Whatever happened to the leisure society?

Veal, AJ

Whatever happened to the leisure society?

Veal, AJ

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Publisher:: Routledge
Publication Type:: Book
Citation:: 2019, pp. 1-296
Issue Date:: 2019-08-15

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Veal, AJ
dc.date.accessioned	2022-08-04T23:14:41Z
dc.date.available	2022-08-04T23:14:41Z
dc.date.issued	2019-08-15
dc.identifier.citation	2019, pp. 1-296
dc.identifier.isbn	1138289647
dc.identifier.isbn	9781138289642
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/159627
dc.description.abstract	The idea of a 'leisure society' was in its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was predicted that the pattern of falling working hours which had been experienced in Western societies in the first half of the twentieth century would continue indefinitely. The leisure society has clearly not been realised. On the contrary: contemporary industrial societies seem to be characterised by a shortage of time, experienced as 'time squeeze' and stress. The leisure society idea can be seen as the modern version of the age-old dream of a 'life of ease and plenty'. This analytically and empirically rich book traces the idea in history, through biblical, classical Greek, medieval and nineteenth century utopian writings and into twentieth century concerns with dystopia and the impact of rapid technological change. The 'leisure society' concept turns out to have been an elusive and short-lived phenomenon. For a variety of reasons, the trend towards shorter working hours ran out of steam in the last quarter of the twentieth century. However, while leisure scholars have deserted the topic, a diverse range of activists, including environmentalists, economists and feminists, continue to make the case for reducing working hours. Whatever Happened to the Leisure Society? concludes that the on-going 'struggle for time' should be supported, for the sake of human health and well-being and for the sake of the planet. This is a valuable resource for students and academics in the fields of leisure studies, cultural studies, history, economics, sociology and political science.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Routledge
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.4324/9781315267098
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.title	Whatever happened to the leisure society?
dc.type	Book
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business/Management Discipline
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2022-08-04T23:14:40Z
pubs.place-of-publication	UK
pubs.publication-status	Published
dc.location	UK

Abstract:

The idea of a 'leisure society' was in its heyday in the 1960s and 1970s, when it was predicted that the pattern of falling working hours which had been experienced in Western societies in the first half of the twentieth century would continue indefinitely. The leisure society has clearly not been realised. On the contrary: contemporary industrial societies seem to be characterised by a shortage of time, experienced as 'time squeeze' and stress. The leisure society idea can be seen as the modern version of the age-old dream of a 'life of ease and plenty'. This analytically and empirically rich book traces the idea in history, through biblical, classical Greek, medieval and nineteenth century utopian writings and into twentieth century concerns with dystopia and the impact of rapid technological change. The 'leisure society' concept turns out to have been an elusive and short-lived phenomenon. For a variety of reasons, the trend towards shorter working hours ran out of steam in the last quarter of the twentieth century. However, while leisure scholars have deserted the topic, a diverse range of activists, including environmentalists, economists and feminists, continue to make the case for reducing working hours. Whatever Happened to the Leisure Society? concludes that the on-going 'struggle for time' should be supported, for the sake of human health and well-being and for the sake of the planet. This is a valuable resource for students and academics in the fields of leisure studies, cultural studies, history, economics, sociology and political science.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/159627