Currid-Halkett's 2017 book, The Sum of Small Things: A Theory of the Aspirational Class, analyzes the role of culture in signifying class in America today.[7] Drawing from Thorstein Veblen's original treatise, The Theory of the Leisure Class, Currid-Halkett argues that unlike conventional "conspicuous consumption" today's elite, whom she calls the "aspirational class" spend on "inconspicuous consumption", expensive but largely immaterial investments.[8][9] This "cultural elite" use their wealth towards goods and services such as education, domestic services and health care, all of which save time and shore up privilege for themselves and their offspring.[10][11] Currid-Halkett argues that this cultural capital contributes to growing inequality in America.