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Marcel Mauss, Durkheim´s nephew, was the first scholar to refer to the sociological aspect of the body, affirming that it is the very first and the most natural "tool" of mankind. This work, which is written in the format of a typical textbook; deals with the sociological aspects of the human body and issues of health. Some of the specific topics elaborated here may be listed as follows: The "relative" nature of beauty; interfering with the natural growth of body-parts merely due to cultural and historical grounds; social and psychological consequences of epidemics along the course of history; attitudes towards death which change with modern times; substance addiction as a social disaster of the modern times; the evolution of industrial work & the related employee-health aspects; some "softened" knowledge about poisons and toxicology in general; kinds of occupations and related health issues as well as the professions´ effects on the lives of all family members.

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Assoc. Prof. Sinan €aya, Ph.D., is a member of the Sociology Department of Istinye University, in Istanbul.

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