Genes, climate, and consumption culture : connecting the dots / Jagdish N. Sheth.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sheth, Jagdish N., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Consumption (Economics).

Climate change mitigation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (267 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Bingley : Emerald Publishing, 2017.

Summary:

Drawing from decades of research, Genes, Climate, and Consumption Culture: Connecting the Dots demonstrates how climate dictates culture and consumption. The author shows that human genes are climatic adaptations over thousands of years of evolution, which has resulted in the dramatic differences between people's food, clothing, and shelter choices. Most importantly, the book discusses how many of the fundamental differences between cultures, with respect to time, space, friendship, and technology, are responses to their particular climate. Readers will learn how to challenge their assumptions about what types of products and services foreign markets want. They will learn how to examine local markets vis-a-vis climate and culture, either changing their products accordingly or delivering entirely new offerings.

Contents:

Front Cover

Genes, Climate, and Consumption Culture

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction: Climate and the History of Man

The Evolution of Man

The Rise of Civilizations

Climate and Higher Civilization

"What Climate Giveth …"

The Climate is … the Climate

Notes

Part One

1. We Are Where We Eat

The Origins of Food Production

Northern Diets: Vegetarians Not Welcome

"Superlatively Good Food"

Vodka, the Russian Spice (of Life)

The Blood Type Factor

The Case of African Americans

2. What to Wear?

Cold-Weather Clothes

Clothing for a Temperate Climate

Tropical Attire

Clothing as a Symbol

Fashion's Tight Noose

Climate versus Fashion

Other Health Problems

Climate's Comeback?

3. A Roof Overhead

Temporary Shelters in Harsh Climates

Stone + Timber = Permanence

The Wonders of Mud

House-Building in the Tropics: Bamboo, Reeds, Grasses, Poles

So What?

Sick Shelters

Conclusion

Part Two

4. Your Time or Mine?

"Had We But World Enough": A Note on Space

5. Individualism and Collectivism

Definitions

The Family Unit

The "Happiness" Quotient

In the Workplace: Competition or Cooperation?

What's Mine is Mine: The Issue of Intellectual Property

Politics, Religion, and Conflict

Assessments

6. Embrace of Technology and Dominion Over Nature

Avoiding "Edenism"

The Pluralist Response

Technology, Consumption, and Control

The Development Trap

Climate Change: Ironic Debacle of the West?

China: The Final Turn of the Screw?

References

Index.

Notes:

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references.

Print version record

ISBN:

9781787434646

1787434648

9781787434110

1787434117