This book carries on the process, initiated by Bryan Turner in his seminal work "The Body and Society", of re-establishing the importance of the body to the social sciences and the humanities. This volume reasserts the centrality of the body within social theory as a means to understanding the complex inter-relations between nature, culture and society. At a theoretical level, the volume explores the origins of a social theory of the body in sources ranging from the work of Nietzche to contemporary feminist theory. The importance of theoretical understanding of the body to social and cultural analysis of contemporary societies is demonstrated through specific case studies. These range from the expression of the emotions, romantic love, dietary practice, consumer culture, fitness and beauty, to media images of women and sexuality.