Great Ideas Conspicuous Consumption

by Thorstein Veblen

Book Overview

Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

With its...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0141023988
• ISBN13: 9780141023984
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Penguin UK
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 4.4" x 7.1"

Customer Reviews

Insightful

This is one of those books that was written about 100 years ago but which turns your head in terms of how society and high society works. It answers some questions on why people wear luxuries and the rules of polite society. If you get this book, consider also reading The Theory of the Leisure Class (Oxford World's Classics). At times when reading both the Conspicuous Consumption and The Theory of the Liesure Class you might think that the books are very outmoded but at the same time you recognize that there is a strata of society that still behaves by some of these rules today. Definitely, if you're looking to understand the finer nuances of high society, your education is not complete until you read both Conspicious Consumption and the Theory of the Liesure Class. I was studying the behavior of royalty in ancient societies and wanted to do a bit of research into the parallels of modern Western society -- lets just say I received quite a bit of insight from these two works. Consider them.