The Complete Works of Thorstein Veblen. Illustrated - The Theory of the Leisure Class, The Theory of Business Enterprise, The Higher Learning in America, On the Nature of Capital and Others

The Complete Works of Thorstein Veblen is a comprehensive and thought-provoking collection of writings by Thorstein Veblen, one of the most original and influential critics of modern economic and social systems. This illustrated edition brings together his most important works, including The Theory of the Leisure Class, The Theory of Business Enterprise, The Higher Learning in America, On the Nature of Capital, and other significant essays and studies. Veblen is best known for his sharp analysis of consumer culture and his concept of “conspicuous consumption,” explored in The Theory of the Leisure Class, where he examines how wealth and status shape social behavior. In The Theory of Business Enterprise, he investigates the tensions between industrial production and business interests, offering a critical perspective on corporate power and economic organization. His later works extend this critique to education and intellectual life, particularly in The Higher Learning in America, where he questions the commercialization of universities and the impact of economic forces on knowledge and culture. Throughout his writings, Veblen combines rigorous analysis with wit and irony, challenging conventional assumptions about economics, society, and progress. This collection provides a compelling introduction to Veblen’s ideas and their lasting influence on economics, sociology, and cultural criticism.