The Theory of the Leisure Class

First published in 1899, Thorstein Veblen’s most famous book turned a sardonic economist’s eye on the habits of the American rich. He argued that once people have more than they need, they spend to be seen, and coined the phrases that stuck: conspicuous consumption and conspicuous leisure. Wealth, in his account, proves itself by wasting time and money in ways the poor cannot copy, from idle servants and impractical clothing to sports, etiquette, and higher learning. Written in deadpan, mock-scholarly prose, the book traces these display habits back to predatory tribal societies and forward into modern business. More than a century later, its dissection of status spending still cuts. The full text is available here as a free PDF and EPUB.