Globalization, economic development and changes in social environments have put the relationships between work, leisure, social structure and quality of life under the spotlight. Profound transformations in the nature and organization of work are occurring, with potentially far-reaching social and economic consequences. Increasingly, organizations demand greater flexibility from their workforces and are introducing new technologies and practices in response to global competitive pressures. At the same time many employees are experiencing long working hours, increasing workloads and job insecurity, along with the challenge of balancing work and domestic responsibilities. These changes threaten long-term gain in leisure time while, simultaneously, the leisure environment is also changing radically, as we see increasing commercialization and professionalization of leisure services and experiences, the influence of the Internet, the rise of gambling and the decline of community-based activity.
Exploring all of these issues, this book brings together specially commissioned chapters from international experts in a wide range of disciplines concerned with work, leisure and well-being. Each author takes stock of the current position, identifies core practical and theoretical issues and discusses possible future trends in order to provide an invaluable resource for all policy-makers, educators, employers and researchers in the field.
J.T. Haworth, A.J. Veal, Introduction. Part 1: The Changing Face of Work and Leisure. A.J. Veal, A Brief History of Work and its Relationship to Leisure. C. Critcher, P. Bramham,The Devil Still Makes Work. C. Rojek, Postmodern Work and Leisure. J. White, Gender, Work and Leisure. C. Gratton, P. Taylor, The Economics of Work and Leisure. A.J. Veal, Looking Back: Perspectives on the Leisure-Work Relationship. Part 2: Quality of Life and Work and Leisure. J. Zuzanek, Work, Time, Time-Pressure and Stress. B. Schneider, A.M. Ainbinder, M. Csikszentmihalyi, Stress and Working Parents. J.T. Haworth, Work, Leisure, and Well-Being. S.E. Iso-Ahola, R.C. Mannell, Leisure and Health. R.A. Stebbins, Serious Leisure, Volunteerism and Quality of Life. J.T. Haworth, A.J. Veal, Work and Leisure: Themes and Issues.
Biography
John T. Haworth is Research Associate, Centre for Social Change and Wellbeing, and Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Fine Arts, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
A. J. Veal is Adjunct Professor, School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.
'As a result of reviewing this book, I as an educator of nearly four decades have been placed in a strategic position of appreciating how leisure copes and negotiates its way in a radically changing and unpredictable environment. Congratulations to editors John Haworth and Tony Veal for this excellent contribution to the fields of Work and Leisure.' - Francis Lobo, Edith Cowan University Australia, in World Leisure Journal Vol. 48, No. 1, 2006
'Here is a book that smashes discipline boundaries and addresses one of the 21st Century’s really big issues. The economy is more productive than ever. Leisure and spending are still on the rise. So why are we no happier? This book supplies answers. The chapters, all by specialists in their field, review what is known about how our jobs and how we use the rest of our time affect our well-being, positively and negatively.' – Ken Roberts, Department of Sociology, University of Liverpool
