This will be about the weirdest recommendation imaginable, but has an interesting approach as requested, albeit an interesting approach you probably won't have expected:

Planet Simpson by Chris Turner.

Before you roll your eyes and regret going to the internet, you should know that although the book is first and foremost an analysis of The Simpsons - the TV cartoon - it analyses it as being representative of American consumer culture. It does an excellent job of it too. If you've got any familiarity or love of the show, this could be exactly what you're after.

Any downsides? Written in 2004. A little longer than necessary, but you'll probably want to skip a few chapters, so that probably evens out. And of course the fact you've probably not read this far. :-)

Happy reading!