The world's leading country in terms of consumption is also the most religious of the developed capitalist societies, notes Miller (theology, Georgetown U.); furthermore, that religion is deeply informed by a Puritan tradition that is highly critical of consumption and indulgence. It is the serious disconnect between religious belief in the US and its practice that he explores. His basic argument is that consumerism, rather than being a particular set of ideologies, is a way of relating to beliefs that empties them of content. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)