Summary:
The book critically examines the social and economic behaviors of the wealthy, particularly their pursuit of status and conspicuous consumption. It introduces the concept of "pecuniary emulation," where individuals imitate the spending patterns of those above them in the social hierarchy to climb the social ladder.
Key points:
1. Conspicuous Consumption: Veblen says people buy luxury items to show off wealth, not for the items' value.
Books similar to "The Theory of the Leisure Class":
Luxury Fever
Robert H. Frank
Stop Acting Rich
Thomas J. Stanley
Spent
Geoffrey Miller
The Velvet Rope Economy
Nelson D. Schwartz
Women of Means
Marlene Wagman-Geller
The More of Less
Joshua Becker
Empire of Illusion
Chris Hedges
Affluenza
John de Graaf|David Wann|Thomas H. Naylor
Love People, Use Things
Joshua Fields Millburn|Ryan Nicodemus
Primates of Park Avenue
Wednesday Martin