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.