In a World Full of Junk, Veblen Book Is a Keeper

Re “Deep-Fat Fryers in Deep-Seated Desuetude,” by Stephen Bayley, Commentary, April 1: I read Thorstein Veblen’s “Theory of the Leisure Class” back in the 1960s for a university economics class. I adored the 1899 book, as it seemingly explained my ‘60s fascination with acquiring more and more of everything. As an Advanced Placement English teacher at Chatsworth High School, I am always trying to make connections between nonfiction classics like Veblen’s and the real world of my students. I don’t assign the whole book but, rather, chapters. The kids really get this stuff.

Of course we also study Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden,” in which he espouses his transcendental philosophy of simplicity, which notes that owning more than 10 of anything is excessive. Thanks for printing Bayley’s comments on the relevance of Veblen today. My students will be impressed; they think I’m the only person who finds Veblen interesting.

Sondra Zeldin

Calabasas