This book investigates the fundamental question of what consumers truly value and how these desires can be systematically defined and analyzed within the marketing landscape. M. Holbrook compiles insights from an international group of contributors to challenge traditional marketing concepts. The text proposes an innovative framework that categorizes consumer value into eight distinct dimensions, moving beyond simple satisfaction metrics to explore the deeper psychological and social drivers of consumption.

Experts recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of consumer behavior due to its unconventional categorization of value. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the provocative nature of the author's arguments regarding the spiritual and ethical dimensions of consumption.