Final answer:
Leisure time refers to the pleasant times before or after work when individuals are free to pursue activities and interests of their own choosing, such as hobbies, sports, and reading. Post-WWII America experienced an increase in leisure activities due to economic prosperity and improved work conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to the pleasant times before or after work when individuals are free to pursue activities and interests of their own choosing, such as hobbies, sports, and reading, is 'leisure time'. Post-World War II America saw a substantial increase in leisure activities thanks to more disposable income, labor-saving devices, and a stronger labor movement advocating for better work conditions, including paid vacations and forty-hour work weeks.
As a result, sports like bowling, fishing, boating, and golf gained popularity, and attendance at professional sports games increased markedly. Similarly, the reading habit burgeoned with a thriving paperback market that boosted sales in mysteries, romance novels, and popular fiction. The establishment of youth-focused activities such as scouting and Little League also catered to the cultural shift towards valued leisure time.
Leisure time not only provided a buffer between work and personal life but also offered the chance to engage in various recreational and cultural activities. It was within these leisure moments that people found satisfaction and personal meaning outside of their work.