The Essai sur le Don

*The Essai sur le Don* by Marcel Mauss is a foundational work that explores how gift-giving shapes social relationships. Mauss argues that giving, receiving, and repaying gifts create bonds and obligations that maintain community cohesion. These exchanges go beyond material value, involving feelings of reciprocity and mutual respect. The work highlights that gift-giving is a fundamental social act found in many cultures, illustrating how human societies build trust and solidarity through these cycles of giving and receiving. It emphasizes that gifts are not just items but expressions of social connection and moral duty.