Product Description
In a historical account of the development of cognitive anthropology, Roy D'Andrade examines how cultural knowledge is organized within and between human minds. He begins by examining research carried out in the 1950s and 1960s concerned with how different cultures classify kinship relationships and the natural environment, and then traces the development of more complex cognitive theories of classification in anthropology that took place in the 1970s and 1980s. Finally, current work involving cultural models, emotion, motivation, and action is considered, along with a cognitive perspective on the nature of culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

From cultural categories to connectionist models
D'Andrade's Development of Cognitive Anthropology provides a much-needed historical overview of this branch of psychological anthropology since the 1950s.It is especially useful for two reasons.First, it draws togetherstudies from a diverse set of related fields: cross-cultural psychology,psycholinguistics, developmental psychology, ethnoscience and latestructuralist anthropology, and modern connectionist theory in cognitivepsychology.Cognitive anthropologists, unlike most other socio-culturalanthropologists, have tended to produce articles in specialist journals,rather than accessible books.(This is now changing, with severalexcellent books published in the 1990s by D'Andrade, Claudia Strauss, NaomiQuinn, and Bradd Shore, among others.)This book provides a summary of ourknowledge about cross-cultural variation in many areas of human cognition,which would otherwise be very difficult to find.Second, D'Andrade drawson his own experience as a key player in this field since the late 1950s,showing the intellectual genealogies within the field, and showing thesuccession of unifying concepts leading up to modern connectionist theory.

How Culture Impacts Psychological Processes
Overall, an informative glimspse of the fairly short history, and important aspects of cognitive anthropology.This work starts out detailing the initial concepts which helped form, what is today, a growingbranch of anthropology.Dr. D'Andrade's format for DCA makes itscontents and important concepts extremely organized and accessible,respectively.Although many may initially consider this topic dry, whenDr. D'Andrade delves into schema theories, cultural models andpsychological and cognitive processes the reader's interest is sure toheighten.This is in part due to the manner in which the information canimmediately be applied to an analysis of one's self.Though this iscertainly not a text whose value may be truly appreciated with a quickone-time-over, there is a wealth of fascinating, well-structured andexampled information available for those willing to invest some thought. ... Read more

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As a practical bridge between the classroom and the field, this down-to-earth, hands-on collection offers an impressive range of insightful, focused vignettes about cultural research that will jumpstart students’ thinking about the practice of anthropology. Reflecting the contributions of nearly two dozen practicing social scientists, each clearly written chapter of Doing Cultural Anthropology covers the fundamentals of a different data-collection technique. Following an overview of a particular ethnographic method, each author describes his or her own research project and shows how that technique is utilized. Learning-by-doing remains the thrust of the latest edition, which includes two new chapters plus significant revisions to five of the original contributions. Each chapter ends with suggestions for student projects that promote firsthand exposure to what ethnographers actually do. Readers are given just enough information to appreciate the technique and to practice it for themselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Service
I ordered this book and about 5 days later I recieved it, so I didn't have to wait very long. The book was in excellent condition.

... Read more

Product Description
Lassiter's accessible introduction to anthropology encourages students to evaluate its relevance in our increasingly complex world. Part I focuses on the underlying assumptions and concepts that have driven anthropological theory and practice since its modern inception. Part II explores cross-cultural human issues showing how anthropological studies offer relevant insight into human beings and valuable models for thinking and acting. Invitation to Anthropology is an ideal text for undergraduate students, easily supplemented with case studies in anthropology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

goog though
the condition is good...however, it was too slow that it got to my address. it was actually on the last day that i received the book.

Engaging introduction to cultural anthropology
Lassiter's book is easy to read and engaging.It uses a storytelling style that works very well for learning some of the important events in the history of anthropology and understanding some of the core concepts the discipline uses to study culture.Highly recommended!

Ideal for non-specialist general readers
Invitation To Anthropology by Luke Eric Lassiter (Associate Professor of Anthropology, Ball State University) is an accessibly presented introductory text to the science of cultural anthropology, written especially for students considering this field of scholarship as a part of their overall academic studies. Individual chapters address the study how human cultures are shaped, beginning with the meaning of ethnography, and then moving on to issues of adaptation throughout history, gender issues, the role of family and kinship, the role of religion, and much, much more. Ideal for non-specialist general readers with a passing curiosity on the subject, Invitation To Anthropology is confidently recommended as being a quite practical, well-researched and solid beginning manual to this diverse and fascinating field. ... Read more

Product Description
Anthropology: Theoretical Practice in Culture and Society builds on a collaborative, international project sponsored by UNESCO to offer an overview of social and cultural anthropology. Not a textbook in the ordinary sense, this volume explores the "militant middle ground" between theory and practice, humanistic and scientific approaches, and symbolic and materialist perspectives. Rejecting conventional layout, noted anthropologist Michael Herzfeld brings his collaborators - specialists in their various fields - into a broader conversation about the ways in which social and cultural anthropology can illuminate aspects of the human condition that less intimate approaches cannot reveal.

This volume is not just about an academic discipline; it is about the theoretical and ethical commitments that have enabled anthropologists to play a leading role in the critique of racism and other forms of intolerance. The wide range of topics that Herzfeld covers has produced a book that will provide students with a vital overview of the state of the field. But, perhaps more importantly, readers will find their eyes opened to the complexities of culture and society at a time of vastly intensified communication and contact. ... Read more

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GREAT JOBS SERIES ANSWERS THE QUESTION "WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN . .

Every college major gives students valuable skills and training, perfect for a wide range of careers. The Great Jobs series helps students:

• Assess talents and skills for a job
• Explore a wide range of career options
• Target the perfect career
• Present college majors as workplace assets
• Perfect their job search
• And much more!

Customer Reviews (2)

Somewhat helpful
This book, while offering good advice for career paths in general, is not very useful for the Anthropology student.As a graduate of Anthropology I have been working for the last year in a job completely unrelated to my major.I am constantly searching for work and even internships or volunteer opportunities in Anthropology.Because I am having trouble finding work like this, I decided to buy this book.The only resources that they mentioned are things that I have already tried (such as the AAA website).While this book is good for most careers, it is not specific enough to help anyone in Anthropology when looking for a job in the field.

A Must Have for Anthropologists
Great Jobs for Anthropology Majors is a 'must-have' for those in Anthropology.This book covers a lot of ground concerning direction in such a vast field.It opens options outside of teaching and field work, aswell as helping you improve your part in the applying/hiring process.As agraduate of an Anthropology program myself, I found little help in findingwhat I wanted to do with my education and how to do it.This book answeredmany of those questions and gave me some direction in the use of myeducation.Although it would've been more helpfull when I was in college,it still helped me tremendously as a graduate.I highly recommend thisbook for those in Anthropology. ... Read more

Product Description
Comprehensive and engaging, Byers will leave students rejoicing in the thoughtful pedagogy that leads them step-by-step through the most current and detailed forensic anthropology text to date! This one-of-a-kind text offers comprehensive coverage of all of the major topics in the field of forensics with accuracy, intensity, and clarity. Following the protocol developed for the field by Clyde Snow in his 1982 article in the Annual Review of Anthropology, this cutting-edge text includes coverage of all areas in the field. Extensive illustrations and photos ensure that the text is accessible for students. As one reviewer says, "There is no other source available that is so comprehensive in its coverage of the methods and issues in the current practice of forensic anthropology." Another raves, "The first edition has been a big hit with my students, and I have been very pleased with the ease with which this text has corresponded to my class lecture structure ...I am anxiously awaiting the second edition!" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Use it as an Intro and nothing more
This book is a good introduction for students that has never studied the subject or a student who has very little understanding in the processes involved in Forensic Anthro.There are some errors in the book though; this is annoying, and may add some confusion to the unsuspecting student.

Great book!
Good book for an introductory forensic anthropology course. Doesn't use a lot of technical talk, great examples and case studies. Two thumbs up! ... Read more

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This is the first book to provide an overview of theory and method in anthropology which is specifically aimed at students. Starting with anthropology's foundations in the late nineteenth century, Stanley R. Barrett brings the reader up to date on such topics as the influence of postmodern and feminist criticism, changes in ethnographic style, and the shift from scientific to humanistic discourse. He discusses the power relationships between anthropologists and their subjects, from the era of colonialism through that of contemporary cultural pluralism. Barrett shows that, in recent decades, a serious gap has emerged between theory and method - a gap that will ultimately have to be addressed by today's students. ... Read more

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Investigating Culture: An Experiential Introduction to Anthropology proposes an innovative approach to understanding culture as a constructed phenomenon open to investigation of its implicit premises and explicit forms.

This exciting book offers a refreshing hands-on alternative to more traditional textbooks by challenging readers to think about culture in new ways and to apply these ideas to their own lives. Investigating Culture teaches students to think like anthropologists by encouraging them to compare their own cultural experiences with that of anthropologists who enter a culture specifically to study it. Approaching the study of culture or cultural anthropology in this way trains students to confront the reflexive nature of anthropology early on and to distance themselves from the inherent flaws of studying the "exotic Other."

Investigating Culture is divided into nine chapters that focus on the variety of ways that humans orient themselves --- in space and time, by means of language, the body, the structures of everyday life, and the symbols of religion and public ritual. Each chapter includes an introduction outlining the central issues, selected classic readings, examples from a variety of cultures, suggested additional readings, and a series of exercises designed to make the analysis of culture personally accessible. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

not bad
I found the book to be very informative but not so much for an online student.I also found the writing a little small.I think Carol Delaney should keep the book because of the wealth of information but modify it for online students.

A Very Original (But Just Good) Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

As a teacher, I used this book during a semester course for college students who admitted to have no idea what anthropology was, and the results were, overall, very positive. They found it interesting and pleasant, and they read and summarized all nine chapters, totaling over 400 pages.

Its forte is that, rather than adopting the formalistic approach of conventional textbooks, it engages students, capturing their attention at the experiential level. With simple language, it provides a straightforward introduction to what is to do ethnographic fieldwork and to think anthropologically, leading students to learn, not only about "other cultures", but also, and mainly, to reflect upon their own ethnocentrism.

However, due to such an experiential focus, the book misses important anthropological concerns with macro-analysis, structuralism and history; it also misses a minimally systematic discussion of classical topics, such as religion or economy. And, some of my female students found that the author's recurrent discussion on gender exploitation was excessive and even tiresome. Finally, though it is understandable that geographic expertise may limit one's ability to discuss other world cultures, I expected a wider and better variety of examples, beyond rural Turkey, patriarchy and the author's (and close colleagues') own excerpts. I was stunned with crass mistakes, such as claiming that Brazilians love tango (rather than samba), to name just one among several blunders.

Having said that, I still maintain that this book yields good results among undergraduate students. I'm not sure I'd employ it in privileged institutions such as U. Chicago or Ivy League, but certainly so in more modest colleges. In any case, the book is quite original, providing an innovative approach to learn the discipline. The supplementary articles at the end of each chapter are a very good idea. I hope that the author fixes, calibrates and improves this interesting book in future editions. ... Read more

Product Description
Anthropology is a discipline very conscious of its history. Alan Barnard has written a clear, detailed overview of anthropological theory that brings out the historical contexts of the great debates, tracing the genealogies of theories and schools of thought. His book covers the precursors of anthropology; evolutionism in all its guises; diffusionism and culture area theories, functionalism and structural-functionalism; action-centered theories; processual and Marxist perspectives; the many faces of relativism, structuralism and poststructuralism; and recent interpretive and postmodernist viewpoints. This is a balanced and judicious survey, which also considers the problems involved in assessing anthropological theories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good cultural anthropology primer
This bood represents a clear and concise treatment of anthropological theory. Alan Barnard traces its history from inception to postmordernism. The different schools of thought are linked to the corresponding figures set against a particular socio-political space and time. The dinamic evolution of the discipline is well represented for it provides an interconnected mesh of causality. Throughout the book flow charts and schematic representations proved to be very helpful. Although primary sources can not be dealt adequately through interpretative works, Barnard's book is a good reference to have at hand. ... Read more

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Medical anthropology encompasses a wide range of perspectives as it seeks to understand human health and illness. An ideal core text for introductory courses, Medical Anthropology: A Biocultural Approach provides a current and accessible overview of this diverse and rapidly expanding field. Working from a iocultural approach, Medical Anthropology examines the major health issues that affect most human societies, describing and synthesizing the ways in which biology, culture, health, and environment interact. It integrates up-to-date and relevant biological data with analyses of both evolutionary theory and the sociocultural conditions that often lead to major challenges to our health and survival.
Authors Andrea S. Wiley and John S. Allen first present basic biological information on a specific health condition and then extend their investigation to include evolutionary, historical, sociocultural, and political-economic perspectives. Topics covered include healers and healing; health, diet, and nutrition; child health, growth, and development; reproductive health; aging; infectious disease; behavioral disease; stress, social inequality, and race; and mental illness. Each chapter features a variety of case studies and examples--current and historical, local and global--that demonstrate how a medical anthropological perspective can shed important light on a particular health condition. In addition, the text is enhanced by numerous tables, figures, review questions, critical thinking questions, suggestions for accompanying ethnographies, and a glossary to help students better understand the material. Throughout the text, the authors consider how a biocultural anthropological approach could be applied to more effective prevention and treatment efforts. They also highlight the ways in which medical anthropology has the potential to help improve the health of populations around the world. ... Read more

Product Description
This debate-style reader is designed to introduce students to controversies in cultural anthropology. The readings, which represent the arguments of leading anthropologists and educators, reflect a variety of viewpoints. Each reading has been selected for its liveliness, substance, and relevance to the topics included in college-level study of cultural anthropology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good book and great service
Book highlights continuing debate regarding various perceptions on the basis and effectiveness of anthropological literature. Good for posing discussion topics.

Good book
A very good deal for a good book that lends insight into the anthropological field.

Good Introductory Reader
The book starts off with an introduction describing the history and modern state of anthropology, general theoretical approaches to the field, how anthropologists reach conclusions and fundemental questions about the field like the debate over whether it is a science or a humanity. The book covers 18 issues framed as a series of yes or no questions grouped and grouped into three categories: theoretical issues, specific issues in cultural anthropology, and ethics in cultural anthropology.

The issues chosen are issues that are still unresolved in the field. Each issue contains a summary and postscript by the editors bracketing two articles, one arguing yes and the other no, reprinted from anthropology journals and books. The postscripts include a list of further reading on each issue.

In the back of the book there are short biographies of the contributors and a very nice index of authors, topics, and key words. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Encompassing and probing
A book of its time (60s-early 80s), but I'm glad I finally came to it. Generally it contrasts the theories and practices of western innovators (Stanislavski et. al., Brecht, Grotowski, Brooks) against the rituals and traditions of eastern institutions (Kathakali, Noh, Kabuki, ritual events of Bali, India, especially Ramlila). Fascinating diagrams accompany the discussion of performance theory. Loved the essays on performance in "Restoration of Behavior," and "Transported and Transformed." And for both the actor and director, the argument that performance exists somewhere between the "not-me and not-not-me" is compelling.

Victor Turner wrote the Forward.
Victor Turner wrote the forward to this book.

He is not its designer ... Read more

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Product Description
Cultural Anthropology, provides both a comprehensive and scientific introduction to cultural anthropology.  It helps the reader understand how humans vary culturally and why they got to be that way.   This new edition also highlights migration and immigration in the context of globalization. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Cultural Anthropology (13th Edition) (MyAnthroLab Series)
Nice book,very interesting for those who want to know more about human beings and their history.... ... Read more

Product Description
Research Methods in Anthropology is the standard textbook for methods classes in anthropology programs. Over the past 13 years, it has launched tens of thousands of students into the field with its combination of rigorous methodological advice, wry humor, common sense advice, and numerous examples from actual field projects. Now the third edition of this classic textbook is ready, written in Bernard's unmistakable conversational style. RMA 3 contains all the useful methodological advice of previous editions and more: additional material on text analysis, an expanded section on sampling in field settings, the use of computers for fieldwork and analysis, the pros and cons of rapid assessment techniques in anthropology, and dozens of new examples. "Methods belong to all of us" is the watchword of this book. Whether you are coming from a scientific, interpretive, or applied anthropological tradition, your students should learn field methods from the best guide around. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

This book is my Bible for Research Methods
I have used 'Research Methods in Anthropology' in designing my own Masters, PhD and subsequent research. This book goes with me wherever I am, in Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Puerto Rico, USVI, and other locations. I have also used it to teach graduate students both quantitative and qualitative ethnographic approaches to research. It is comprehensive, as the subtitle suggests, and accessible to every level of researcher, with interesting and often humorous examples. It is an excellent field manual, with useful chapters on basic statistics and even a table for generating random numbers, great for when you are at a field site with no electricity and the battery in your computer is dead. I am on my third copy (having battered the first two copies into oblivion in the field). 'Research methods...' is probably the hardest working book I own.

Research Methods in Anthropology
This is a very useful and accessible book on how to approach doing ethnographic fieldwork.Bernard writes clearly with many illustrations that make the reading interesting.Russell Bernard is Professor of Anthropology at University of Florida who has done field work in Greece, Mexico and the US on topics such as native literacy, training local ethnographers, and crisis economics.This book is written with the purpose of sharing his knowledge and experience with field research methods to make it easier for students to collect reliable data from the beginning of their fieldwork experience.

The 20 chapters of this book are organized into three sections: preparing for field research, methods of collecting data, and data analysis.The six chapters on preparing for field research include how cultural anthropology fits into the history of science, the fundamental concepts and vocabulary of social research, research design and the experimental method, sampling, choosing a research problem, and searching the literature.Topics are introduced in a way that does not presuppose any prior knowledge on the part of the reader, yet goes into sufficient detail.

The nine chapters on collecting data include methods for participant observation, selecting informants, taking field notes, unstructured and semistructured interviewing, structured interviewing, questionnaires, using scales to measure concepts, direct observation, and unobtrusive research.These chapters do not offer practice exercises, but Bernard does give many examples of experiments which he suggests that students attempt to copy to practice applying the skills.

The five chapters on data analysis include analyzing qualitative data, creating a codebook, and three chapters on statistics.Although the he covers the subject of statistics thoroughly and in a way that would be a valuable resource on the field, Bernard warns that his discussion should not replace studying the subject under a professor.

In several places in the book, Bernard discusses the obscure topic of ethics.He occasionally states his opinions, which are moderate, but more often gives several examples of experiments to trigger the reader's thoughts.His goal is to have each student critique others' research and understand what the varied implications can be so that they will be careful in their own work.This method is more effective than dictating what is right or wrong.

This book is an invaluable resource to those beginning field research and even to experienced researchers who want a new angle on fieldwork.It covers a broad scope of methodology with many helpful examples and illustrations.I gained both knowledge and a different perspective from reading this book and would highly recommend it to others.

Research Methods in Anthropology
I read this work for a graduate class and found it very helpful.While not avoiding technical language, the author clearly explains concepts in everyday vocabulary.The first chapter on cultural anthropology and social science almost reads like a novel as the author traces the development of science, social science and related fields.The introduction of humor, such as his observation that, when ordered to recant by the Inquisition, Galileo "nearly published and perished" (p. 6), gives the reader pleasure while learning important and sometimes challenging concepts. Another strength of the work's explanations is the author's variety of illustrations, taken from fieldwork in Greece, oceanographic research vessels, Mexico and other locations. The book covers the gamut of anthropological research methods, including research design issues, literature review, observations, interviews, surveys, and analysis of data.One particularly helpful section for the anthropological or qualitative researcher is a chapter on how to take, code and manage field notes.The practical nuts and bolts explanation gives the reader one method for handling field notes. Bernard notes, "I wish I had used this method when I was doing my own MA and Ph.D. fieldwork" (p. 181). The chapters on statistics, while not a substitute for a course in statistics, outlines basic concepts - z-scores, t-test, chi square and more - in basically lay terms.This work would be a good text for an introductory research course, as well as a helpful reference resource for more experienced students and researchers.Although the text has a relatively recent copyright (1995), the section on literature search is already outdated.For example, over four pages are needed to describe how to look up citations in the Social Sciences Citation Index. The SSCI is now available on line, greatly simplifying the search procedure. The OCLC is mentioned, but with the caveat that "while all major libraries (and thousands of minor libraries) throughout the industrialized world have OCLC, they don't give their patrons direct access to the system" (p.135); this is another example of outdated search information due to the rapid changes in these technologies. In spite of the need to update the technical information, the book provides a wealth of information in an understandable format.

People watchers handbook....
I recently, not by choice, read this book for a class for graduate school(Intro. to Public Administration).Not really knowing how the book wouldread, I was amazed to find out that this is a people watchers dream book aswell as a great reference book for human anthropologists in the 21stcentury.

I was amazed to find out how many studies have been done onpeoples garbage, how men react in restrooms and in general how people actin our society.

This book is truly and eye opener and a great read!!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Absolutely Critical For Anyone Studing OT Anthropology - Warning: Hebrew Helpful
This book is basically a word study of the Hebrew terms in the OT that relate to anthropology (nephesh, basar, dam, etc.). At least a basic knowledge of the Hebrew vocabulary in the OT will be helpful.

Serious students need to own this one.

Do you read the Bible?Get this book
No one in the 21st century understands the Jewish context of the Bible (including the N.T.).If you read the Bible at all you need this book to understand what many things mean.It will clear up the idea of Soul Sheol Life etc...Get it, you will gain new insight into the life of all the Bible folks, even Jesus.So there you go!Get it!

A must-have for any serious Bible student!
This is the definitive book of Old Testament anthropology. I first saw this book referred to as a primary source by several scholarly works, and decided to read the book myself.This book does clearly explain the visually expressive way the Ancient Hebrews viewed the world.Nouns often represented an action:"hands" represented doing,"breath" represented living, "tongue" represented speaking, and "feet" represented moving.

Also Wolff creates a compelling argument that the Old Testament Hebrews literally saw the soul as an actual physical member deep within their bodies."Sheol" and the afterlife, and many other topics are also discussed and explained.This book strongly influenced the way I read the entire Bible, because I feel more able to view the words from the perspective in which the words were originally written. ... Read more

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Accessible and engaging, The Environment in Anthropology presents ecology and current environmental studies from an anthropological point of view. From the classics to the most current scholarship, this book connects the theory and practice of ecological anthropology, giving readers a strong intellectual foundation as well as offering practical tools for solving environmental problems.

Haenn and Wilk pose the most urgent questions of environmental protection-What are the environmental effects of urbanization? How do environmentalists represent indigenous peoples? How can we assess the impact of global, "environmentally correct" businesses such as the Body Shop? They also cover the fundamental topics of population growth, large scale development, biodiversity conservation, sustainable environmental management, indigenous groups, and consumption and globalization. A careful selection of chapters leads readers through the interactions among environmental, political, and economic forces in modern environmental anthropology. Introductory essays put this material in historical context, while a mix of academic writing, popular reporting, polemical essays, and ethical reflections frames the issues in accessible and compelling ways.

Balancing landmark essays with cutting-edge scholarship, bridging theory and practice, and offering suggestions for further reading and new directions for research, The Environment in Anthropology is the ideal introduction to a burgeoning field.

Contributors include: Julian Steward, Robert Netting, Virginia Nazarea, Vandana Shiva, Arturo Escobar, Susan Stonich, Billie Dewalt, Akhil Gupta, Bonnie McCay, David Maybury-Lewis, Caren Kaplan, Conrad Kottak, Kay Milton, J. Peter Brosius. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Human world view of Earth
I bought this book after reading a review in the academic journal American Anthropologist, December 2007, Vol. 109, Iss. 4; p 767-768 by F. Wyndham.This book is an excellent addition to my library.My other Ecology text is written by a Biology Professor, R. Ricklefs, so this Anthropolgy text gives a Social Science perspective on the environment.It was a positive review in American Anthropologist. ... Read more

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Ever wish you could just do your lab work from home? Now you can. With VIRTUAL LABORATORIES FOR PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY CD-ROM you can do all 12 labs from your room. You'll use video clips, 3-D animation, and data from the latest fossil finds to test your hypotheses or discover new research directions. You can even take notes in the program, and then print them out when it's test time. With in-depth information, interactive labs, and test-prep all included, this is the best lab program available. Log on and start doing anthropology from home today! ... Read more