Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The Leisure Industries is the first book to scan the entire field of leisure from the point of view of leisure providers rather than from a demand-side perspective. Arguing that each type of supplier (commercial, voluntary and public) has special capacities, the text explores the distinctive character and qualities of the main types of leisure, from the "big three" of tourism, the media and hospitality, to activities such as shopping, sport, gambling and "events." Case studies, quotes, empirical data and boxed discussion of key theories all help to structure this text and give it a reader-friendly feel.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• List of tables and boxes (p. viii)
• 1. Introduction (p. 1)
• Why study leisure providers? (p. 1)
• What the leisure industries offer (p. 4)
• Issues (p. 6)
• Analysing the leisure industries (p. 7)
• Part I Providers
• 2. Commercial Leisure (p. 13)
• Introduction (p. 13)
• A brief history of leisure provision (p. 14)
• Critiques of commerce (p. 17)
• Conclusions (p. 21)
• 3. Voluntary Associations (p. 22)
• Introduction (p. 22)
• What is a voluntary association? (p. 23)
• Civil society (p. 24)
• The engine: enthusiasm (p. 29)
• Undermined? (p. 31)
• Coping with success (p. 34)
• Conclusions (p. 37)
• 4. The Public Sector (p. 38)
• Introduction (p. 38)
• The paradox (p. 40)
• The development of public leisure services: the case of the UK (p. 42)
• Incapacities (p. 50)
• Capabilities (p. 54)
• Conclusions (p. 58)
• Part II Provisions
• 5. Tourism (p. 61)
• Introduction (p. 61)
• Creating the modern holiday (p. 63)
• Twentieth-century developments (p. 66)
• Competing for business (p. 68)
• Attractions (p. 69)
• The heritage business (p. 72)
• The cultural dimension (p. 73)
• Why commerce? (p. 75)
• Conclusions (p. 78)
• 6. Sport: Origins and Development (p. 80)
• Introduction (p. 80)
• What is sport? (p. 81)
• The modernisation of sports (p. 83)
• The voluntary base (p. 88)
• Sport and the state (p. 90)
• Conclusions (p. 94)
• 7. Sport: Commercial Inroads (p. 95)
• Introduction (p. 95)
• Losing control (p. 95)
• The limited capabilities of commerce (p. 103)
• Conclusions (p. 107)
• 8. Events (p. 108)
• Introduction (p. 108)
• Types of events (p. 109)
• Who wants events and why? (p. 112)
• Who pays, who benefits? (p. 116)
• Conclusions (p. 120)
• 9. The Media and Popular Culture (p. 121)
• Introduction (p. 121)
• Development (p. 122)
• The Frankfurt School (p. 127)
• Popular culture today (p. 132)
• Conclusions (p. 136)
• 10. The Media: Recent Developments (p. 138)
• Introduction (p. 138)
• The state and the media (p. 139)
• Public service broadcasting (p. 140)
• From public service to commercial industry (p. 142)
• New technology (p. 148)
• Conclusions (p. 152)
• 11. Hospitality and Shopping (p. 153)
• Introduction (p. 153)
• Dining out and the McDonaldization thesis (p. 154)
• Shopping (p. 160)
• Going out for a drink (p. 162)
• Conclusions (p. 167)
• 12. Gambling (p. 168)
• Introduction (p. 168)
• A shady business? (p. 169)
• State control (p. 171)
• Britain's National Lottery (p. 175)
• Cause for concern or celebration? (p. 177)
• Conclusions (p. 181)
• 13. The Arts (p. 182)
• Introduction (p. 182)
• Places and images (p. 183)
• What is art? (p. 183)
• High culture and the class structure (p. 187)
• Arts for all? (p. 188)
• The arts as economic investment (p. 192)
• Image, standards, prestige and identity (p. 194)
• Interrogating arts policy (p. 196)
• Conclusions (p. 197)
• Part III Policies
• 14. Leisure Policies (p. 201)
• Introduction (p. 201)
• Mixed blessings (p. 202)
• Policies in leisure (p. 203)
• Work in leisure (p. 205)
• Seeking sustainability (p. 212)
• Bibliography (p. 215)
• Index (p. 229)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Roberts (sociology, Univ. of Liverpool, UK) presents a treatise on leisure industries--their origins and development and the pervasive hold they have on contemporary society. Roberts' previous works--including Leisure (1970), Leisure in Contemporary Society (1999), and Leisure and Life-Style (1989), which he coedited with Anna Olszerska--laid a solid foundation for the present exploration of one of the 21st century's largest and most rapidly growing industries. The author provides a brief history of the roots of leisure and sport, explores commercial and public-sector leisure services, and delves into government's special interests and relationship with the industry. Tourism, hospitality, gambling, the arts, the media and popular culture, and the future of the leisure industry and its special partnerships with government are also expertly presented and well referenced. Case studies and discussion of key theoretical concepts that identify the different engines that drive the industry serve to structure the text in a reader-friendly fashion. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Collections supporting leisure studies, leisure and sport management, and sport studies and sociology at the upper-division undergraduate level and above. M. L. Krotee North Carolina State University

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Ken Roberts is a Professor of Sociology, University of Liverpool.