What is the place of leisure in societies where people complain of ′over-work′? How do personal freedom and choice relate to the inequalities of class, gender, disability and ethnicity?

This critical introduction to the field offers a systematic account of the meaning and structure of leisure today.

The book:

• situates the student in the field

• provides a comprehensive account of the leading approaches to leisure

• explores the influence of class, race, gender, ethnicity, disability and age

• discusses to role of the sate

• examines leisure in the context of changing work relationships

• locates leisure in the debate around globalization

In short, this is an indispensable, one-stop guide to understanding leisure.