Offering the first in-depth investigation into the relationship between today's crinimal identities and consumer culture, this book uses unique data - taken from criminals locked in areas of permanent recession - to uncover feelings and attitudes towards a variety of criminal activities. 'This book is criminological scholarship at its best: insightful, original, provocative and impassioned. Its central argument, that the rise of market culture and narcissistic consumerism lie at the heart of contemporary crime problems, deserves to be widely read, understood and appreciated.' ?Dr Majid Yar, Professor of Sociology, University of Hull, UK 'When criminologists look back in 50 years' time at those books that pushed critical criminology forward they'll point to Criminal Identities and Consumer Culture. Frankly, if you don't love this book you shouldn't be a criminologist.' ?Professor David Wilson, Centre for Criminal Justice Policy and Research, Birmingham City University, UK '...theoretically advanced and written with passion and flair...' 'It is a larger than life portrayal of some elements of working-class criminal life to be more precise, but the work is nonetheless ambitious, forthright and bold. Their thesis is detailed and provocative and will appeal to a range of audiences and has been very positively received by leading criminologists as the plaudits on the back cover attest.' 'The book adds a great deal to the critical criminology literature and criminologists (and sociologists with an interest in crime) will read it with interest.'-Tracy Shildrick, Professor of Sociology, University of Teesside, in Sociology vol 45 no 2 p.343-348