Understanding the Consumer is a core text for students of consumer or buyer behaviour. It looks at the subject from a psychological perspective and psychological themes that cross different areas are highlighted - such as personality patterns and lifestyle effects on shopping behaviour. The book is very student-friendly. It avoids jargon and attempts through examples and illustrations to put across just how interesting a subject this can be. The writing is lively and provocative, taking a slightly more sceptical and irreverent view of the subject than many texts in the area. At the end of each chapter there is an annotated further reading list and a selection of questions for discussion.