Excellent introduction to cultural anthropology!
929970
This text was used in my introductory anthropolgy class, and I thoroughly enjoyed the readings. The text includes many case studies of differing cultures without being overly technical. I found this text easy to read, but very thought provoking. Highly recommended!
3380727
I wouldn't have normally purchased this book if it wasn't for a course requirement. From chapter one all the way to the end, the authors take the reader or student through a detailed interface of what life is like experienced in other cultures. It touches upon the four different career interests in cultural anthropology as well. A time consuming read, but loaded with useful information for in and out of the class room.
3270782
What a shame that this book is out of print! I bought a used copy on Amazon, expecting that it would be an introductory cultural anthropology textbook.  Instead, it is really a guide book with a focus on cultural tourism, and an extremely good one.  It is highly readable, both well-written and also well-printed on high quality paper, and includes some valuable details that my standard guidebook omitted.  If I only take one guide book with me on my upcoming Inner Passage tour, this will be the one.
4143105
Hofstede's work is brilliant! I really enjoyed learning about his dimensions of culture! they can be applied at the national culture level, but they can also be very useful in improving communications among people of various backgrounds. His "Dimensions" are still very powerful tools and to this date they help us better understand people of other cultures. I highly recommend this book.
627561
This is a great work of art, and although it is not "authentic" from an ethnological point of view, it is an excellent place to start exploring Native -- more specifically Ojibway/Chippewa -- mythology, religion and spirituality. It's where I got my start in the first place!
In order to delve deeper into the same tradition, books by Basil Johnston are highly recommended. Their content is "authentic" as the writer is himself a Native/Chippewa writer, storyteller, language teacher and scholar, who has received official recognition (honorary doctorates from 2 Canadian universities, and membership in the Order of Ontario).
To broaden one's horizons later on, why not try the Pantheon "American Indian Myths and Legends" by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz? This is an anthology of 166 folk tales from all Native traditions in North America. One reviewer compared it to a "Native Bible". A treasury of great value... And fascinating reading!
2014530
Very great book it helped me in my Anthropology class about special rituals of Apaches. This only has one ceremony, so don't think it has all the Apache ceremonies, just has the puberty ceremony. Great Ethnography it pulls you in and want to read the whole book, which I did in one day, another thing this book is short, so another positive.
2838641
This book is recommended not only for Interculturalists but also to people from other fields who are interested in having a better understanding of themselves and others in a global business environment.
I was mainly impressed with the way Erin chose to explore and describe very complex concepts in a simple to understand way. The stories and case studies illustrated are very insightful and help in connecting theory with practice.
3175912
I found that this book was very interesting and cleared up a lot of questions and misconceptions I had about the Indian culture.  The answers were thorough, well written, and easy to understand.  Each question was very specific and there was little redundancy throughout the book.  I believe the question and answers in this book are a great starting point for conversations between different cultures in America.

I enjoyed the format of the book, being in question and answer form because it made the content easier to understand.  I also like how the chapters were broken down into questions about certain topics because it made it easier to tie many things together.

Overall, reading this book was an excellent reading and learning experience.  I learned many things that I had not known and some of what I thought I knew about the culture was corrected.  I think this type of literature is a great gateway to meaningful conversations across cultures.  It makes people more culturally aware and also helps the reader see the similarity in cultures as well as the differences.
3940491
The is a medical anthropology book without the normal arcane jargon of anthropologists.  Good introduction to the post-Civil War public health challenges in rural Guatemala.  Wish I have read this before joining Healer2Healer.org as a volunteer in April 2011 in Santa Cruz del Quiche.  Other supporting background readings for those volunteering with NGOs in Guatemala include "Time and the Highland Maya" by Barbara Tedlock, "Wind in the Blood: Mayan Healing & Chinese Medicine" by Hernan Garcia, Antonio Sierra, Gilberto Balam and Jeff Conant, and (skipping over the very academic jargon of the linguistic methodology chapters) "K'iche': A Study in the Sociology of Language" by M. Paul Lewis.  This last book has excellent discussions of ethnic and political dyanamics in 5 key towns in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.
4201144
Incredibly touching and personal ethnographic analysis of one of the most destructive internal wars in South American history.  Theidon is a fantastic scholar and anthropologist who translates the experiences of indigenous highland villagers to northern readers.  I've assigned this to undergraduate college students in my intermediate Latin America class along with films on Fujimori and dirty wars in post-dictatorship Latin America, and will use it in classes on introduction to political anthropology, indigenous movements and human rights as well.
3758239
It is not a common thing to find an Ethnography that's actually FUN to read. This book is the exception. I highly recommend this book!
1545271
I was surprised to have my horizons expanded greatly though I had initially expressed skepticism at another book on diversity. On the contrary, this one contains real, practical, appropriate cultural nuances and advice on particulars for many national and cultural traditions. I heartily suggest it as a cornerstone of a modern cultural analysis of the factors that can contribute to enhancing diversity. Even though a bit dated, their research still is valuable. I cannot wait for the next edition!
2204686
For my Anthropological Theory class, I had seven different textbooks to read and draw from but this was my absolute favorite!! I loved how each new theoretical paradigm had it's own introduction section which was followed by excerpts from anthropologists. And all anthropological writings had footnotes which came in handy, especially when reader more difficult theorists such as Foucault and Bourdieu. This book will definitely remain in my collection throughout my anthropological career!!!
3453644
This was the text for an intro to archaeology course I ended up dropping. Since I'll be signing up for the course again next spring, I decided to read it anyway.

Most of my archaeology background comes from books like Lekson's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Architecture-of-Chaco-Canyon-New-Mexico-Chaco-Canyon-Series/dp/0874809487/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Architecture of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico (Chaco Canyon Series)</a>, Cordell's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Prehistory-of-the-Southwest-New-World-Archaeological-Record/dp/0121882225/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Prehistory of the Southwest (New World Archaeological Record)</a>, and Reed's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Chaco-s-Northern-Prodigies-Salmon-Aztec-and-the-Ascendancy-of-the-Middle-San-Juan-Region-after-AD-1100/dp/0874809258/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Chaco's Northern Prodigies: Salmon, Aztec, and the Ascendancy of the Middle San Juan Region after AD 1100</a>&nbsp;on Ancestral Puebloans (AKA Anasazi or Hisatsinom) in the Four Corners area. So it's good to get a more general background from Feder.

Feder weaves recent research into his narrative, making his book as current as books get.

He also discusses different methods of dating, and many other techniques that reveal prehistoric cultures.

His descriptions of field research in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe make me want to do fieldwork even more, especially after exploring Chacoan Great Houses and Anasazi outliers.

A faculty member in West Valley College's Park Management program recommended Renfrew's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Archaeology-Theories-Methods-and-Practice-Fifth-Edition/dp/0500287139/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice (Fifth Edition)</a>&nbsp;as a more complete text. I haven't read it so I don't know how it compares.

Feder's Past in Perspective reads a bit more like a New York Times bestseller than a textbook.

His out-of-print&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Lessons-From-the-Past-An-Introductory-Reader-in-Archaeology/dp/076740453X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Lessons From the Past: An Introductory Reader in Archaeology</a>&nbsp;reprints relatively recent articles about unusual archaeological applications in forensics, and in reconstruction of recent history, like combatant movements during the battle of the Little Bighorn.

Both books will give you a general idea of what archaeology is about.
2034832
I've worked with several Sudanese men in the City of Louisville, Kentucky, as a mentor and friend.  Moving to Syracuse, New York, I was afraid I'd lose my Sudanese connection, but quickly learned of McMahon's research and dedication to the Dinka and Didinga who live in Central, New York.  What I found most interesting about the book was that she chooses not to focus on the harsh realities of the Sudanese Lost Boys experience, but instead digs deeply into Sudanese traditions of song, dance and art.  Along her journey, too, McMahon taps into unknown territories where she's the first to point out that more research needs to occur.  NOT JUST CHILD'S PLAY is a great companion piece to anyone interested in the Sudanese experience in America, the well-publicized crisis in Darfur and the American immigration process.  Extremely well-versed in her academic field, she not only produces a deeply researched text, but also a cultural introduction to the years before cultural conflicts caused a historical uprooting of native people and traditions.  I read this as a friend to the Sudanese community, a teacher, a student and a man very aware of today's global realities.  Felicia McMahon's book is a great addition to my library.
2647354
This book is chock full of wonderful scholarly case studies, theoretical material and concepts, and excellent research.  I am an anthropologist; very important work in thinking about communities and individuals who are in distress and the resources that help them to resiliate.  Ungar presents a very fine overview and detailing of the concept of social ecology of resilience.  Please see excellent case study of community resilience in Greenland; refugee studies in Australia, and adolescent resilience vs. cultural entrapment in Afghanistan.

Well worth the hefty price.
1742758
VISUAL RESEARCH is a short and easily readable guide to lead researchers in the social sciences and related professional fields into current methods of expanding observed reporting beyond the time-tested paper-based ones of note-taking, evaluating, writing and publishing results. Although most immediately aimed at students and practitioners of anthropology, especially ethnology, the authors practical tips are much more broadly useful. They include inquiry ethics, organization and implementation of research objectives, and solving technical problems applicable to everybody from schoolteachers, professors and students to all professionals who need to document their investigations by incorporating the newest multimedia, visual and aural techniques. Even old dogs like this reviewer can benefit mightily from the new tricks that will be required in future.