Louis Vuitton

Chapter 5 touched on something I find truly amazing which is branding. I don't understand how companies succeed as this. They make their product way more expensive than others of similar quality, the demand goes up and the product sells. It's crazy! Take Louis Vuitton handbags- right now the bags are basically status symbols. They are not, in my opinion, better made than most purses (I own one and have already had to have it repaired once) but the pricing is ridiculous with the simplest bags starting at about $650 (and lets remember they're canvas not leather). And yet, people still buy, buy, buy. I remember being so envious of my best friend when her boyfriend bought her a Louis Vuitton. She'd carry it everyday, even if it didn't go with her outfit. For a while my boyfriend seemed like a dud. I just had to have a Louis Vuitton. I didn't know why exactly, but I needed one. Let's just say you don't always get what you pay for.

The same is true for many name brand clothes. Most are made in the same places and with same fabric as cheaper alternatives. The difference is really the advertising with the more expensive brands relying on celebrities, upscale magazines and even higher prices in order to make their products seem more exclusive.

We Believe What We Want To

I thought it was interesting and valid the way chapter four emphasized the idea that humans believe what they want to believe. It's interesting how when we are completely committed to an idea it is very hard for us to denounce it, even in the presence of overwhelming evidence against the idea. The chapter used the example of the UFO cult which thought a spaceship was going to transport its members to outer space when a flood destroyed earth at the end of the world. I always wonder how people can be coaxed to believe such things but when you think about the strong will of those doing the believing it's easy to see how they can fall into such traps. The fact that we have such blind faith can really be hurtful. For instance, when news of the holocaust spread across Europe and America many people ignored it despite the evidence because they couldn't comprehend such atrocities. This was obviously very detrimental. We have to be aware for new facts, examine them and then evaluate our opinions so that we have honest judgments.