Why this book?
- You read the concept of "conspicuous consumption," Veblen's own invention, from Veblen himself.
- It shows that the standards of the leisure class are observed at every level of society, not only among the wealthy.
- It examines dress, taste, higher education and religious belief from an economic and social angle.
- It carries its critique of the philosophy of capitalism and the misuse of wealth with a sharp yet readable humor.
- It has been regarded as a foundational work for students of history, politics, sociology and psychology.
About the book
"The Theory of the Leisure Class" is Thorstein Veblen's first and best-known book, and it challenges many accepted standards of human behavior. With devastating humor, Veblen shows how hollow the standards of taste, education, dress and culture of the leisure class are.
In his account, the leisure class cultivates standards that people at every level of society are compelled, in one way or another, to observe. The clearest mark of membership in this class is avoiding the toil of productive work and succeeding at conspicuous consumption. Conspicuous consumption is Veblen's own contribution, and in his critical view it is the measure of standing in an affluent society. The main target of his critique is the philosophy of capitalism and the misuse of wealth.
After the author's introduction, the book has chapters on pecuniary emulation, conspicuous leisure, conspicuous consumption, pecuniary standards of living and of taste, and dress as an expression of the culture of wealth. Later chapters deal with withdrawal from productive work and conservatism, the survival of archaic traits, the survivals of prowess in the present day, belief in luck, devout observances, the survival of non-invidious interests and higher learning as an expression of the pecuniary culture.