About the Book
Working Hypothesis: A culture that neglects leisure, neglects a society's wellbeing.
Methodology: Our research approach involved two types of data collection. Our primary method has involved an extensive review of the literature for more than four decades. A second approach to gathering data involved careful observation and interviews of numerous individuals in various settings.
Book Organization:The book can be broken down into three major sections. The first five chapters were written so as to provide the reader with the background knowledge for understanding the topics covered in this text. Most authors discuss the topic of leisure using either the word leisure o recreation and frequently interchangeably. We use three terms in our discussion. - leisure, recreation, and Wreckreation. (this latter word is the author's conception of the "dark side" o leisure. These words will be clearly explained in the text.
The second section of our book consists of six chapters. In these chapters we explain how Wreckreation is influencing the five primary institutions that shape individuals, and which passes on cultural values, and provide, social, economic and emotional stability to each individual. We illustrate how the family, education, business, government, and religion as institution are not functioning as well as they should because the "dark side" of leisure distorts an individual's perception of what is o true value. The sixth chapter provides the reader with a story based on history to illustrate that what we are pointing out in our text is not some new phenomenon. As has been stated by others regarding other topics,"there is nothing new under the sun".
In the last six chapters, we explain to the reader that Wreckreation is a myopic condition that many individuals currently experience. We also explain the reader the reason why we believe that this condition is not a reflection of mental illness. We also attempt to explain to the reade, so they may understand, the reason why most individuals do not pursue a healthier path to meeting their needs. Toward the end o the text, we make our recommendations on how our society might be able to manage our current situation so that our society may live up to the expectations that many have in regard to
