This text is designed to bring the reader closer to the world of occupation. The new edition probes more deeply into the meanings of everyday occupation and offers opportunities to the reader for personal reflection about day-to-day occupational patterns. The continuing emphasis of this edition is on everyday occupation as experience. It motivates occupational therapists to think about how occupation is experienced in everyday life, to absorb the complexity of meanings imbedded in daily life, and to value the personal and social significance of everyday occupation in their own and their clients' lives. Throughout, the text focuses on the ways in which daily occupation contributes to meaning in our lives, providing a sound understanding of the daily routines and activities to which we so often give little attention. Emerging trends in occupational therapy are also examined, focusing on strengthened globalization, the movement toward populations and systems as clients, and the increasing emphasis on experiential definitions of occupation in education, practice and research.

Meaning : an essential for life -- Meaning in everyday occupation -- Space and place : sources of meaning in occupation -- Culture and occupation : the experience of similarity and difference -- Occupation as a source of well-being and development -- Occupation as meaningful connection -- Disability and occupation -- Occupation as a source of spirituality -- Creativity in occupation as a source of meaning -- Occupation speaks : final thoughts.