insights on his subject, so that you don't have to search the recesses of your brain (or Wikipedia) for a review of their contributions to the field.

At the same time he looks at literary examples (both in show more the main topics of the chapters and other examples within the chapters themselves) I would not expect, much to his credit and to the coverage of his ideas. It's a very original and engagingly written take. For Twain fans, by the way, the first chapter especially should be a delight (and maybe even an eye-opener).

Of the books I've read so far on this topic, this is by far one of the better written and more comprehensive studies. show less