Collecting, whether by individuals or institutions, is a form of consumption. In this groundbreaking book Russell Belk examines the relationship between the development of consumer society and the rise of collecting by individuals and institutions. He also considers how and why we collect - as individuals, corporations and museums - and the impact this collecting has on us and our culture.

Collecting in a Consumer Society outlines the history of individual and museum collecting from ancient civilizations to the present. It also looks at aspects of consumer cultureadvertising, department stores, mass merchandising, consumer desires, and how this relates to the activity of collecting. Unlike much passionate consumption, collecting is an acceptable form of consuming. It is widely considered to contribute something to society rather than just being self-indulgent shopping.

Collecting allows us to escape the guilt or shame that might otherwise be associated with gathering material possessions. However, museum collecting is found to increasingly involve a problematic endorsement of general consumer culture.