The serious leisure perspective (SLP) is a way of looking at leisure activities and how people experience them. This website contains a page describing the basic concepts and propositions of the Perspective.  It also contains a biographical page on Robert A. Stebbins, who coined the term "serious leisure" and pioneered, through exploratory research, this form of leisure as well as two other forms: casual and project-based leisure. The serious leisure perspective bridges and synthesizes these three. Other features of the website include:

■ Bibliography (list of publications bearing on the Perspective from 1976) 
■ Biography of Robert A. Stebbins (originator of the serious leisure perspective) 
■ Conferences (notices and programs of relevant conferences)
■ Contacts (how to reach the developers of this site)
■ Digital Library (collection of full-text publications)
■ History of the Perspective (a chronological sketch since 1973) 
■ Illustrations of the Perspective (shows the perspective in action) 
■ Leisure Education (bridging the gap between theory and research and leisure provision) 
■ New Works (list of publications over past 2-3 years in the area) 
■ Researchers (names, addresses, interests of people studying the Perspective) 
 
Homo Otiosus (leisure man) is a fascinating creature and an increasingly important figure in our time. These pages - the serious leisure perspective - show why this is so.
 
This site, launched in April, 2006, was built by Robert A.Stebbins (University of Calgary) and Jenna Hartel  (University of Toronto), and was significantly revised in October, 2011. In this regard, both of us welcome comments, suggested additions, and recommended changes to it. This invitation signals our intention to make this a community site for researchers, practitioners, and the interested lay public, a site where all who are interested in serious, casual, and project-based leisure can find stimulation in their approach to leisure.
 
Thanks for taking time to visit The Serious Leisure Perspective.