Adventure and Society

‘Beames, Mackie and Atencio expertly crystallize the interdisciplinary and interconnected nature of how adventure and society interact with finesse and academic rigour.’—Tonia Gray, Associate Professor, Western Sydney University, Australia
‘Adventure and Society opens up much needed discussions on the nature and value of adventure in today’s global village, leading the reader on a journey of discovery and challenging them to reflect on previous assumptions and presuppositions.’—Eric Brymer, Reader, Leeds Beckett University, UK
‘This text offers a wide-ranging analysis of adventure and its function in the lives of people who engage in it. In doing so, the authors challenge readers to critically examine underlying assumptions on which adventure experience is based.’—Bruce Martin, Professor, Ohio University, USA
‘Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the authors carefully track the growth, development and latest trends in adventure sports, to highlight the social, cultural, economic, environmental and political significance of such activities in the lives of individuals, communities and societies around the world.’—Holly Thorpe, Associate Professor, University of Waikato, New Zealand
This book provides a broad overview of the ways in which ‘adventurous practices’ influence, and are influenced by, the world around them. The concept of adventure is one that is too often tackled within subject silos of philosophy, education, tourism, or leisure. While much of the analysis is strong, there is little cross-pollination between disciplines. Adventure and Society pulls together the threads of these discourses into one coherent treatment of the term ‘adventure’ and the role that it plays in human social life of the 21st century. It explores how these practices can be considered more deeply through theoretical discourses of capitalism, identity construction, technology and social media, risk-taking, personal development, equalities, and sustainability. As such, the book speaks to a broad audience of undergraduate and postgraduate students across diverse subject areas, and aims to be an accessible starting point for deeper inquiry.
Simon Beames is Senior Lecturer in Outdoor Education at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Chris Mackie is Associate Lecturer at the University of the Highlands and Islands’ School of Adventure Studiesin Fort William and a PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Matthew Atencio is Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Sport and Social Justiceat California State University East Bay, USA.