This book is a lively and highly accessible introduction to the sociology of the body. It examines what certain aspects of our bodies, such as the size, shape, smell and demeanor, reveal about the social organization of everyday life and how the body is crucial to the way we engage with the world and the people around us. * Accessible introduction to the complex topic of the sociology of the body.

* Examines what certain aspects of our bodies, such as the size, shape, smell and demeanor, reveal about the social organization of everyday life.

* Introduces students to the key theoretical perspectives and conceptual frameworks which help us to understand the social significance of the human body.

* Uses examples with which readers will have familiarity, such as eating and sleeping.