Reviews (6)

Excellent and essential
This is a required text for just about every introductory course on Hinduism. Essential reading for anyone wishing to understand how Hindus worship and see the divine.

Solid introduction to the concept of Hindu iconography and related ritual experience
Diana Eck is a wonderful scholar who has written several great books on Hinduism. Darsan (or "darshan," if you're transliterating it simply for an English-speaking audience) is a wonderfully simple introduction to Hindu iconography and the related ritual experience, a subject that is overwhelmingly broad and often unwieldy.
Eck sees it clearly
Diana Eck has done an excellent job of sifting through the vast amount of material on Hindu imagery in India and presenting an intelligently distilled interpretation. An excellent read on a very difficult subject. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Eastern - General    3. Hinduism    4. Religion    5. Religion - Church History    6. Anthropology    7. Cultural studies    8. India    9. Religion / General   

Reviews (3)

A very mixed bag of articles to read with eyes wide open
"Basic Communications of Intercultural Communication" is a collection of thirteen essays on a variety ofcross-cultural topics, mostly those affecting people of different nationalities or speaking different languages. The quality of the articles is very uneven. Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication
This is a must read book, especially for those dealing with intercultural communication, both in the areas of foreign language learning and business management. I read some of the articles twice even three times and found the them very inspiring for my teachings as they provided a strong foundation on cross cultural understanding; moreover they have helped me a lot in highlighting the sensitive matters in intercultural communication to my class. I assume anyone dealing with people from different cultural background need to know the arts of intercultural communication, as misunderstanding might result in losing the business. I am quite positive that this book will also be of great help for managers, business people who have to deal with their foreign partners.

A fundamental reference I return to again and again.
This book was my initial introduction to the field of intercultural communication and I seem to return to it often as a reference point in thinking about new intercultural works that I wish to more deeplyunderstand.The chapter on marginality by Janet Bennett is particularlythought provoking and helpful around personal identification issues relatedto biculturality. I strongly suggest this book to anyone seeking tobetter understand intercultural relations.I can't seem to keep it off mydesk and get it back on the shelf. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Anthropology - General    3. Communication    4. Cultural And Social Anthropology    5. Intercultural Communication    6. Interpersonal Relations    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Communication Studies    10. Cultural studies   

Reviews (26)

Every White American Should Read This Book!
I absolutely loved the insight of this author. Even if you don't agree with every single point, you will definitely think and question your previous perspective on how you view race. That is what good writing does. From a white person's perspective and experiences, the author exposes the myth of "color-blindness" in America. To be clear, this book has absolutely nothing to do with promoting white "guilt" (as a previous reviewer falsely claimed), but has its focus squarely on white "responsibility" that is wed to the bride that is "white privilege". In fact, white "guilt" is clearly shunned upon.
Memoirs for his family on some mediocre lived life
The style of the author is like listening to a person that likes to talk about himself all the time. Kinda reminds me of the 1980 movie "Airplane" when the ex-fighter pilot tells the story of his life to the passengers; they end their lives in different ways after having to hear him...
Silent Discrimination
Racial discrimination has always been a problem in our society.Decades ago people of color were seen as incompetent people and became slaves to the white people.But over the years as a society we have come to denounce discrimination based upon color and tried to make everyone equal.However, as much as we may like to believe that our society has come to see everyone as equal, it has not.In Tim Wise book "White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son" he shows us how color the of someones skin leads to privilege or discrimination.
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Subjects:  1. Discrimination & Racism    2. Ethnic Studies - General    3. Minority Studies - Race Relations    4. Race And Ethnic Relations    5. Race relations    6. Racism    7. Social Science    8. Social conditions    9. Sociology    10. United States    11. Whites    12. Wise, Tim J    13. Ethnography    14. Social Science / Discrimination & Race Relations   

Reviews (9)

Understand The Amish As They Really Are
Many readers probably bought this book after visiting an Amish community or seeing a Hollywood movie that triggered their curiosity for a culture and a way of life that seem to defy the passing of time. For most people, it will be the first and also perhaps the last ethnographic study that they read. They couldn't have fallen on a better piece of work. Not only will they learn a wealth of facts about the Amish, their history, their beliefs, and their social organization, but they will also come across a fine scholarly work that makes use of the distinctive methods of the social sciences in a thoroughly accessible way.
In-depth, scholarly and effective
Growing up near some scattered Amish church districts in Northwestern Pennsylvania and Western New York, I have always been interested in learning more about the Amish going way back to my childhood.Hostetler's book is my first attempt at this and I managed to pick a very good starting point.
Interesting but sometimes slow
This book is so informative, but at some points it is slow moving. The good thing about the book is that the chapters are divided so you can skip chapters you don't think you would be interested in.It is a great book to buy if you are interested or wanting to learn more about the amish community.It covers everything from funerals to marriage.A great read! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amish    2. Anthropology - General    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Christianity - Amish    5. Social life and customs    6. Sociology    7. United States    8. United States - General    9. Anthropology    10. Cultural studies    11. Medical / Public Health    12. Other Protestant & Nonconformist Churches    13. Social history    14. USA   

Subjects:  1. Discrimination & Racism    2. Education    3. Minority Studies - Race Relations    4. Multicultural Education    5. Philosophy & Social Aspects    6. Race discrimination    7. Race identity    8. Sociology    9. United States    10. Whites    11. Education / Multicultural Education    12. Ethnography   

Reviews (1)

Shrewdly Looking at the Disenfranchised in Japan to Uncover the Key to Its Economic Woes
The enervating impact of Japan's lingering economic recession since 1990 is the subject of this fascinating if somewhat cursory look at a generation of socially dysfunctional young men (and some women) known as "hikikomori". In American society, they would be looked upon in patronizing terms as slackers since their withdrawal amounts to sponging off their dispirited parents and remaining hidden from the work force. According to author Michael Zielenziger, the irony in Japan is that the majority of them are not limited by any diagnosable medical condition like depression or agoraphobia but by a broader, more culturally-driven disappointment in recognizing their inability to keep up with what society expects from them. Contrary to enduring Japanese tradition, these outcasts simply cannot submerge their true identities for the greater good of conformity.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Asia - Japan    4. Ethnology    5. Ethnology And Ethnography    6. Ethnopsychology    7. Japan    8. Japan - History - 20th Century    9. National characteristics, Japanese    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Sociology - General    13. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Reviews (7)

I think Japanese should cherish the culture as Japanese too.
I have lived in Tokyo, Japan since I was born here. Though I can say about the case in Tokyo only, even I can not look at the Japanese historical things in my ordinaly Tokyo life. Tokyo is same as another big town over the world, developed town with high stores building, the imported fashion from mainly U.S.A etc. Certainly, the modern life in Tokyo may be comfortable, but I think that the life is not truth things, that is, that may be physical comfot, not mental.
10,000 Years In 300 Pages
The tracings of Japanese culture go back some 10,000 years - speaking conservatively.Since then there has been a remarkable continuity of inhabitation on the Japanese islands, which has resulted in one of the richest and complex cultures in the world today.Originally heavily influenced by the neighboring Chinese culture in the period from 300 BC to 300 AD, the islands quickly found their own way and over the ensuing years have developed a breadth of integrated experience that is often baffling to the outsider or curious student.
Typical history
This book is good.I'm not going to call it great, nor will I say that it isn't a worthwhile read; however, it gets wordy at points.It could be improved with an overview of each chapter and then have the in-depth information to follow.Regardless, there is a wealth of information within!I personally love the history parts because I fell asleep when I took east asian history, and this is a good way of refreshing my memory to prepare for my college major of East Asian Studies come 2005 ;). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Civilization    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Japan    7. Sociology - General    8. Anthropology    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history    10. Cultural studies   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Social & cultural anthropology    6. Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural   

Reviews (66)

The title has nothing to do with the story
I enjoy this authors writing style as it is full of humor and commen sense that everyone can agree with.His other book, Getting Stoned with Savages, was also good and if you read you have to read the other!

Excellent reading
This book is an account of the 2 years Troost and his wife spent on Tarawa, a desolate atoll that is part of Kiribati and quickly becoming a polluted slum.
Mental Note: Don't Vacation On Tarawa.
One would think that "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" was a psychological reference book about the libidinous habits of Hannibal Lector and friends. Actually, it refers to the historical beginnings of the peoples on a remote Pacific island called Tarawa. The ancesters of those native to the atoll apparently lost their men to invading cannibals who went on to procreate with their women through force, creating a non-descript race of islanders. Not exactly what immediately comes to mind upon reading the title of J. Maarten Troost's first novel, a true story about his two year adventure on a small piece of land in the middle of the an endless bowl of water.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Description And Travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Ethnology    6. Ethnology And Ethnography    7. Kiribati    8. Social life and customs    9. Tarawa Atoll    10. Tarawa Atoll (Kiribati)    11. Travel    12. Travel - General    13. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Reviews (7)

Strong Tips Here
Axtell vividly shows how common sense is NOT enough to get you through all social or business situations around the world. Travelers ignore Axtell at their own peril.

Interesting
This book is good to read in general terms as it attempted to explain the gestures from all around the world.Sometimes, it's amusing to read & at times, I would be loss for words as what I thought was the right things to do in certain countries is actually considered as rude or obscene.Perhaps, it's the kind of book that you can read in the plane or just as a matter of interest.The presentation is rather text book-ish with bullet points, occasional pictures to ease readers' boredom, something like a PowerPoint presentation.I guess that denotes the writer's background being a prominent guest speaker.

Useful, interesting and funny
This is a nice book. If you are going to travel abroad or you meet foreign people, you would like to know what these people understand from your body language. Of course, the book also gives you good material for chatting with friends from anywhere (including your own coutry).Read more

Subjects:  1. Body language    2. Business & Economics    3. Business Etiquette    4. Business/Economics    5. Cross-cultural studies    6. Etiquette    7. Gesture    8. Intercultural Communication    9. Nonverbal Communication    10. Reference    11. Business & Economics / Business Etiquette    12. Business communication & presentation    13. Cultural studies    14. Customs    15. International business   

Reviews (1)

Best introductory Text Available on the market
This is an excellent text.Any professor searching for a Cultural Anthropology text needn't look any further.Heider presents the material in a very interesting, concise, and very clear way.Heider clearly illustrates the holistic approach to anthropology and explores that avenue in an exciting way. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Anthropology - General    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Ethnology    5. Indigenous peoples in motion p    6. Indigenous peoples in motion pictures    7. Motion pictures in ethnology    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Anthropology    11. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Case studies    3. Discrimination & Racism    4. General    5. Minorities    6. Political activity    7. Political participation    8. Politics - Current Events    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. United States    13. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Fossils and Molecular Biology    4. Human Evolution    5. Palaeoanthropology    6. Primate Evolution    7. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (1)

An informed and informative addition
Enhanced with the inclusion of 14 color photographs, 2 color maps, 36 black/white photographs, and 13 line drawn illustrations, "Skin: A Natural History" by Nina G. Jablonski (Head of the Department of Anthropology at The California Academy of Sciences) is a thoroughly "reader friendly" and scholarly introduction to the biological and cultural functions of human skin. "Skin" addresses such questions and issues as how and when human skin came to look, fell, and function as we know it today; why we turn pale when anxious but red when we are embarrassed or angry; why touch is one of the fundamentally important senses of the body and relates to every aspect of human life; what is the real purpose of fingerprints; skin as a canvas for self-expression; the effects of aging, environmental stress, insect bites, burns, and diseases upon skin; advancing medical technologies relevant to skin issues, and so much more. Surveying more than 300-million-years of evolutionary development as it relates to the skin of homo sapiens, "Skin" addresses the critical role skin plays in human health (including processing sunlight for Vitamin D), the role of melanin in protecting us from the sun's rays, and the advances toward to the creation of artificial skin, gene therapies, reversing the aging process of skin, and other fascinating issues related to our skin. "Skin: A Natural History" is an informed and informative addition to medical school, academic library, and Anthropological Studies collections, as well as a very highly recommended study for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the biology and sociology of skin issues. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Beauty & Grooming - General    3. Beauty & Grooming - Skin    4. Fashion & Grooming    5. Health & Fitness    6. Health/Fitness    7. History    8. Life Sciences - Zoology - Mammals    9. Medical / Nursing    10. Physiology    11. Skin    12. Body art & tattooing    13. Social & cultural anthropology    14. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (2)

good job.
exactly what i expected. delivery was on time and the condition of the book was accurately described in the original order, so no surprises or missing pages.

Satisfied Customer
Product was what they said it was and speedy service.Very satisfied with my purchase. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Ethnopsychology    3. History    4. Intercultural communication    5. Personality and culture    6. Psychology    7. Social Psychology    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / General    9. Social, group or collective psychology   

Editorial Review

The late Bruce Chatwin carved out a literary career as unique as any writer's in this century: his books included Read more

Reviews (51)

Best of the best
This is the kind of writing/reflecting many people do while travelling and is not a "how to" type of travel guide.I've recommended this book to several thoughtful people, given it to many thoughtful teens as they begin to self-discover, and re-read the book twice.VERY nice writing, good thoughts, great ideas about humans.

The Songlines
As i never wanted to go to Australia, i have to say that after reading this book i have not changed my mind, but it is not a point. It is not a book about traveling in Australia. It is more a book about walking, for example. As i like walking, i have found in this book so many great examples of what the walking is about, it is not just moving from one point on the Earth to another, it is also philosophy. And so on...this book is highly recommended for those who knows what the word "travel" means. In present time many people travel, but just a few ones deserve to be called "traveller". Bruce Chatwin is among them.

Read before you go!
I wish I had read this book prior to our traveling to Australia.
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Subjects:  1. 1940-1989    2. Aboriginal Australians    3. Australia    4. Australia & Oceania - Australia    5. Chatwin, Bruce,    6. Description and travel    7. Essays & Travelogues    8. General    9. History - General History    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Social life and customs    12. Travel    13. Chatwin, Bruce    14. Ethnic studies    15. Journeys    16. Social Science / Anthropology / General    17. Travel writing   

Reviews (5)

Amish life: the same and yet so different
Not your typical photographic essay.Discusses in depth the complexities of the Amish nation's dynamic interelations with the larger English society. Amish life has, apparently, changed greatly in the last century, whether it be gas stoves, business ventures, fiberglass buggies, or toxic chemicals spewn from modern devices pulled by horses, although such details vary somewhat from church district to church district.There are no easy outs for those born into the faith and no easy ins for those born outside.A more truly revealing book on the Amish would have to be written by someone in the inside, which will not happen.However, Kraybill's work is a sympathetic, comprehensive, and revealing work.An informative read also suggested for public and academic libaries.

More than buggies
Kraybill knows his topic.He's a prof. at Messiah College, a top-drawer evangelial school with Anabaptist/Brethren roots, located near PA Amish country.He has studied and written on the Amish since the mid-80s.He is also a clear communicator, able to summarize complicated material with ease.
"The telephone is still on probation"
Have you ever wondered what happened to the Anabaptists?Or why the Mennonites and Amish have similar customs?Or why an Old Order Amish kitchen might have a gas-powered refrigerator but not an electric one?Read more

Subjects:  1. Amish    2. Anthropology - Cultural    3. Canada    4. Christianity - Amish    5. Christianity - Protestanism    6. Lancaster County    7. Minority Studies - General    8. Pennsylvania    9. Religion    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Christian & quasi-Christian cults & sects    13. Christian communities & monasticism    14. Cultural studies    15. Denominations of American origin    16. Literary Criticism & Collections / European    17. Social groups & communities    18. USA   

Reviews (4)

An Imperative Classic
"Man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun, I take culture to be those webs..."
From Universals to Particulars
The Interpretation of Culture by Clifford Geertz is concerned with articulating a particular view of what culture is, what role it plays in social life, and proposes a methodology with which it should be studied. Geertz posits that culture should not be seen as a science in search of law but instead as an interpretation in search of meaning. "The concept of culture I espouse, and whose utility the essays below attempt to demonstrate, is essentially a semiotic one. Believing, with Max Weber, that man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself spun, I take culture to be those webs, and the analysis of it to be therefore not an experimental science in search of law but an interpretive one in search of meaning. It is explication I am after, construing social expression on their surface enigmatical. But this pronouncement, a doctrine in a clause demands itself some explication" (p5) Just a Continuation of Anti-Progressive, Anti-Science
In the typical post-modernist sense, Geertz seeks to cast doubt on everything without leaving us with anything in place.Just like other post modernists, his theories are so vague, poorly stated, and in generally strange that they cannot be proved right or wrong.Even if he, like other post-modernists, is right, we do not gain anything but perhaps a somewhat edited understanding of our world.Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Ethnology    4. Sociology    5. Sociology - General    6. Anthropology    7. Cultural studies   

Reviews (7)

Brilliant
Excellent, Brilliant and full of wisdom. This is from a philosopher who has the ability to see things from more perspectives than black and white. His book is concise and not too academic. He makes philosophy trendy. He is a new generation of thinkers that will reshape our thoughts. He tackles sensitive issues with respect for all parties. One cannot tell his sentiments due to his fairness and objectivity. The first book I will read a second time.

Accept the complex
Although K. Appiah starts on a very solid and sometimes difficult philosophical ground, the essay seems to lost itself into the richness and the complexity of humanity. Which does not necessarily make it uninteresting. On the contrary. The parallels drawn from personal experience, archeology, capitalism and so forth are at times enlightening and original. Besides the advices on how to converse properly, I was left with a taste of subtle fatality hidden behind a veil of optimism.

Citizens of the World: Please Unite
Appiah has written an intelligent, urbane, and concise analysis of, and prescription for, the global world we have come to inhabit. His title "Cosmopolitan" is intended to evoke its etymology, that we are "citizens of the world." Unlike Robert Wright in "The Moral Animal," Appiah rejects a one-world government, insisting we need to maintain a pluralistic system of governments for the ostensible purpose of creative enhancements, e.g., changes to the existent models through new insights, programs, and trial-and-error (hopefully, with errors corrected).