# Can you ID this book ?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-this-book/321901>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 16, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-this-book/321901 "2005-09-16T01:33:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-this-book/321901/1 "2005-09-16T01:33:58Z")

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Garsh, I hate to think how long ago it was that I came across this book, could be 10 yrs or more.

I believe it’s a coffee table book of sorts, by a photo journalist. I saw images from the book in a magazine first.

It was a book consisting of photos of people standing in front of their homes with all of their possessions spread out in from of them and their family. I found it quite captivating. The photos were from all different corners of the globe.

When I finally did see the book in a store I sat and looked through it and it was quite interesting. I lacked the funds to buy it at the time, it was years ago now.

I have never forgotten the book and the images in it. I sometimes attempt to tell someone about it. I’d love to know the title of the book so I could begin to track down a copy of it.

I know it’s not much to go on, I don’t even know the author or year of publication. Any help you can lend me I would appreciate.

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**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-this-book/321901/2 "2005-09-16T01:43:33Z")

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I believe your book may be [Material World: A Global Family Portrait](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0871564300).

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**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-id-this-book/321901/3 "2005-09-16T12:07:37Z")

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WOW

That is indeed the very book I was seeking.

Thank you so much for your assistance.

I suppose I should have thought to ask ages ago.

I am now certain I can get myself a copy. 😃