Sign-In
Cart
Acquired Taste
Paperback
Investing & FinanceMarketingGeneral Psychology
Publisher: Eric Manges
Published: Jul 1 2026
Pages: 416
Weight: 0.90
Height: 0.85 Width: 5.00 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
How Unpleasant Things Become Irresistible Markets
This book is a forensic examination of one of the most powerful and misunderstood forces in global capitalism: the engineered normalization of products that are, at first contact, biologically rejected. Cigarettes burn the throat and lungs. Beer is bitter, harsh, and often unpleasant on first exposure. Yet both evolved into multi-trillion-dollar economic ecosystems that shaped culture, policy, identity, and global supply chains for over a century. This work deconstructs that transformation with precision.
It traces how industries such as tobacco and alcohol did not simply sell products, but systematically rewired perception, ritual, and social behavior. These companies constructed environments where repetition overcame resistance, where identity overrode instinct, and where distribution ensured inevitability. Over time, what began as aversion became ritual, then habit, then dependency, and ultimately cultural infrastructure.
The analysis moves beyond surface-level history into strategic architecture. It examines how companies engineered demand through behavioral conditioning, how they embedded themselves into sports, entertainment, and daily life, and how they expanded into adjacent sectors through acquisition and consolidation. Tobacco firms diversified into food and consumer goods. Alcohol conglomerates consolidated global beverage distribution. Both sectors evolved into complex, interlinked systems with influence far beyond their original product categories.
The book also investigates the biological and psychological mechanisms that enable this transformation. Dopamine conditioning, tolerance development, sensory adaptation, and social reinforcement all play roles in converting an unpleasant stimulus into a desired experience. These mechanisms are not unique to cigarettes or beer. They represent a broader blueprint for how markets are created and scaled.
From there, the lens shifts to modern application. The same underlying principles now drive the growth of social media platforms, energy drinks, ultra-processed foods, digital entertainment, and emerging technology ecosystems. The question is no longer limited to tobacco and alcohol. The question becomes: how do you design something that people initially resist, but ultimately cannot live without?
This book answers that question in full. It is written for builders, operators, investors, and strategists who want to understand how to manufacture demand, construct cultural gravity, and engineer products that move from rejection to ubiquity.
Also in
Investing & Finance
How to Invest $50-$5,000: The Small Investor's Step-By-Step Plan for Low-Risk Investing in Today's Economy
Dunnan, Nancy
Paperback
Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life
Mayyasi, Alex
Hosts of Npr's Planet Money
Hardcover
Money Unlocked: How to Make It, Keep It and Multiply It: The New York Times Bestseller
Lee, John
Paperback
The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy
Stanley, Thomas J., PH. D.
Danko, William D., PH. D.
Paperback
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
Sethi, Ramit
Paperback
Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger
Munger, Charles T.
Hardcover
J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2026: For Preparing Your 2025 Tax Return
J K Lasser Institute
Paperback
J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2027: For Preparing Your 2026 Tax Return
J K Lasser Institute
Paperback
How to Invest in Gold and Silver: A Complete Guide with a Focus on Mining Stocks
Durrett, Don
Paperback
Market Wizards: The Next Generation: The World's Top Young Traders Reveal How They Beat the Market
Coyle, George F.
Schwager, Jack D.
Hardcover
The Price of Democracy: The Revolutionary Power of Taxation in American History
Williamson, Vanessa S.
Hardcover
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns
Bogle, John C.
Hardcover
The Making of a Permabear: The Perils of Long-Term Investing in a Short-Term World
Grantham, Jeremy
Hardcover
La Psicología del Dinero: 18 Claves Imperecederas Sobre Riqueza Y Felicidad / The Psychology of Money
Housel, Morgan
Paperback
The Compounders: From Small Acquisitions to Giant Shareholder Returns
Nyland, Kjetil
Hadziefendic, Adnan
Dybvad, Oddbjørn
Paperback
A Beginner's Guide to the Stock Market: Everything You Need to Start Making Money Today
Kratter, Matthew R.
Paperback
The Intelligent Investor Third Edition: The Definitive Book on Value Investing
Graham, Benjamin
Zweig, Jason
Paperback
How to Make Money in Stocks: A Winning System in Good Times and Bad, Fourth Edition
O'Neil, William J.
Paperback
Trading: Technical Analysis Masterclass: Master the financial markets
Schlotmann, Rolf
Czubatinski, Moritz
Paperback
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power
Zuboff, Shoshana
Paperback
The World for Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earth's Resources
Farchy, Jack
Blas, Javier
Paperback
The Investor's Odyssey: Resisting the Sirens and Playing the Long Game
Mayer, Christopher W.
Hardcover
The Coffee Can Investor: A Stock-Picker's Journey to Build Generational Wealth
Khemlani, Neeraj
Hardcover
El Inversor Inteligente: Un Libro de Asesoramiento Práctico = The Intelligent Investor
Graham, Benjamin
Paperback
Retirement Planning Guidebook: Navigating the Important Decisions for Retirement Success
Pfau, Wade
Paperback
The Intelligent Investor, 3rd Ed.: The Definitive Book on Value Investing
Zweig, Jason
Graham, Benjamin
Hardcover
Tax-Free Wealth: How to Build Massive Wealth by Permanently Lowering Your Taxes
Wheelwright, Tom
Paperback
The Black Swan: Second Edition: The Impact of the Highly Improbable: With a New Section: On Robustness and Fragility
Taleb, Nassim Nicholas
Paperback
One Up on Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market
Lynch, Peter
Paperback
HBR Guide to Buying a Small Business: Think Big, Buy Small, Own Your Own Company
Ruback, Richard S.
Yudkoff, Royce
Paperback
A History of the United States in Five Crashes: Stock Market Meltdowns That Defined a Nation
Nations, Scott
Paperback
The Rules That Make Us: How Culture Shapes the Way We Act, Think, Believe, and Buy
Sweet, Oliver
Hardcover
The Customer Service Survival Kit: What to Say to Defuse Even the Worst Customer Situations
Gallagher, Richard
Paperback
Broken Money: Why Our Financial System is Failing Us and How We Can Make it Better
Alden, Lyn
Paperback
Quality Investing: Owning the Best Companies for the Long Term
Cunningham, Lawrence a.
Eide, Torkell T.
Hargreaves, Patrick
Hardcover
Your Retirement Sketchbook: 125 Retirement Planning Lessons from Financial Experts
Treichel, Bonnie
Hopkins, Jamie P.
Paperback
Friends That Invest: Your Guide to Financial Independence Through Shares and Stocks
Kaur, Simran
Paperback
Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine
Michalowicz, Mike
Hardcover
Understanding Living Trusts(R): How You Can Avoid Probate, Keep Control, Save Taxes, and Enjoy Peace of Mind
Schumacher, Vickie
Paperback
Poor Charlie's Almanack: The Essential Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger
Munger, Charles T.
Paperback
Trading in the Zone: Master the Market with Confidence, Discipline, and a Winning Attitude
Douglas, Mark
Hardcover
Financial Intelligence: A Manager's Guide to Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean
Berman, Karen
Knight, Joe
Hardcover
J.K. Lasser's 1001 Deductions and Tax Breaks 2026: Your Complete Guide to Everything Deductible
Weltman, Barbara
Paperback
The Winner's Curse: Behavioral Economics Anomalies, Then and Now
Thaler, Richard H.
Imas, Alex
Hardcover
The New Money Strategy: The Modern Guide to Rational, Long-Term Investing
Van Der Kolk, Brandon
Hardcover
The Complete Turtletrader: How 23 Novice Investors Became Overnight Millionaires
Covel, Michael W.
Paperback
Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life
Sutherland, Rory
Paperback
Predictably Irrational, Revised and Expanded Edition: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
Ariely, Dan
Paperback
Hide Your Assets and Disappear: A Step-By-Step Guide to Vanishing Without a Trace
Pankau, Edmund
Paperback
Money to Burn: The Unvarnished Truth about Leon Black, Apollo, and the Rise of a New Wall Street
Cohan, William D.
Hardcover
Rich Family Smart Family: Raise Your Family's Financial IQ and Take Control of Your Future
Kiyosaki, Robert
Paperback
Anti-Fascist Economics: In Defense of Affordability, Dignity, and Democracy
Weber, Isabella
Hardcover
The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy
Stanley, Thomas J.
Danko, William D.
Hardcover
Small Time Operator: How to Start Your Own Business, Keep Your Books, Pay Your Taxes, and Stay Out of Trouble
Kamoroff, Bernard B.
Paperback
Payments Systems in the U.S.: A Guide for the Payments Professional
Benson, Carol Coye
Jones, Russ
Loftesness, Scott
Paperback
The Million-Dollar Financial Services Practice: A Proven System for Becoming a Top Producer
Mullen Jr, David J.
Paperback
Finance Equations & Answers: A Quickstudy Laminated Reference Guide
Florida Institute of Finance
Other
Wired on Wall Street: The Rise and Fall of Tipper X, One of the Fbi's Most Prolific Informants
Hardin, Tom
Hardcover
Financial Literacy for All: Disrupting Struggle, Advancing Financial Freedom, and Building a New American Middle Class
Bryant, John Hope
Paperback
El Dinero No Es El Problema, Tú Lo Eres - Money is Not the Problem Spanish
Douglas, Gary M.
Heer, Dain
Paperback
The Infographic Guide to Personal Finance: A Visual Reference for Everything You Need to Know
Lariviere, Elisabeth
Cagan, Michele
Paperback
The Most Important Thing Illuminated: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor
Marks, Howard
Hardcover
Investing 101: From Stocks and Bonds to Etfs and Ipos, an Essential Primer on Building a Profitable Portfolio
Cagan, Michele
Hardcover
Our Dollar, Your Problem: An Insider's View of Seven Turbulent Decades of Global Finance, and the Road Ahead
Rogoff, Kenneth
Paperback
Stop Making Stupid Investments: 7 Rules to Avoid the Hype and Build Real Wealth
Leiter, David
Hardcover
SEVENTEEN TO MILLIONAIRE You're Seventeen. You're Canadian. You wanna be rich. Let's do this.
Price, Douglas
Paperback
Easy Money: Cryptocurrency, Casino Capitalism, and the Golden Age of Fraud: The Basis for the Documentary Everyone Is Lying to You for Money
Silverman, Jacob
McKenzie, Ben
Paperback
Trade Like a Stock Market Wizard: How to Achieve Superperformance in Stocks in Any Market
Minervini, Mark
Hardcover
No Loose Ends: The Smart & Slightly Morbid Guide to Estate Planning & End-Of-Life Tasks
Zuckerman, Adam
Hardcover
Maximize Your Retirement: The Only Book You'll Ever Need to Retire Prosperous and Worry-Free
Oh, Jae
Paperback
The Capital Order: How Economists Invented Austerity and Paved the Way to Fascism
Mattei, Clara E.
Paperback
Sideways: Using the Power of Technical Analysis to Profit in Uncertain Times
Richards, Keith G.
Paperback
Best Loser Wins: Why Normal Thinking Never Wins the Trading Game - Written by a High-Stake Day Trader
Hougaard, Tom
Paperback
J.K. Lasser's Small Business Taxes 2026: Your Complete Guide to a Better Bottom Line
Weltman, Barbara
Paperback
The Tax and Legal Playbook: Game-Changing Solutions to Your Small Business Questions
Kohler, Mark
Paperback
Como Gane $2,000,000 En La Bolsa / How I Made $2,000,000 in the Stock Market
Darvas, Nicolas
Paperback
The Mental Game of Trading: A System for Solving Problems with Greed, Fear, Anger, Confidence, and Discipline
Tendler, Jared
Paperback
Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets
Taleb, Nassim Nicholas
Paperback
The Book on Rental Property Investing: How to Create Wealth with Intelligent Buy and Hold Real Estate Investing
Turner, Brandon
Paperback
Mastering Private Equity: Transformation Via Venture Capital, Minority Investments and Buyouts
White, Bowen
Prahl, Michael
Zeisberger, Claudia
Hardcover
The World for Sale: Money, Power, and the Traders Who Barter the Earth's Resources
Farchy, Jack
Blas, Javier
Hardcover
Money and Me: How to Make Your Finances Work Harder for You and Your Family
Clements, Jonathan
Paperback
Fixed: Why Personal Finance Is Broken and How to Make It Work for Everyone
Campbell, John Y.
Ramadorai, Tarun
Hardcover
Layered Money: From Gold and Dollars to Bitcoin and Central Bank Digital Currencies
Bhatia, Nik
Paperback
Elliott Wave - Fibonacci High Probability Trading: Master The Wave Principle and Market Timing With Proven Strategies
Sanders, Jarrod
Paperback
A Richer Retirement: Supercharging the 4% Rule to Spend More and Enjoy More
Bengen, William P.
Hardcover
The Accounting Game: Basic Accounting Fresh from the Lemonade Stand
Orloff, Judith
Mullis, Darrell
Paperback
Covered Calls for Beginners: A Risk-Free Way to Collect "Rental Income" Every Single Month on Stocks You Already Own
Publications, Freeman
Paperback
You Can Be a Stock Market Genius: Uncover the Secret Hiding Places of Stock Market Profits
Greenblatt, Joel
Paperback
Beyond the Grave, Revised and Updated Edition: The Right Way and the Wrong Way of Leaving Money to Your Children (and Others)
Condon, Jeffery L.
Paperback
How Not to Invest: The Ideas, Numbers, and Behaviors That Destroy Wealth--And How to Avoid Them
Ritholtz, Barry
Hardcover
Masters of the Universe: Winning Strategies of America's Greatest Dealmakers
Kadlec, Daniel J.
Paperback
Our Dollar, Your Problem: An Insider's View of Seven Turbulent Decades of Global Finance, and the Road Ahead
Rogoff, Kenneth
Hardcover