On Collecting - An Investigation into Collecting in the European Tradition (Hardcover, Reissue)

Collecting is a wide spread phenomenon within our society. Many of us are involved in the activity of collecting and many more of us are fascinated by others' collections. Yet surprisingly little is known about how and why we collect. On Collecting examines the nature of collecting both in Europe and among people living within the European tradition elsewhere.
Gathering objects together is a universal human custom, yet every society collects in different ways. Susan Pearce looks at the way we collect and what this tells us about ourselves and our society. She also explores the psychology of collecting: why do we bestow value on certain objects and how does this add meaning to our lives? Do men and women collect differently? How do we use objects to construct our identity?
On Collecting breaks new ground in its analysis of our relationship to the material world. It will be of value to museums professionals and students, cultural historians and anyone interested in the phenomenon of collecting.