Rosemary Deem provides students with a concise introduction to a range of issues and debates surrounding work, unemployment and leisure in contemporary societies. Beginning with an examination of the social and historical factors which have shaped work and leisure patterns in modern Britain, she shows how the boundaries between them are culturally constructed and change over time. As well as looking at the effects of class, Work, Unemployment and Leisure also considers gender, race and ethnicity dimensions. The author takes a wide view of work, encompassing work carried out both within and outside the formal economy. The chapter on unemployment considers the lives of those who are unemployed, and the impact of unemployment on work and leisure. There is a critical analysis of leisure itself and some recent controversies are considered. The final chapter contains a discussion of the future of work and leisure in industrial societies.