With this Handbook leisure studies comes of age. It provides the most complete, authoritative guide to the roots, current issues and future of the field. Drawing on a formidable list of leading international contributors, the Handbook is organized into five parts. Part 1: Origins, examines western and non-western traditions in leisure studies. It demonstrates the inter-disciplinary roots of the subject and provides a compelling framework for locating leisure studies. Part 2: Key Disciplines, surveys and evaluates the distinctive approaches of sociology, psychology and social psychology; geography; economics; politics and public policy. Part 3: Axial Principles, examines the institutions of power in which leisure form and practice is situated: time; work; gender; ageing; race; class; subculture; consumption and mass communication. Part 4: Forms and Settings, explores on-location behaviour in leisure; outdoor recreation; tourism; eating out; family leisure; education; serious leisure. Part 5: Indexical Themes, situates leisure forms and practice in the context of power, knowledge, economy and society. It examines questions of identity; representation; praxis; articulation; community and resistance.
The result is a landmark work in the field. It defines what has been accomplished and it suggests exciting and relevant new directions for study.
