Social theorists have claimed that modern life, being increasingly risky and uncertain, is profoundly affecting experiences of everyday life and our sense of self. Drawing upon empirical and theoretical work on young people's risk taking and leisure, this book examines such claims in detail. Various authors apply and respond to notions of "risk society" by grounding such ideas in specific perceptions of risk and practices of risk management, revealing the complexity of risk and its social and gender specific nature.

Social theorists have claimed that modern life is increasingly risky and uncertain and is profoundly effecting experiences of everyday-life and our sense of self. Drawing upon empirical and theoretical work of young people's risk-taking and leisure, this book examines such claims in detail. Indeed, young people interviewed tell their own stories of balancing the pleasures and anxieties of such everyday risks as drug-taking, prostitution, gang-life, aggressive driving, drinking and sex.