This article discusses the concept of the gift in the work of Pierre Bourdieu and the various sociological approaches to gift-giving. Bourdieu viewed gift-giving as a form of social alchemy and political strategy, rather than solely an economic transaction. He perceived the exchange of gifts as a means of establishing lasting relationships and constructing fields and markets of symbolic goods. The article also explores Bourdieu's repeated focus on the gift throughout his intellectual career and the central role it played in his overall approach. There are two main streams of sociological thought on gift-giving, one emphasizing reciprocity and the other highlighting the political and social implications of gift-giving.