Stress and tension run at record levels. Contemporary leisure habits have not helped to address our modern, lifestyle anxieties. Philosophical tradition does contain valuable insights into living more happily and freely through leisure, but these have rarely been plundered by contemporary philosophers.

In this book Hayden Ramsay introduces an older wisdom on breaking up our stresses and developing leisure choices tha offer deep, on-going recreation. The reflective life is the key to a richer active life. He discusses ways in which this philosophy supports insights of leisure studies experts and sociologists who have been arguing much the same for some time. The book contains critique of consumerist leisure, suggestions on balancing leisure and work, and discussion of leisure and the arts.

In four of the chapters, the author discusses particular areas of leisure - sport, travel, reading and music - and argues for more playful and more reflective approaches to all of these.

Review

'...an exciting and engaging book that...provides an excellent and rare application of sharp philosophical insight into the psychological, moral, and cultural basis of our engagement in Leisure.' - Dr Carwyn Jones, University of Wales Institute Cardiff

'The idea of leisure needs careful philosophical exploration if it is to be saved from trivialization or appropriated as another consumerist value. Hayden Ramsay's book provides just that exploration. He examines the philosophical tradition within which the concept of value has been best developed, and shows how the idea is part of an understanding of the nature and meaning of human action. This is an absorbing and very helpful study.' - John Haldane, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Ethics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, University of St. Andrews, UK

About the Author

HAYDEN RAMSAY is Professor of Philosophy at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family, Melbourne. He has taught at the Universities of Edinburgh, Stirling, Melbourne, and La Trobe, and has published books and articles on ethics, history of philosophy, and religion.