Book excerpt: Best known as the author of the acclaimed book, The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899), Thorstein Veblen was much more than a one-book wonder. He is in fact a seminal classical sociologist who made many original contributions to the study of culture and society. This inspired selection conveys the full zest and penetrating insights of Veblen′s writings.The collection comes with a full-length essay which demonstrates the continuing relevance of Veblen′s sociology.