About The Theory of the Leisure Class
What it's about
Why do people buy things they don't need? Thorstein Veblen explains that we want wealth for respect, that the rich show it off through 'conspicuous consumption', and that much of what we call beauty is really admiration for a high price.
Who it's for
Anyone curious about luxury brands, status and social media spending, and students of economics and sociology who have heard of 'Veblen goods'.
- Level
- CEFR B2
- Length
- 3 parts · about 645 words
- Reading time
- about 6 minutes (~2 min per part)
- Author
- Thorstein Veblen
If you liked this, read
- The Wealth of Nations · B2
- Walden · B2
- On Liberty · B2
Looking for something easier or harder? See Easy English books by level (A1–B2).
Reading The Theory of the Leisure Class in English: quick answers
- What English level is The Theory of the Leisure Class on SeoJae Story?
- The Theory of the Leisure Class by Thorstein Veblen is retold in simplified English at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate). It is split into 3 short parts, and every sentence has a Korean translation you can show or hide, so a learner at that level can follow the story without a dictionary.
- Is The Theory of the Leisure Class hard to read in English?
- The original is written for native readers, with long sentences and older vocabulary, so most learners find it hard. This retelling keeps the story but uses simpler English at CEFR B2 (upper-intermediate), so if you read English at that level you can follow it, and the Korean translation is there for any line that stops you. If it feels too hard, start with an easier book one level down.
- How long does it take to read The Theory of the Leisure Class in simple English?
- About 6 minutes of reading in total — roughly 2 minutes per part across 3 parts. Listening to the audio narration, reviewing the vocabulary and taking each part's comprehension check adds a little more.
- Is this the full, unabridged text of The Theory of the Leisure Class?
- No. It is an abridged graded retelling written for English learners that follows the story of the original in 3 parts. Every part also lets you read the matching unabridged chapters from the original, split into short readings.
- Is The Theory of the Leisure Class free to read here?
- Yes. All 3 parts are free to read online, with the Korean translation, audio narration, vocabulary flashcards and comprehension questions included.
- Is The Theory of the Leisure Class in the public domain?
- Yes. Thorstein Veblen's The Theory of the Leisure Class is in the public domain, and the original text is freely available from Project Gutenberg (eBook #833). SeoJae Story's simplified retelling and Korean translation are original text written for learners.