Careers in Serious Leisure From Dabbler to Devotee in Search of Fulfilment

Using the framework of the serious leisure perspective, this book explores the concept of career and the question often tackled in mid-life and even upon retirement: 'what to do with the rest of my life?' Apart from the classic economic concerns of pay, health care, fringe benefits, and possible chances for promotion, many people give little careful thought to a career in either work or leisure. In fact, one of the principal themes of this book is that interest in a fulfilment career, even when it leads to deeply attractive work, originates in leisure. If followed, this leads to an efflorescence many years later in amateurism, hobbyism, volunteering, or devotee work. Here participants discover some of the deepest meanings of fulfilment.

Robert A. Stebbins is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology at the University of Calgary, Canada. Among his many books are Serious Leisure: A Perspective for Our Time and The Idea of Leisure, and Planning Your Time in Retirement. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Introduction

1. The Serious Leisure Perspective

2. Starting a Fulfilment Career

3. Amateurism as a Route to Fulfilment

4. Finding Fulfilment in a Hobby

5. Fulfilling Careers in Volunteering

6. Professional Devotee Work

7. Hobbyist and Volunteer Devotee Work

8. The Positive Quest for Fulfilment: Shadows