Changing Bodies: Habit, Crisis and Creativity (Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society)

Where are we at with studies of Body & Society? What are the key accomplishments in the field? This book provides the clearest and most comprehensive account of work in this area to date. Featuring a series of studies on sport, transgenderism, migration, illness, survival and belief, it illuminates the relationship between bodily change and action. Chris Shilling's book provides an unrivalled survey of theory and empirical research and explores the hitherto neglected tradition of American 'body studies'. Wide in scope, systematic and incisive the book represents a landmark addition to the field of studies in body and society. 'In this new book, Chris Shilling once again seeks to redefine the parameters of the sociology of the body. Drawing on the ideas of pragmatism and the social research of the Chicago school, Shilling analyses many of the contemporary crises and transitions that challenge embodied habit and character, concluding that in many cases embodied individuals find the creative capacity for transcendence of their current social and material contexts. This is essential reading for all those in search of a sophisticated theoretical and methodological basis for the study of embodied action that resists a simplistic 'inverted Cartesianism' - **Dr Ian Burkitt, University of Bradford** Where are we at with studies of Body & Society? What are the key accomplishments in the field? This book provides the clearest and most comprehensive account of work in this area to date. Based on a novel theory of action it surveys the terrain by arguing that human identity, social relationships and moral figurations develop as a result of people living in and seeking to reach beyond the limits of their bodily being. From this starting point the author undertakes a series of studies on sport, transgenderism, migration, illness, survival and belief which illuminate the relationship between bodily change and action. The book provides an unrivalled survey of theory and empirical research and explores the hitherto neglected tradition of American ′body studies′. Wide in scope, systematic and incisive the book represents a landmark addition to the field of studies in body and society. Contents 8 1 - Introduction 10 2 - Embodying Social Action 17 3 - Embodying Social Research 35 4 - Competing 53 5 - Presenting 73 6 - Moving 94 7 - Ailing 113 8 - Surviving 134 9 - Believing 153 10 - Conclusion 171 Bibliography 180 Name Index 204 Subject Index 210 Where are we at with studies of the body and society? What are the key accomplishments in the field? This title provides the clearest and most comprehensive account of work in this area