In this book, rather than viewing play simply as a preoccupation of the young and a vehicle for skill development, Thomas S. Henricks argues that its a social and cultural phenomenon of adult life, enveloped by wider structures and processes of society. In that context, he argues that a truly sociological approach to play should begin with a consideration of the largely overlooked writings on play and play-related topics by some of the classic sociological thinkers of the twentieth century.