The Theory of the Leisure Class
The 1899 book that named conspicuous consumption, and argued that much of economic life is display rather than need.
Veblen’s 1899 study of how the rich display their standing, through conspicuous consumption, conspicuous leisure, and the deliberate uselessness of what they buy and wear. Written in a deadpan academic style that is itself part of the joke, it supplied the vocabulary that discussions of status have used ever since.
Recommended by 1 Person
Robert Reich
Veblen coined the phrase “conspicuous consumption”. Less well remembered is his phrase “conspicuous leisure”. Veblen saw the importance of social status as a motivator in capitalism. He was the first to understand that one of the reasons that people desperately wanted to become rich was not simply to consume but to consume in such a way that they established themselves as being superior to others.
As an Amazon Associate, bookstoread.org earns from qualifying purchases. Links to Amazon on this page may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Spotted an error on this page? Tell us and we will fix it.