This text investigates the systemic causes of elite deviance by examining the intersection of power, wealth, and institutional corruption within the United States. David R. Simon, a scholar in the field of sociology and criminology, utilizes a structural framework to analyze how elite actors—both corporate and political—engage in harmful behaviors that often evade traditional criminal justice scrutiny. The book argues that these acts are not merely individual moral failings but are deeply embedded in the socioeconomic architecture of American society.

The text is widely regarded as a foundational resource for students and researchers exploring the intersection of white-collar crime and political sociology. Its systematic approach to categorizing elite harm provides a clear, academic lens for understanding the complexities of power in modern society.