In Cheap We Trust: The Story Of A Misunderstood American Virtue (Hardcover)

About the Book What does it mean to be cheap? When is stowing money away wise, and when is it miserly? How might American interpret the economic downturn after years of indulgence and over-spending? To answer these questions, In Cheap We Trust considers our hot-and-cold relationship with thrift and offers a colorful ride through its history in America, from Ben Franklin and his famous maxims to the branding of Jews and the Chinese as cheap in order to neutralize the economic competition they represented. From Dumpster-diving and the psychology of hoarding to Americans' thrifty responses to war and recession, In Cheap We Trust teases out the meanings of the word "cheap" and explores the wisdom, virtues, and pleasures of not spending every last penny, all the while sparkling with smart, engaging writing that's well worth another precious asset-time.