{"product_id":"selling-spirituality-critical-of-spirituality-as-commodity","title":"Selling Spirituality - Critical of Spirituality as Commodity","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Selling Spirituality, Jeremy Carrette and Richard King offer a compact, provocative analysis aimed at readers who want to understand how contemporary spiritual practices have been repackaged as marketable products. The book is for anyone curious about the intersection of culture, commerce and belief, and its single biggest reason to buy is that it clearly maps how a once-private search for meaning has been converted into a global industry. The authors write with clarity and polemical energy, making this a useful corrective for students, clergy, and thoughtful consumers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClear critique of commodification:\u003c\/strong\u003e The authors show how practices from feng shui to aromatherapy have been packaged as consumer goods, helping readers spot commercial framing in spiritual offerings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocus on modern religion:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book links privatization of religion to broader social trends, offering a concise historical perspective useful for students of \u003cstrong\u003ereligious studies\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase studies of brands and trends:\u003c\/strong\u003e By naming movements and market players, the text gives concrete examples readers can investigate further in their communities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessible length and tone:\u003c\/strong\u003e As a short, sharp polemic, the book is readable in a few sittings while still delivering dense argumentation for discussion or classroom use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePolitical and cultural lens:\u003c\/strong\u003e The authors argue that marketized spirituality often supports orthodox politics, prompting readers to consider spiritual practice as a site of resistance.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSelling Spirituality is best suited to readers studying \u003cstrong\u003ereligion and culture\u003c\/strong\u003e, activists interested in critiques of capitalism, and anyone who wants a skeptical take on wellness trends. Its tone and argument assume some familiarity with cultural studies or social theory rather than novice spiritual instruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose looking for a how-to guide to meditation, a sympathetic devotional manual, or hands-on wellness product recommendations should look elsewhere, because the book is primarily analytical and polemical rather than instructive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConcise, pointed analysis that clarifies how spirituality becomes a market category.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUseful for classroom discussion and critical reading in \u003cstrong\u003ereligious studies\u003c\/strong\u003e or sociology courses.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDirect examples and cultural critique make abstract ideas tangible for readers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIts critical tone may feel dismissive to readers seeking empathetic engagement with spiritual practice.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelling Spirituality\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthors\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJeremy Carrette, Richard King\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCritique of commercialized spirituality\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocus areas\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFeng shui, holistic medicine, aromatherapy, yoga, wellness industry\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproach\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCritical, political and cultural analysis\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAudience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStudents, scholars, cultural critics\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSelling Spirituality is a compact, persuasive critique that belongs on the shelf of anyone studying how belief is shaped by markets. It is good value for readers who want an incisive cultural analysis rather than practical spiritual instruction, and it provokes useful questions about reclaiming spiritual practice from corporate influence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the book defend spiritual practices?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe book is mainly critical of the marketization of practices rather than of spiritual methods themselves, and it calls for reclaiming spirituality from commercial forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this suitable for academic courses?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. Its concise argumentation and examples make it appropriate for courses in religious studies, sociology, or cultural studies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it recommend wellness products?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo. The authors critique the commodification of wellness and do not offer product recommendations or how-to guides.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jeremy Carrette, Richard King","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48248824987867,"sku":"0415302080","price":182.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/61L9idVrg1L._SL1360.jpg?v=1770838946","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/selling-spirituality-critical-of-spirituality-as-commodity","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}