ABSTRACT
This chapter has two aims. The first is to explore the key themes of this volume through a re-reading of existing texts. The second aim is to show that the themes of body and embodiment are not simply added on to other kinds of analysis, as an interesting but relatively marginal addition. And that they constitute (or should constitute) an integral part of the analysis. Again this is somewhat similar to a gendered re-reading of existing texts, which takes place all the time. Another basis for the selection of texts to be re-analysed is through the identification of two main and long-standing concerns the sociology of work and employment. The first is to do with alienation and the meaning of work. The chapter discusses three fairly general and more theoretical texts which both deal with these themes (among others) and which have provided the basis for some subsequent analysis.
