ABSTRACT

WE CAN UNDERSTAND the life of a community in part if we know about the work people do and how they behave with respect to their work. We use the term "in part" because what to many in the urban community is of greatest interest does not concern their work time as much as their free time. This observation is increasingly applicable when we compare the life of communities from the least urban to the most urban. When we ask what people do when they are not working or going to work or coming from work, we are confronted with a vast and lively mixture of answers. Not only do urbanites engage in thousands of different activities when not working, but we must recognize that they are likely to enter these activities with more zest than most of them exhibit when occupied with their work. Admitting various exceptions, we must conclude that urban life for most urban people appears to be concentrated on leisure interests or in getting the money needed to enjoy leisure.