Annual Editions: Anthropology 00/01 (Annual Editions)

by Elvio Angeloni

This compilation of public press sources examines anthropological perspectives, culture and communication, organization of society and culture, families, gender and status, religion and ritual, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0072364106
• ISBN13: 9780072364101
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: William C Brown Publishers
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 8.5" x 0.5"

Customer Reviews

An Intriguing Cultural World Tour

I've used this book for the past six months to teach my English 101 classes. My five-star rating is based not only on my own opinion, but also on the opinions of my students. Generally speaking, we have all enjoyed reading and discussing these intriguing articles. The book is broken down into seven sections: Anthropological Perspectives / Culture and Communications / The Organization of Society and Culture / Other Families, Other Ways / Gender and Status / Religion, Belief, and Ritual / Sociocultural Change: The Impact of the West.Each of these sections offers a wonderfully balanced selection of articles, examining various aspects of many different cultures. The nicest thing about the book is that it includes many different types of articles, some with shocking topics (female circumcision in Africa; polyandrous marriage in Tibet; an explanation of genuine zombification in Haiti) some with topics that explore the surprisingly complicated world of American culture (Baseball players' 'magic' rituals; the effects of television on classroom behavior; the effects of miscommunication on the part of politicians, big businessmen and the military; the Appalachian dialect and its connection to Scots-Irish heritage).Perhaps some of the most entertaining articles are the ones where an Anthropologist from Western culture describes his often hilarious encounters with members of cultures he is studying. These professional researchers readily admit how confusing life is in a foreign culture, so that the process of research is depicted as it often really is---as a process fraught with human misconception until the eureka moment finally sneaks into view.An excellent starter book for those considering becoming an Anthropologist. An excellent choice for English Composition teachers looking for material students actually enjoy reading. And a great selection of 40 relatively brief, though thorough articles for anyone who is curious about the strangest creatures on earth: us!