Why Nothing Works: The Anthropology of Daily Life (Touchstone Books (Paperback))

by Marvin Harris

Book Overview

This book is about cults, crime, and shoddy goods, and the shrinking dollar. It's about porno parlors, and sex shops, and men kissing in the streets. It's about daughters shaking up, women on the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671635778
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Touchstone
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.8" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

5 Stars For Enlightened Usefulness

I first read America Now in 1985. It was required reading for a college course. I continue to revisit my now worn copy as a touchstone. I have loaned it to several friends after intense discussions. Harris provides a quick and enjoyable reading. The book helps us to understand the highly complex and perplexing situations of today's society. The book should be on everyone's desk at work or nightstand at home. It helps to keep one grounded in thinking straight about controversial issues. That brings to mind another required reading from college that I would recommend be revisited often, "Guides To Straight Thinking" by Stuart Chase. Both of these books can do a lot to restore reason and civility to social discourse.

Reasonable, engaging explanation of today's problems.

I loved this book and found it intriguing as well as nice reading. This "anthropology of daily life" makes fascinating connections between various aspects of American society, attempting to show the cause-and-effect relationships which created some of today's messes. Harris covers such topics as "Why the Help Won't Help You", "Why the Dollar Shrank", "Why Women Left Home", "Why the Cults are Coming", "Why There's Terror on the Streets", and "Why the Gays Came Out of the Closet", keeping an even tone throughout and avoiding stereotypes and scapegoating. Warning: If you're looking for a book that'll blame women, blacks, immigrants, or gays for all your problems, you've come to the wrong place