This book provides an up-to-date text on issues relating to leisure and society. The issues are related to theoretical debates about consumerism, lifestyles and identities. Set in a sociological context, it examines how leisure is being reshaped by broader changes in the economy and work roles, gender divisions and the shape of the life course. One of the themes investigated is why Western societies are dividing into the time-rich money-poor, and the time-poor money-rich. Other themes include the destandardisation of time schedules, individualisation and leisure, gender and leisure, leisure careers and the life course, and the power of consumer culture. The book incorporates material from sociological debates, research on postmodernity, consumer cultures and lifestyles.The author is recognized internationally as a major contributor to the development of the sociology of leisure over the last 30 years.