The Enchantments of Mammon — Meeting 1 of 10 (Pre-Read)

Eugene McCarraher's The Enchantments of Mammon (2019) argues that capitalism's allure stems from its transformation of traditional values into commodities, creating a secular religion centered on consumption and profit. His interdisciplinary approach, informed by cultural history and theology as well as economics, management theory, and marketing, offers a rich understanding of capitalism's grip on society, making the book essential reading for anyone seeking to comprehend the interaction between modern economics and culture.

For the 1st meeting, please read in advance Part One "The Dearest Freshness Deep Down Things: Capitalist Enchantment in Europe, 1600–1914" (namely chapters 1, 2, and 3):

• Chapter 1: "About His Business: The Medieval Sacramental Economy, the Protestant Theology of “Improvement,” and the Emergence of Capitalist Enchantment"
• Chapter 2: "The God among Commodities: Christian Political Economy, Marx on Fetishism, and the Power of Money in Bourgeois Society"
• Chapter 3: "The Poetry of the Past: Romantic Anticapitalism and the
  Sacramental Imagination"

You can find the book here.