What do the Volkswagen T2a Bus, the contraceptive pill and Jimi Hendrix have in common? Why does a cold and dry environment make people more likely to speak to strangers? What can World of Warcraft teach us about the world we live in today? In this brilliantly original, provocative and witty book, Geoffrey Miller — acclaimed author of «The Mating Mind» — takes us on a journey through the surreal wonderlands of marketing, advertising, and media to explore the hidden instincts behind our choices. Combining this with the latest developments in evolutionary psychology, genetics and consumer research, he explains why we buy, what we buy, and how we can escape the excesses of twenty-first century consumerism.