Dictionary of concepts in recreation and leisure studies /

The real value of this book is not as a dictionary in the usual sense, in spite of its title. Rather, it is a primer that will serve both the beginner and the serious student as an introduction to major concepts in the field of recreation and leisure studies. Each of the approximately 100 entries, which are arranged alphabetically, contains four sections, the first of which is a brief definition of that concept's current usages, followed by the concept's origins in the context of the discipline. The third section of each entry contains citations for references used in the preceding section, and the fourth part lists sources of additional information. Entries range from elemental concepts--"fun," "leisure"--through theoretical, methodological, and professional concepts, such as "advocacy" and "community development." This book is a very worthwhile addition to the literature, since there is currently no other book that adequately addresses its subject. It would be valuable for any serious collection on recreation and leisure studies at the undergraduate or graduate level. -T. A. Tollman, University of Nebraska at Omaha