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.