The Theory of the Leisure Class, Thorstein Veblen
The Theory of the Leisure Class, Thorstein Veblen
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The Theory of the Leisure Class

Author: Thorstein Veblen

Narrator: Ethan Williams

Unabridged: 10 hr 41 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Stream Readers

Published: 03/17/2023


Synopsis

"The Theory of the Leisure Class" is a book written by Thorstein Veblen, an American economist and sociologist. The book is a seminal work of economic sociology and a critique of the consumption-driven culture of the late 19th century United States.Veblen's central thesis is that the upper class, or the "leisure class," engages in conspicuous consumption as a way of displaying their social status and wealth. This behavior, he argues, is not only wasteful and unproductive but also harmful to society as a whole, as it perpetuates a culture of inequality and social stratification.Veblen also discusses the role of technology in shaping society, arguing that the development of machines and industrial processes has led to the emergence of a new class of technocrats who control the means of production and wield significant power over the rest of society.Overall, "The Theory of the Leisure Class" is a critical examination of the social and economic structures that shape modern society. It remains a landmark work in the field of economic sociology and has had a profound influence on the study of consumption, social stratification, and the role of technology in society

About Thorstein Veblen

Thorstein Veblen (1857–1929) was a Norwegian American economist and sociologist. He was famous as a witty critic of capitalism and for his creation of the idea of “conspicuous consumption.” Veblen was a leading intellectual of the Progressive Era, and within the history of economic thought, he is considered the leader of the institutional economics movement.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mark on June 04, 2009

A dry and difficult read as one must hack one's way through the arcane language and outmoded concepts, but once one does, one discovers a truly interesting approach to economics. It must have seemed odd to an economist of the early 20th century, at least one capable of transcending the views of his......more

Goodreads review by John on June 24, 2011

This is a great read if you have a dictionary handy. Microeconomics is the study of why people purchase stuff. This is the best micro-economic book ever written. I studied micro-economics in college, both on the undergraduate and graduate levels. The theories I studied were stupid, generic marginal......more

Goodreads review by Will on March 11, 2013

Woody Guthrie observed, "Some will rob you with a six-gun, and some with a fountain pen." Bob Dylan quoted these lyrics and added, "Didn't take too long to find out, just what he was talking about." Thorstein Veblen, who found this situation to be bemusing if absurd, undertook to explain the social......more

Goodreads review by Mark on July 30, 2011

I read this on the plane coming down from Portland, sitting beside a couple of software developers discussing their overseas properties- both apparently had second homes outside the US, one in Tuscany (ooh, too outre-cliche!) one in Spain. Both happened to be interested in viticulture and considered......more

Goodreads review by Bill on June 06, 2016

Conspicuous Leisure This is the book that coined the term "conspicuous consumption". My own stance in regard to this practice is demonstrated in the fact that I read this book in a "Dover Thrift Edition"; so, I started reading the book with the expectation of it explaining other people's behavior. Ho......more