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The Theory of the Leisure Class

"The Theory of the Leisure Class" by Thorstein Veblen is an economic and sociological work published in 1899. Veblen introduces the concept of conspicuous leisure—the practice of displaying wealth and status through visible idleness rather than productivity. He traces how the wealthy classes throughout history have showcased their power by abstaining from labor, employing servants, and consuming time unproductively. The work examines how this behavior validates inequality and shapes social hierarchies across stratified societies.

Level C2 pagesEnglish

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Categories: Economics Sociology

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Suggested age: 16+ (AI estimate)

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Level C2

Language difficulty is an AI estimate based on sampled text.

Reader and content guidance is an AI estimate based on the title, author, source summary, contents and selected excerpts. Unseen portions have not been assessed.

Recommended age: 16+ (AI estimate)
Abstract sociological argument about institutions, class and selection requires mature conceptual reasoning for independent enjoyment; younger teens would likely need supported reading. Content in samples is not adult-only. Based on named-book metadata and selected excerpts; unseen text was not assessed. This is guidance, not an official age rating; individual reading ability varies.

Source: Project Gutenberg · Public domain in the USA.

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