ABSTRACT
The phrase "serious leisure perspective" is the author-given name for the theoretic framework that synthesizes three main forms of leisure, known as serious leisure, casual leisure, and project-based leisure. A similar problem undermines the suggestion made by that serious leisure be called "committed leisure." This chapter takes a look at the basics of serious leisure. It presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book aims to provide a stand-alone, though reasonably in-depth statement of the serious leisure perspective, which serves both the scholarly community and the larger public who want to learn about it. Somewhat more attention is given to recreational specialization as it now plays a more visible role in the serious leisure side of the Perspective. While research and theorizing continue in the area of flow, work is also being carried out on other aspects of serious leisure.
