Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Leisure Sciences journal, this book focuses on where it and leisure sciences (as a field) started and what the future might hold for both. The foremost scholars in our field dialogue, debate, critique, and reflect on leisure studies’ progress and future. Authors consider and write about the key issues and controversies of the field, developments we should be celebrating, and directions of study we should be pursing. Scholars also consider research gaps that exist in leisure research, issues we should be thinking about, and where we are now in relation to where previous projections expected. Topics in this book include: race, ethnicity, immigration, and leisure; ‘risky’ leisure research; critical leisure studies; leisure and social isolation; radical leisure; and post-qualitative radical ontology. The chapters were originally published as a special issue of Leisure Sciences.

Learning to resolve a dilemma ethically is a complex skill that recreation leaders and managers must learn in order to be successful, because they face ethical issues every day. They must ask themselves, "What is the right thing to do in this situation?" "Is my decision ethical for everyone involved?" "How will my decision affect each of the stakeholders--and my career?" Teaching applied ethics requires an understanding of how moral dilemmas can be justly resolved as well as techniques and approaches to accomplish these goals. Issues in Recreation and Leisure: Ethical Decision Making guides students though this complex process of resolving real-life recreation dilemmas by presenting activities, techniques, and a field-tested three-step process. This process helps students develop sound approaches to dealing with contemporary issues in leisure and recreation. In addition, this text contains the following features: -Thematic chapters that address current major issues in recreation management, therapeutic recreation, outdoor recreation, tourism, and culture so that students can comprehend the range of issues in these diverse areas of recreation -Eight case studies based on current dilemmas from a variety of recreation and leisure settings, providing students with valuable practice in applying the three-step method for resolving ethical dilemmas -Learning activities in each chapter that help students apply leisure philosophy to resolve dilemmas Part I explores ethics in leisure services and examines how dilemmas are naturally solved. It covers ethical theory and introduces a three-step method that can be widely applied. Students learn how recreation professionals worked through an actual dilemma and how their problem-solving strategies affect their solutions and their careers. Part II presents real-life dilemmas common to a variety of leisure management areas, ethical issues in therapeutic recreation, and problems in outdoor education. The authors also tackle various issues surrounding tourism, including culture, sex tourism, the natural environment, and virtual tourism. Part III contains a consideration of professionalism in parks and recreation and related fields, a peek into the future, and eight contemporary case studies drawn from leisure services fields. These case studies test students' abilities to apply ethical problem solving by using the three-step method presented earlier in the book. The studies present issues in four major areas of recreation and leisure. Issues in Recreation and Leisure: Ethical Decision Making provides new insights into the recreation and leisure profession. It comes with a flexible format that can be used for one- to three-credit-hour courses in recreation issues. It arms students with the theory and knowledge they need for ethically resolving dilemmas. As such, it prepares them to make a difference as effective leisure service providers.

A unique, international resource for Leisure Studies: in one volume the history, organization and central debates in the field of Leisure Studies are defined, providing a one-stop-shop for students and an agenda for future debate and research academics.

We are entering a new era of leisure. Quality rather than quantity is now the focus of researchers, policymakers and managers. Technological change, an ageing population and a harsh economic climate are changing the values and practices of leisure, as well as the relationship between leisure, society and the individual. Contemporary Perspectives in Leisure uses a variety of disciplinary approaches to introduce the most important trends in contemporary leisure in the Twenty-First Century. With contributions from some of the leading international figures in modern leisure studies, the book examines key philosophical and theoretical debates around leisure, with reference to concepts such as happiness, enjoyment and quality of life, as well as the most interesting contemporary themes in leisure studies, from youth leisure and ‘dark’ leisure to technology and adventure. Understanding changes in leisure helps us to better understand changes in wider society. Contemporary Perspectives in Leisure is a perfect companion to any course in leisure studies, and useful reading for any student or scholar working in sociology, cultural studies, recreation, tourism, sport, or social psychology.

With a new full-color design with perforated worksheets, the Tenth Edition of Kraus' Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society provides a detailed introduction to the history, developments, and current trends in leisure studies. It addresses contemporary issues facing the recreation and leisure profession and focuses on challenges and opportunities that impact the profession now as well as years from now. Extensive research into emerging trends helps support the text and provide insights into the future. Focusing on the ten different types of organizations --ranging from nonprofit community organizations and armed forces recreation to sports management and travel and tourism sponsors -- this classic text text is an invaluable resource for students considering a career in the recreation and leisure industry. New to the Tenth Edition: - Discusses how specific trends, such as dramatic shifts in population make-up, the impact of technology, and marketing affect leisure-service systems and the recreation and park professions. - Focus on the role of parks and recreation on the health and wellness of our communities as well as means to combat the obesity epidemic in North America. - Includes new case studies which allow students to apply knowledge of technology in leisure, identify the value and benefits of play, and recognize the changing family structures of our modern society.

Dr. Jan Louise Jones, Southern Connecticut State University --Book Jacket.

This edited collection explores Positive Sociology of Leisure (PSL) as a subfield relating to leisure studies, sociology of leisure, and sociology of happiness. Defined as an area of research that examines social aspects of leisure life with a focus on the optimal functioning of relationship, group, community, organization, and other social units, PSL differs from more critical forms of sociology in that its starting point is social positives. The contributions draw on a range of diverse disciplinary backgrounds to consider various meanings of leisure across themes such as: ageing; sex, sexuality and family; community, youth, and education; and arts and creativity. Positive Sociology of Leisure will be a key reference within the field of sociology of leisure, as well as an important introductory book for those interested in leisure studies.