Free digital classic
The Theory of the Leisure Class
by Veblen, Thorstein
About this book
Creators: Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929) "The Theory of the Leisure Class" by Thorstein Veblen is an economic and sociological work published in 1899. Veblen introduces the concept of conspicuous leisure—the practice of displaying wealth and status through visible idleness rather than productivity. He traces how the wealthy classes throughout history have showcased their power by abstaining from labor, employing servants, and consuming time unproductively. The work examines how this behavior validates inequality and shapes social hierarchies across stratified societies. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading Level: Reading ease score: 37.5 (College-level). Difficult to read. Rights: Public domain in the USA. Downloads: 4893