That Might Be Useful: Exploring America's Secondhand Culture

By Naton Leslie

A humorous, trenchant, and entertaining journey to discover the American culture and its relationship to secondhand goods. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592287050
• ISBN13: 9781592287055
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Lyons Pr
• Length: 309 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

a look at the antiques and used-goods trade

Leslie takes the reader on an enjoyable and instructive journey through the world of flea markets, tag sales, auctions, antique shops, and other outlets where used and antique items of all ages and price levels exchange hands. Not having much money as well as prompted by the desire to shirk the "rampant materialism" he found in large chain stores, malls, and mainstream retailing, Leslie made the decision to buy only secondhand goods when he needed something despite the extra time this often required, with no guarantee that he would ever find what he was looking for. But before long, these drawbacks were put out of mind as the author became ever more involved in, and fascinated and delighted by what he found in this supposedly marginal, but thriving and populous area of American society. "In the secondhand culture, I have discovered the joys of a genuine American market, unfettered buying and selling, which most first-level retailing has lost." Leslie has become friends with many dealers he has met. The author's ventures into all aspects of this secondhand culture from major international auction houses, regional and local auctions and flea markets, neighborhood tag sales, and also the world's largest and longest flea markets also serve as a guide for anyone wishing to become more involved in this market as either a buyer or seller. Leslie teaches at Siena College in upper New York, which also happens to be a prime area for the secondhand market he was drawn to and colorfully and fully recounts.