{"product_id":"the-theory-of-the-leisure-thorstein-veblen-9798902720249","title":"The Theory of the Leisure Class","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Theory of the Leisure Class\u003c\/em\u003e (1899) by \u003cstrong\u003eThorstein Veblen\u003c\/strong\u003e is a critical analysis of modern consumer society. Veblen argues that in capitalist economies, social status is displayed through \u003cstrong\u003econspicuous consumption\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003econspicuous leisure\u003c\/strong\u003e-the public display of wealth and unproductive activities to signal prestige rather than utility. He traces these behaviors to earlier societies where a leisure class emerged, exempt from manual labor, and shows how their values come to dominate cultural standards of success. The book critiques how these status-driven habits encourage waste, reinforce inequality, and shape tastes, institutions, and economic behavior in ways that are often irrational and socially harmful.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Thorstein Veblen\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798902720249\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Lushena Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/24\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 260\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.90lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.71d","brand":"Thorstein Veblen","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":49097246540031,"sku":"9798902720249","price":27.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-theory-of-the-leisure-thorstein-veblen-9798902720249","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}