The Labour of Leisure: The Culture of Free Time Book

A very informative book covering a number of topics linked to ethnic conflict. The text emphasized the United States covering Native Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanics, Jews and Whites over the time span of the last few centuries. It also used Brazil, South Africa, Northern Ireland, Canada as well as Western Europe as international case studies. Marger crams information into this book and occasionally disrupts the text flow with tables and diagrams. The book could have benefited with some photos interspersed here and there accompanied by case studies. The text generalizes quite a bit so it is easy to lose track of that one is actually studying the lives of human beings. Beyond that caveat the read was quite worthwhile adding new information and perspectives to a multiethnic and global world. Unfortunately, ethnic conflict prevails and is likely to continue into the foreseeable future. Marger's book certainly helps a reader to understand and ideally navigate these waters better. It was not very exciting experience to read this text, but certainly worthwhile.