Clavé (tourism geography, University Rovira i Virgili, Catalonia, Spain) outlines the operation, strategies, finance, and marketing of theme parks and analyzes the global theme park industry. He discusses their development and globalization; profiles major theme park operators such as Disney, Six Flags, and Universal, as well as some around the world; and examines the commercialization of leisure, urbanism of theme parks and spatial innovation, their economic, environmental, social, and cultural impact, and their development as destinations. The final section covers park development and management, including the basic principles of planning and the architectonic design. His study is based on photographs, sketches, field books, and field work done in the US and Europe. Case studies of parks in Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the US are incorporated. The book is aimed at students in leisure and tourism management, and practitioners in the industry. In addition to the subject index, geographical, parks and attractions, and company indexes are included. Distributed by Oxford U. Press. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)