Nothing short of passionate, Perry (film, TV, and media studies, U. of Auckland) ponders subjects of everyday life and examines them in fine-tooth-comb detail. Topics such as shopping, gambling, watching TV, talking on the phone and reading are analyzed with symbolism, historical background, economic effect and cultural significance. This collection of essays is intended for students and graduates of higher education, but the academic writing style does not deter from the entertainment value of the subjects themselves. Chapter 6 on reading analyzes Joseph Heller's Catch 22 with an underlying theme that, like the book, is language about language. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
