This text investigates the systemic causes of elite deviance by examining how the concentration of power and wealth in the United States facilitates both criminal and non-criminal acts that inflict widespread societal harm. David R. Simon, a respected scholar in the field of white-collar crime, utilizes a structural framework to analyze the intersection of corporate interests and political corruption. The book synthesizes historical data and contemporary case studies to demonstrate that elite deviance is not merely a collection of individual moral failures, but a predictable outcome of existing economic and political hierarchies.

This work is regarded as a foundational academic resource for students and researchers exploring the intersection of power, wealth, and criminality. The text is noted for its comprehensive scope and its ability to bridge theoretical sociology with practical, real-world examples of elite misconduct.