The Enchantments of Mammon — Meeting 2 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 this meeting, please read in advance Part Two: "A Hundred Dollars, a Hundred Devils: Mammon in America, 1492–1870", which consists of chapters 4, 5 and 6:

• Chapter 4: "Errand into the Marketplace: The Puritan Covenant Theology of Capitalism"
• Chapter 5: "The Righteous Friends of Mammon: Evangelicals, Mormons, Slaveholders, and the Proprietary Dispensation"
• Chapter 6: "Glows and Glories and Final Illustriousness: Transcendentalism, the Religion of the Slaves, and the Romantic Imagination in Antebellum America"

You can find the book here.