Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929) was an unrelenting critic of the American way
of life. In his first and best-known work, The Theory of the Leisure Class,
Verblen defined the social attitudes and values that condoned the misuse of
wealth and the variety of way in which the resources of modern society were
wasted. Though most famous for the term "conspicuous consumption", he also
attacked other American institutions and traditions, but his ideas on society
were often dismissed because of his reputation as an eccentric. Veblen remains
an intriguing figure in American intellectual history, and this important work,
undertaken by Patsouras, attempts both to unravel the riddles that surround his
reputation and to assess his varied and important contributions to modern
social theory. By setting Veblen's work in its sociological and intellectual
context, and by considering Veblen not just as an economist or sociologist - as
has been the case up to now - Patsouras also examines Veblen's politics, in
particular the early manifestations of American socialism and anarchism, as
well as his support for labour unions.