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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

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Exploring Biological Anthropology is a core concepts version of the successful text, Biological Anthropology. It provides students with a strong foundation in biological anthropology without some of the extended examples found in the original text.  Exploring Biological Anthropology offers concise coverage of core material, while maintaining thorough coverage of traditionally important topics.  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

good info
i had to get this book for an Anthropology class. Even if you just want to find out about the different aspects of Anthropology it is a good book. All textbooks however are usually expensive so buying a used one might be a better way to go. ... Read more

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For courses in Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Science.

This reader is an essential supplement to a forensic anthropology text.  It provides case studies that demonstrate innovative approaches and practical experiences in the field. The book provides both introductory and advanced students with a strong sense of the cases in which forensic anthropologists become involved, along with their professional and ethical responsibilities, the scientific rigor required, and the multidisciplinary nature of the science.

Customer Reviews (3)

Good Read
This is an educational type book that doubles as pleasure reading. Very easy to read and full of thrilling cases.

Good Stuff
The book was in the shape described by the seller and i got it in a timely fashion.

Really interesting and helpful
This book gives you really good insight on the investigation of remains. I used this in my forensic anthropology class and it was very helpful in understanding all the different aspects that go into linking remains to an individual. It is much more interesting than a lot of forensic anthropology books out there because it gives specific case examples and has a lot of pictures. ... Read more

Product Description
Linguistic Anthropology: A Reader is a comprehensive collection of the best work that has been published in this exciting and growing area of anthropology, and is organized to provide a guide to key issues in the study of language as a cultural resource and speaking as a cultural practice.

• Revised and updated, this second edition contains eight new articles on key subjects, including speech communities, the power and performance of language, and narratives
• Selections are both historically oriented and thematically coherent, and are accessibly grouped according to four major themes: speech community and communicative competence; the performance of language; language socialization and literacy practices; and the power of language
• An extensive introduction provides an original perspective on the development of the field and highlights its most compelling issues
• Each section includes a brief introductory statement, sets of guiding questions, and list of recommended readings on the main topics

Customer Reviews (2)

Language is Power
I just finished reading Alesandro Duranti's 1997 book for my linguistic anthropology core class. I wanted to take the opportunity here to comment on this book. A. Duranti goes through all of the major theoretical underpinnings and morphological manifestations that the discipline has endured since its inception from the likes of Boas and Sapir in the early 20th century. It has changed and gone through many necessary changes during its lifetime. In order to truly place our finger on the intentions of the "other," we must strive to open a dialogue with the "other" through the practice of speaking, analysis of discourse, and make assumptions based on interpretations to better understand the cultural baggage each one of us carries. This is healthy and natural, and summarizes what it means to be human. Linguistic anthropology taps into human psychology, and the social enterprise in many ways that I have never been able to imagine. A. Duranti eloquently explains linguistic anthropology's rightful place as a science and a discipline worthy of perpetuation in posterity. I sincerely hope others read it in order to assist in this perpetuation of what it means to be human through the practice of speaking.

Liked its approach
Reading this book I felt Duranti to be less of a linguist and more of an anthropologist--which I found to be a useful approach, giving quite a different perspective on the field than, for example, William Foley's book of similar title. Especially interesting were the sections on fieldworkmethodology and ethics, a topic which I haven't seen covered in other bookson linguistic anthropology. However, some of the linguistic stuff couldhave been explained in more detail, and Duranti doesn't include as much onrecent perspectives as some others. ... Read more

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In this compact volume, two of anthropology's most influential theorists, Paul Rabinow and George E. Marcus, engage in a series of conversations about the past, present, and future of anthropological knowledge and practice. James Faubion joins in several exchanges to facilitate and elaborate the dialogue, and Tobias Rees moderates the discussions and contributes an introduction and an afterword to the volume. Most of the conversations are focused on contemporary challenges to how anthropology understands its subject and how ethnographic research projects are designed and carried out. Rabinow and Marcus reflect on what remains distinctly anthropological about the study of contemporary events and processes, and they contemplate productive new directions for the field. The two converge in Marcus's emphasis on the need to redesign pedagogical practices for training anthropological researchers and in Rabinow's proposal of collaborative initiatives in which ethnographic research designs could be analyzed, experimented with, and transformed.

Both Rabinow and Marcus participated in the milestone collection Writing Culture: The Poetics and Politics of Ethnography. Published in 1986, Writing Culture catalyzed a reassessment of how ethnographers encountered, studied, and wrote about their subjects. In the opening conversations of Designs for an Anthropology of the Contemporary, Rabinow and Marcus take stock of anthropology's recent past by discussing the intellectual scene in which Writing Culture intervened, the book's contributions, and its conceptual limitations. Considering how the field has developed since the publication of that volume, they address topics including ethnography's self-reflexive turn, scholars' increased focus on questions of identity, the Public Culture project, science and technology studies, and the changing interests and goals of students. Designs for an Anthropology of the Contemporary allows readers to eavesdrop on lively conversations between anthropologists who have helped to shaped their field's recent past and are deeply invested in its future. ... Read more

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Rethinking the Contemporary
Reviewing several axial moments of canonical anthropology, Rabinow and Marcus challenge ethnographers to reimagine what fieldwork is and to reconceptualize long accepted methods in ethnographic research. Building on Nietzsche's notion of the untimely, Rabinow urges his readers not to overdetermine the role of history in shaping the contemporary. As Rabinow understands it, the contemporary is an atemporal space determined not so much by history as by rapid technological innovations. Both Marcus and Rabinow agree that instituting new methods and approaches that attempt to interpret the contemporary must begin with pedagogy. For those interested in radical reconceptualizations of social space and the means to interpret it, this book is highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Environmental Anthropology: A Reader is a collection of historically significant readings, dating from early in the twentieth century up to the present, on the cross-cultural study of relations between people and their environment.

• Provides the historical perspective that is typically missing from recent work in environmental anthropology
• Includes an extensive intellectual history and commentary by the volume’s editors
• Offers a unique perspective on current interest in cross-cultural environmental relations
• Divided into five thematic sections: (1) the nature/culture divide; (2) relationship between environment and social organization; (3) methodological debates and innovations; (4) politics and practice; and (5) epistemological issues of environmental anthropology
• Organized into a series of paired papers, which ‘speak’ to each other, designed to encourage readers to make connections that they might not customarily make

Customer Reviews (1)

Culture and the Environment - A Relationship
This book was a part of my Environmental ANthropology Undergraduate course. Out of the three main books we used, this one stands as my favorite. It provides a wonderful variety of case studies and various points of view from all over the world. I highly recommend this book both for course work and for your own everyday knowledge. ... Read more

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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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Introducing Cultural Anthropology, a short yet comprehensive anchor text, is an approachable, full-color introduction to cultural anthropology. This edition continues to provide students with the opportunity to explore anthropology's relevance to their own lives. Unique opening vignettes draw students into each chapter while the rich visual program allows professors to use a brief text without sacrificing visual appeal. "Try This" exercises encourage students to think critically and apply anthropological concepts, perspectives and methods, and the "Anthropology Around Us" boxes focus on the application of anthropological concepts featured in each chapter. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great book
I had to get this book for my Anthropology class. The author is very easy to understand and even has a website for other helpful tools. If you need it, get it, because it's worth it.

Need for college course
Great discount on Amazon.com price compared to college book store. She hasn't commented on content but it was just the book she needed for her class. Shipped quickly and in great condition.

Introducing Cultural Anthropology
Great easy to read text, that while a little light and soft at times on the concepts, provides a great overview of the field ... Read more

Product Description
This Eighteenth Edition of ANNUAL EDITIONS: Physical Anthropology provides convenient, inexpensive access to current articles selected from the best of the public press. Organizational features include: an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites; an annotated table of contents; a topic guide; a general introduction; brief overviews for each section; and an online instructor’s resource guide with testing materials. USING ANNUAL EDITIONS IN THE CLASSROOM is offered as a practical guide for instructors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

awesome!!!
book was in as described conditions. fast shipping and never had a problem. would buy from again in the future. highly recommend.

Great !
This book is very well laid out and easy to read. A variety of interesting articles.

Great transaction!
Thank you for delivering this textbook to me in a timely manner. The item I received was in the condition that was described. A pleasure to do business with you. ... Read more

Product Description
This unprecedented collection of articles is an introduction to the study of cultural variations in childhood across the world and to the theoretical frameworks for investigating and interpreting them.

Customer Reviews (1)

AWESOME-RECEIVED IMMEDIATELY
I WILL DEFINITELY ORDER FROM THIS VENDOR AGAIN FOR ANY OTHER BOOKS NEEDED. FAST AND DEPENDABLE. RECEIVED MY BOOK IN TIME FOR SCHOOL. BOOK WAS IN GOOD SHAPE AS PROMISED. VERY HAPPY CUSTOMER, THANKS AGAIN!!!! ... Read more

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Comprehensive and engaging, Byers’s Introduction to Forensic Anthropology, 3e uses thoughtful pedagogy to lead students step-by-step through the most current and detailed forensic anthropology material available today.

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. 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 next edition!”

Customer Reviews (3)

Wonderful!
I recieved this item in a short amount of time and the condition on the book was what the seller said it was going to be. Overall, very satisfied!!! Thanks

Be careful of the details
I reviewed this book for possible inclusion in an Introductory Forensic Anthropology class I have been teaching for ten years.Two shortcomings in the text led me to adopt another book for the course:

1. Photography: Whether because of the paper quality or the skills of the photographer, many of the photographs were grainy or too small to be useful.

2. Accuracy:This is the third edition, and yet more than one method is misrepresented or mis-cited.An example is ectocranial suture closure, which specifies the wrong points on the skull for the vault system.In addition, the discussion of the post-mortem interval and the "precision" of these estimates is greatly at odds with others in the field, and may give students the impression that these techniques are more reliable than they really are.

It also should be noted that many of the diagrams, charts, and other essential information comes directly from other texts.For those interested in Forensic Anthropology and Osteology, "The Human Bone Manual" by White and Folkens and "Standards for Data Collection from Human Skeletal Remains" will provide a more useful treatment of these subjects.

Great Book - Very informative.
A very informative text - lots of pictures - that doesn't go into too much detail so that you are bored reading it. Definitely gives good insight into the field of forensic anthropology - things television shows won't teach you. Overall a good text for an introduction into Forensic Anthropology. I haven't gotten very far in the text - as the semester has just recently begun - but I do wish that it was bundled with case studies. My professor gives a lot of examples, but he doesn't have them all and it would be interesting if there wascase study that applied the subjects of every chapter. That way, you could see how important each step is in solving cases. ... Read more

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Learn anthropology within a strong active learning environment when you open Robbins' unique Fifth Edition. This brief, cost-effective text presents a variety of questions focused on the most important issues anthropologists study in first of-of-its-kind, problem-based format. You'll find yourself thinking critically about today's world as you read engaging Chapter Openers, complete integrated exercises, and review unique Case Studies in Doing Anthropology at the end of each chapter, now with new locator maps for your convenience.Robbins's text presents a variety of questions focused on the most important issues anthropologists study in a unique, problem-based format. Within the book's engaging narrative, you'll learn how to analyze your own culture as a basis for understanding the cultures of others. Presentations organized around problems rather than topics, creating a natural discussion of traditional concerns, such as kinship, caste, gender roles, and religion. Meaningful questions integrated throughout further guide you in exploring these subjects. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

to the study of cultures
this is a decent book, very informative, but not my favorite though that doesn't stop me from reading it. for those that wish to get a different perspective on our culture then this is a good book to check out

Quick shipping. Good book.
The book is "used." Has tatttered corners and front cover but the book is clean. The writing on the inside helps.

would help if recieved
I'm sure the book was a great help for those who actually got their copy, my seller never sent the book and i'm still trying to get my money bacy

Arrived before my first quiz
I selected free ground shipping and still got it in a couple days! Thanks Amazon, you guys are great!

As for the content, its for school... it does its job.

Good Condition
The book was in good condition and it was mailed to me within a week, which was perfect for me. The book itself was good, a couple of creases, that's all. I would recommend this book supplier to anyone not needing this book within days. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

Theory, Practice, Intellectual Work: Graeber on Anarchism
David Graeber's highly engaging contribution to social theory doesn't claim to say anything particularly "new" about anarchist social movements. Rather, he seeks to link academic anthropology's body of knowledge (about "actually-existing self-governing communities" in the world today) to the utopian desires of global anarchism. Forging this link, Graeber intuits, would help academic social theory escape the pretension of prescribing radicalism and would instead attune it to already-existing utopian political practices. In this regard, Graeber's work is a modest attempt at transforming how we go about thinking *and* doing revolutionary strategy.

The book is really a long essay that stakes out various positions in what Graeber says is a "non-existent science." Weary of academics who flaunt their leftist credentials while leading privileged lifestyles, Graeber uses anarchism to explain how theory and practice might be brought into dynamic consonance: "[Anarchism] is primarily concerned with forms of practice; it insists, before anything else, that one's means must be consonant with one's ends; one cannot create freedom through authoritarian means; in fact, as much as possible, one must oneself, in one's relations with one's friends and allies, embody the society one wishes to create." Basing his view of academic work on anarchist principles, then, Graeber argues that the knowledge one makes must have a real, practical relation to the politics one imagines.

This book is a breath of fresh air in the otherwise moribund sphere of academic social theory. By showing vanguardism and radical skepticism to be inimical to the kind of self-governing, direct-action politics that anarchism espouses, Graeber challenges intellectuals to engage real people, real desires, and real processes of decision-making beyond the low-stakes "game" of academic infighting (otherwise known as: my theory is better than yours). Thus, in addition to being a fine primer on anarchist theory-practice (where theory and practice are co-constitutive elements of revolutionary strategy), Graeber's book offers an important perspective on why intellectuals must question their stakes and their interests in "studying" politics at all.

Anthropology Against the State
If there is any question thrown at organizers within the various tendrils of the global justice movement intended to make our efforts appear utopian and unrealizable, it would have to be "I understand what you're against, but what are you for?" The implicit idea being that there is no reason to believe that another world is possible in more than a rhetorical sense, or at least not examples to prove such is possible. Frequently those of us who dream of a liberated world without a market or state structures turn to anthropology for inspiration from the thousands of years of human history where such didn't exist. Anthropologists, worried about being accused of romanticizing populations, have generally responded to these inquiries with a confused silence.

In Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology Yale based anthropologist and political activist David Graeber asks, "what if that wasn't the case?" Drawing from the rich history of ethnographic materials and anthropological records as well as critical theory and current practices within the global justice movement Graeber demonstrates that there is an endless variety of revolutionary political and social organization to draw from. Rejecting both the Hobbesian fable of the "war of all against all" and the blatant forms of racism and Eurocentrism used to argue that so called "primitive" societies have no bearing on and are completely removed from the world we live in, Graeber explores the endless variety of political and organization which have existed throughout the world. From the Tsimhety of northwest Madagascar to Amazonian tribes what emerges are the dynamics of struggle and contention, of insurrection and resistance that have existed not just through the past two hundred years of European history but arguably since the dawn of human existence.

The anthropological cannon, from James Frazer to Pierre Clastres, once removed from its arcane status as obscure purely academic knowledge, brims with ideas and examples of social organization that could be of use to organizers seeking for alternatives practices. Organizers and radical theorists have long drawn from anthropology to find useful ideas for their work, from the Situationists usage of the potlatch of the Kwakiutl to current practices of consensus, which have existed through numerous indigenous societies throughout the world long before activists began to employ them for spokescouncils. Anarchism in this light is revealed not to be a political philosophy invented by a particular set of bearded European males sometime in the 1800s, but rather the practices of voluntary association, cooperation, and egalitarian social arrangements pervading societies worldwide.

Similarly Graeber connects currents of thought within autonomist traditions, such as the ideas of exodus and counterpower, to social structures within indigenous societies that operate in very much a similar manner. Particularly interesting is his exploration of the idea of ethnogenesis, or how enduring political projects and communities sediment and come to be recognized as ethnic categories. One can see such both in communities that formed in Madagascar as well as in the nomadic tribes formed in the United States by the mixing of escape slaves, indentured European servants, and Native American populations.

The greatest flaw of the book is that Graeber is throwing out so many ideas and concepts at such a dizzying pace that he never really has time to delve into any of them at great depth. But perhaps that's half the point. Drawing from the practice of ethnography in an attempt to reformulate radical intellectual practice, he argues that the task is to draw and tease out the hidden symbolic and pragmatic aspects of what people are doing and to give such information back as gifts. By beginning to draw out the liberatory possibilities contained within anthropology Graeber sets out not to define and delimit exactly what an anarchist anthropology is, but to point in some of the possible directions that those of us struggling for a better world could take such knowledge.

An interesting approach.
I very much enjoyed this book. As something of an anarchist, I find myself thinking about anarchist approaches to world problems, but the problem I see is that anarchism is more of a methodology than an ideology. Essentially, it is a moral and practical approach toward social change. It reaches me than the theoretical approaches to strategizing like Marx's and other armchair revolutionists' work. Essentially, Graeber is searching for methods where we can institute the anarchist's approach to studying society, which sounds like a paradoxical premise at first because anarchism isn't so much a theory as it is a practice, but it makes sense. Basically, his approach aims tp make the study of society much more praxeological in approach, as opposed to creating a set of ideas alienated from real human behavior, by using an anarchist perspective to study society. I really like what he's done here, although there is much less meat than I had hoped for. I'd like to see a bigger book with some examples of what he's looking for (like new approaches to sociology and an entirely new way to look at the concept of the state). I think it will take years to develop a large body of theory to work with, but he's on to something groundbreaking.

Blowing up walls
The book is meant to be examined not as a coherent set of theories or practices for instituting anarchist methods, but is instead, as the title indicates, meant to reveal fragments and pieces of an anarchist approach to society.Previous reviews mention the "dark side of humanity", or "basic human nature", but they would seem to assume much about the inner workings of human beings.It is not altogether absurd to forsee an interest in anarchist practice more broadly as people continue to see what results from the use and abuse of power.Graeber's book is a thought experiment, an attempt to envision an alternative to what we have now, not a manifesto pointing out exactly what should be done.He has excellent critiques of what we currently view as "democracy", and also does a thoughtful job examining Pierre Clastres' work "Society Against the State", as well as offering examples of groups which were much more egalitarian in nature, including those that broke away from states to become so.

Interesting yes, practical no

Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology presents some interesting theories. It even manages to sound convincing some of the time. What's missing is a practical, plausible way to begin implementing anarchist social theory into a system held in a chokehold by technocratic monopolies and apathetic consumerism. Anarchism is just too abstract and too presumptuous to actually ever be feasible. David Graeber manages to convince those of us still lingering on the edge of the mainstream that anarchism is still rooted in archaic, utopian-driven notions. Certainly the author can find global examples of anarchist principles at work, but the notion of dismantling massive capitalist-driven, corporate-country entities with something as problematical as anarchism, just doesn't seem reasonable - at least not in the format presented by Mr. Graeber.

The social and cultural development of humans has been marked by intense episodes of inhumanity and violence. Anarchism seems to desperately insist that dark, shadowy archetypes in the form of rulers, political systems and governments are solely responsible for the mess we currently find ourselves in, thus totally negating the roll of basic human nature.

Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology is a bold, optimistic work, but like most tracts on anarchism but will probably only hold appeal for intellectuals or academic nonconformists.
... Read more

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Environmental anthropologists organize the realities of interdependent lands, plants, animals, and human beings; advocate for the neediest among them; and provide understandings that preserve what is needed for the survival of a diverse world. Can the things that anthropologists have learned in their studies of small-scale systems have any relevance for developing policies to address global problems? Townsend explores this dilemma in her captivating, concise exploration of environmental anthropology and its place among the discipline's subfields. Maintaining the structure and clarity of the previous edition, the second edition has been revised throughout to include new research, expanded discussions of climate change, and a chapter devoted to spiritual ecology. In the historical overview of the field, Townsend shows how ideas and approaches developed earlier are relevant to understanding how today's local populations adapt to their physical and biological environments. She next presents a closer look at global environmental issues--rapid expansion of the world economic system, disease and poverty, the loss of biodiversity and its implications for human health--to demonstrate the effects of interactions between local and global communities. As a capstone, she gives thoughtful consideration to how, as professionals and as individuals, we can move toward personal engagement with environmental problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Best Human Ecology Text for Undergrads
This is in my view the best text for instructors to use in an introductory course in human ecology or ecological anthropology. Just 118 pages, it is easy to read, yet covers the history of the subject all the way from Julian Steward to the influence of Roy Rappaport and his pigs to, most important for the new century, current climate change, globalization, and spiritual ecology. Students will appreciate the $14 price. I promise instructors that this is one of those rare books that will influence students for the rest of their lives. --- Thomas N. Headland, anthropologist, SIL International and University of North Dakota

Introduction to Environmental Anthropology
This book is a short introduction to current topics in environmental anthropology, both at theoretical and practical levels. The author defines environmental anthropology as the use of anthropology's methods and theories that contribute to the understanding of local or global environmental problems. In a more general sense, the author refers to environmental anthropology as the involvement of anthropologists in environmental issues, with a variety of methods, theories, and specialized research interests. Under this umbrella are included the approaches known as ecological anthropology, evolutionary ecology, historical ecology, political ecology, ethnoecology, and others.

This book covers a wide variety of selected topics, including the relationship of the technology used in production to the environment in which it is used, the way how societies respond to changes in their environment and their culture core, the role of religious rituals in the regulation of the ecosystem pressures by local groups, the study of traditional ecological knowledge, the hunting practices of indigenous peoples in the rainforest, the agricultural pressures on the environment in complex societies, the effects of land and water pollution on local populations as a result of mining activities, the assessment of risks associated with natural disasters, the relationship between population growth and environmental degradation, the association between biodiversity, medicinal plants and human health, issues in common property regimes and the increase of forest fires, the analysis of carrying capacity and the growth of environmental movements, among many other topics.

The author also examines in a brief way the ideas of key authors who have made the most important contributions to environmental anthropology, including Fredrik Barth, Harold Conklin, Arturo Escobar, Clifford Geertz, Emilio Moran, Robert Netting, Darrell Posey, Roy Rappaport, Marshall Sahlins, Julian Steward, Eric Wolf, among many other representative authors. The book somehow follows a historical path, covering the period between 1940's until 2000. However, the author frequently includes references from earlier periods and is not limited by the constraints of the particular period at hand when trying to illustrate a topic.

From my perspective, the book is an especially important source of knowledge for students that are not familiar with the issues that are the subject of environmental anthropology, and also for students who have become acquainted with these issues in a fragmentary way. By providing a general overview of the different topics covered in this area of concentration, it opens up and stimulates the reader's desire for further exploration. It provides a general framework to understand the wide array of areas covered in environmental anthropology, ranging from the contributions of classical author's to contemporary global problems.

This book is also a very important source of knowledge for students from different disciplines who wish to understand current environmental problems from an anthropological perspective. An outstanding factor is that it is written in a simple language, without assuming that readers are already familiar with the concepts and ideas common in anthropology. It starts explaining what anthropology is and how it is organized, and where environmental anthropology is located in relation to the anthropological subdisciplines and related areas of concentration. From that point, it moves forward in a smooth way, without creating unnecessary complications for the readers, even when dealing with complex issues like the formula to understand the relationship between population growth and environmental impacts, or the comparison between the carrying capacity of lands under different systems of food production.

An important limiting factor identified in the book is that, considering the introductory nature of its contents, it does not provide adequate orientation for further exploration of the topics, except for the references section. A personal recommendation is that subsequent editions could include this sort of information, including calls to bibliographic sources that cover with more detail the specific topics considered, links to Websites where to obtain more detailed information, and brief descriptions of other introductory books to environmental anthropology, mentioning their general orientations and levels of detail provided.

At a personal level, this book provided me with very useful insights to understand environmental anthropology from a holistic perspective. Through the analysis of the different issues considered, I become familiar with the differences and similarities across topics, creating an enriched perspective on a wide range of environmental problems. Of particular interest for me were the sections related to the relationship between population and the environment, the social impacts of environmental pollution as a result of mining activities, the use of concepts drawn from disciplines like ecology, demography, and biology, integrated in the illustration of the topics considered, among other topics of interest.

The way the author presented the information was also a very important factor for me. The presentation of the topics based on the environmental topics provides not only clear information that facilitates the understanding of environmental problems, but also provides a context for a better understanding with the authors' ideas and methodological insights. This topic-centered approach resulted in a very illustrative way, which I found more useful than chronological versions of different authors, or the theoretical paradigms they are associated with, which are the main orientations in traditional introductory books in anthropology.

Among other limitations identified, one important issue is related to the section about threats to biodiversity. The book includes only half a page on this issue. Considering their relevance for the current practice of environmental anthropology in applied settings, it results clearly insufficient. A personal recommendation is to enlarge this section considerably. Another limitation identified is that some concepts mentioned in the book lack a proper explanation of their meaning, like in the case of cultural core, ecological footprint, recycling, or sustainability, which have different meanings according to the different contexts in which they are employed. The provision of a glossary as an appendix is not very useful if there are not references in the text that call for a review of their meaning at a different part of the book. A recommendation for improvement is to include the references for the definition of controversial terms embedded in the body of the text to facilitate their understanding.

Very Useful
This is a useful book for those planning on getting into Environmental Anthropology (because there are so many of us).Gives a good introduction on what Env. Anth is all about

Very Useful
Very useful if you're planning on getting into Environmental Anthropology (because there are so many of us) to help understand the different areas available to study.Good intro book

A useful book for the general public interested in ecology
I have twice used Townsend's book in a mixed graduate/undergraduate class on cultural ecology and found it quite satisfactory.The style and vocabulary are accessible to anyone with a high school education.The author presents the basic concepts of human and environmental ecology in a brief and comprehensible way. The book could be of use in either a general introductory course, I specialized class like mine, or an area class on the South Pacific.I recommend it highly. ... Read more

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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

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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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Doing Anthropology in Consumer Research is an essential new guide to the theory and practice of conducting ethnographic research in consumer environments. Patricia Sunderland and Rita Denny argue that, while the recent explosion in the use of “ethnography” in the corporate world has provided unprecedented opportunities for anthropologists and other qualitative researchers, this popularization too often results in shallow understandings of culture, divorcing ethnography it from its foundations. In response, they reframe the field by re-attaching ethnography to theoretically robust and methodologically rigorous cultural analysis. The engrossing text draws on decades of the authors’ own eclectic research—from coffee in Bangkok and boredom in New Zealand to computing in the United States—using methodologies from focus groups and rapid appraisal to semiotics and visual ethnography. Five provocative forewords by leaders in consumer research further push the boundaries of the field and challenge the boundaries of academic and applied work. In addition to reorienting the field for academics and practitioners, this book is an ideal text for students, who are increasingly likely to both study and work in corporate environments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

To end our obsession with psychology
Psychology is ubiquitous in the world of marketing. It has been since marketers fell in love with Freud. This book is a timely reminder that people are first and foremost social beings. It reminds us to look at what we share (language, symbols) and how this might help companies develop better products, or tap into new market opportunities. The authors have first-hand experience into these questions. Most importantly, they provide a stimulating exposition of cultural analysis. This is an essential read for managers who want to go beyond faddish market research tools and explore how to be better understand the world of customers.

HOLY HELL
This was a grand excursion to say the least, coming from just enough background to THINK I knew anything about what anthropology could be in consumer research, this book made my brain twist and flatten and splinter and weave and jutter and spin itself into a tissy. Not only did I have my pre-conceptions blasted to pieces about exactly what anthropology was and how it related to product development, I left the book with a new view and appreciation for what anthropology actually is, and what enormously important implications it could bring to product development (b/c I dare say it isn't usually this). Inspiring and crucial for anyone one who wants to make relevant things for people.

Explore the interesting connections between consumer research and cultural anthropology
Doing Anthropology in Consumer Research by Patricia L. Sunderland and Rita M. Denny is a well-written book exploring the boundaries and connections between academic disciplines and interpretive communities. First, Sunderland and Denny examine the interesting similarities (and differences) between consumer research and cultural anthropology. They note that both of these disciplines rely on ethnography as an important method. The book broadly interprets ethnography to include semiotics, deep interviewing, visual and projective techniques, and participant observation. Sunderland and Denny explore their own consulting projects and academic interests with a reflective engaging style with many interesting examples to develop a convincing argument that consumer researchers need to study anthropology to enhance a cultural analysis and anthropologists should not ignore popular culture. Second, they examine the interface between theory and practice suggesting that academic communities often become encapsulated from real-life problems. After spending most of my life in academia I could not agree with them more. Sunderland and Denny's book helped me to reflect on my own projects in new ways, motivating me to step out of the office, take action, and get involved. This book is must reading for students of marketing, consumer behavior, cultural anthropology, and practitioners of marketing and consumer research.

Very readable mix of academic/personal aspects of doing commercial anthropology
I found this book both academic and much like a diary of personal experiences.The authors' reflections on the problems of conducting studies in the commercial world made this book impossible to put down at times. They take you through multiple layers of personal interaction with subjects' and clients' preconceptions and solve what appear to be insurmountable issues. I never knew you could extract so much detailed information about peoples' likes, dislikes and communication patterns from what appears to be such a small sampling. I found the authors' work fascinating.It made me want to become an anthropologist.

A must read if you are serious about consumer research!
During the last 10 years, I've read many books on consumer research and better understanding the consumer's mind. From Freud to Jung, from MacLean to Levy to Zaltman and others, I've read them all. And even after all that,"Doing Anthropology" is the best book I've read on the topic of consumer research.
Authors Sunderland and Denny describe their vivid experiences in the so-called field of Ethnographic Research, a trend that has been gaining popularity in the USA where only "facts," "figures" and "statistical validation" have been the norm. While the mantra in the quantitative research world is "if something exists, it must be measurable" the world that Sunderland and Denny reflect in their book says "if something exists, it must have a meaning."
This book will be very useful for those serious about consumer research. It goes through what ethnography is to the invaluable (and most of the time unseen) world of cultural analysis.
If you are tired of getting the same outcome in your consumer research, "Doing Anthropology" will broaden your scope. The reader will discover a new way of perceiving reality, where the act of consumption is far more than an economic transaction but a symbolic one, where the meaning of things is more important than the things themselves.
"Doing Anthropology" is also a generous act where the authors give us their secrets and share their fears and hopes as they are lived in the exciting world of consumer research.For academically oriented readers, the book is full of notes and sources, making it a great compilation of useful information.
PeccataMinuta: I only wish that the many pictures of the book were in full color. After all, color is a meaning itself, an element that would make Sunderland and Denny's argument more vivid.
Thomas Clayre said: "Indeed, it is well said, in every action there is inexhaustible meaning," and this book will give you a pair of glasses to discover that your brand values less from what it is than from what it means. ... Read more

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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

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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

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Customer Reviews (1)

Important ethnographic study of cell phones
In a global environment where mobile technologies are making impressive and influential in-roads into many societis and cultures, this ethnographically based study of the impact of cell phones on low-income populations in Jamaica is a valuable piece of scholarship. Based on two-years of ethnographic study in a rural and urban area of Jamaica, Horst and Miller's effort to construct an 'anthropology of communication' is accessible, yet strongly grounded in theory.Through avoiding technological and socially deterministic approaches and carefully examining the contradictions inherent in the deployment of cell phones throughout poorer sections of Jamaican society, the advantages and difficulties of this new technology are presented clearly, wreathed in the complications of everyday Jamaican life.The use of extensive ethnographic data (impressive in its scope) presented as short case studies, provide a clear sense of realism for the contextualisation of their examination of communication as an anthropological experience, with impacts for economics and policy.In examining the Jamaican experience specifically, this work may be limited in its use in other contexts, but still provides an important model for researchers in similar areas. Grounded in the reality of everyday Jamaican life, "The Cell Phone" succeeds as "...a study of the changes that document and demonstrate what a cell phone can turn into in the hands of a Jamaican, and what a Jamaican can become when they have their hands on a cell phone."(181)

An important piece of scholarship for anyone interested in the impact of technologies on people, cultures and societies. ... Read more