Reviews (3)

Great Intro text.
This is a solid introductory text which competently handles and encyclopedic load of research in a way as to invites the novice to want to learn about human biology, history, culture within the unique naturalistic holism of academic anthropology.
Insightful and not at all preaching.
I couldn't disagree more with the previous reviewer and felt the need to add my review to explain the absurdity of theirs. This book is very insighful, interesting, and makes perfect sense. Quite a bit of the writers opinions are included, but that is the case with most books on the social sciences. It is almost an unavoidable reality that the author will flavor the text with their own personal experience. The previous reviewer (a mathematician) seems more intent on discrediting Anthropology as a science than presenting the real facts. If one is truly interested in gleaning a generalized view of all the anthropological disciplines from one text, this book comes highly recommended.

If I wanted to be preached at, I'd read a religious text
Being a mathematician taking an anthropology course is strange in its own right, but every time I was forced to read Haviland's text I felt more and more like I was in church and not reading a college textbook. In my field, we can either prove or disprove things, and people's opinions are rarely an issue. However, in the so-called social "sciences" this is not the case, and Haviland's book only compounds this problem. This book is absolutely painful to read, since everything is about what Haviland believes to be the "right" theory. Little evidence supporting other theories, no matter how widely-accepted, is presented. Instead, he fills page after page tearing apart other peoples' theories (and particularly enjoys to point out how older theories were flawed, even when it doesn't fit within the flow of the chapter). He often repeats himself to the point of being repetitively redundant. For example, in the early chapters on human origins, he beats to death the idea that differences between humans and other primates are "differences of degree, not kind". One would hope that a typical college freshman could understand this concept after the first ten times they're hit with it, but apparently Haviland disagrees. The book, like all introductory college texts, is full of meaningless photographs and figures. Of particular interest are the bell curve-like figures supposedly showing distributions of characteristics in human ancestors. As a mathematician, I still can't make any sense out of these figures, which don't have any meaningful scale attached and have completely unenlightening captions. Haviland's examples are also quite weak and do little to shore up his arguments. He has a few pet examples (e.g., intersexuals and transexuals in Native American culture) that come up chapter after chapter after chapter without doing one thing to strengthen his arguments. In fact, it seems that most of his examples only exist to further his own political agenda, which I hope he is not trying to hide, for if he is, he has failed miserably. In fact, a reviewer of an earlier edition of this text claimed that reading Haviland's book made her want to go out and change the world. Last time I checked, the point of an introductory anthropology course is to teach students about human culture at all times and in all places (to steal another favorite phrase of these so-called "scientists") and not to point out injustices throughout the history of the world. Another serious problem with this text is that, despite being a tenth edition, it exhibits the total lack of editing that I would expect in a first edition. There are far too many sentences that I read, reread, and then puzzled over how it was supposed to be grammatically correct. Additionally, he "defined" at least one adjective (polytypic) by giving a definition for a noun.Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology    2. Anthropology - General    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Social Science    5. Sociology    6. Sociology - General    7. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Editorial Review

If getting and spending define our lives, then Juliet Schor now has us covered. Six years ago, her book Read more

Reviews (62)

Explores the psychology of spending
To change behavior, it helps to understand behavior. This book does a great job exploring the psychology behind why people spend so much money.
Good Pop-Econ
Great primer on consumer behavior and its potential causes, however it appears much less solid in terms of quantitative data than its' predecessor, The Overworked American.While most will find data analysis unappealing as this is a popular economics book rather than something fit for the Journal of Political Economy, most of the conclusions drawn in this book seem unfounded and without empirical backing.
A great introduction to the need for a simpler life
Schor does some fascinating research here.The writing is good and involving.I loved the ads she used for some of the chapter headings.If this book does nothing else but teach you to recognize when an advertiser is telling you you'll be happier if you buy more stuff, it would be worth the price.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Consumer Behavior - General    4. Consumer behavior    5. Consumption (Economics)    6. Credit    7. Debt    8. Personal Finance - General    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - General    12. United States    13. Consumer issues    14. Social Science / Sociology / General    15. USA   

Editorial Review

The companion volume to the 1995 popular PBS series of the same name, Read more

Reviews (7)

History 101
This book is a grand overview of the history of the native peoples of North America, from the time of first settlement until their ultimate confrontations with European immigrants.Josephy takes us on a tour of the continent from the Mayan and Aztec civilizations to the Inuits.For each group of people, he describes their major accomplishments and customary ways of life.He then traces what happened to the tribes when Europeans determined to take away their lands or resources.
Eye opening experiance
This book opened my eyes to my heritage as a Native American (Hopi/Zuni). Straightforward writing, beautiful illustrations & wonderful pictures. I liked this book because it is a comprehensive study of the First Nations through prehistoric times to the Great Civilizations on to the time of Columbus and the coming of the Europeans. Finally, to the dissemination & destruction of the Native People's religion & culture. This book delves into an often overlooked period of American history- the Native slave trade. For hundreds of years Native peoples were kidnapped and forced into servitude, either sent to European countries or to European owned plantations in the Caribbean. The average Native died within a year after being captured due to harsh cruelty or European disease for which they had no immunity. European diseases wiped out whole tribal populations. I fully recommend that anyone interested in real American history reads this book.

Wonderful overview
I love my copy of this book and read it often. It is very informative, sensitive, and beautifully illustrated. You know: this book would make a perfect college graduation or birthday present, because the recipient will dip into it every now and again, enjoyably, for ever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. Indians of North America    5. Native American    6. Native Americans    7. North America    8. History / Native American    9. History of specific racial & ethnic groups    10. Indigenous peoples    11. Sale Books   

Reviews (3)

Compilation of very educational articles
I had to read this for an Anthropology class (Magic Witchcraft and Religion) and got so much out of it. Not only did my perspectives on some things change but I got a deeper understanding of the mechanics behind religion's role in society.
Here's my problem with it so far...
Here's my problem with the book: It presents an unfavorable view of certain types of magick and religions.True, I have not finished the book yet, but all you hav to do is read the negative definitions for the words "withcraft: An EVIL power inhert in certain individuals that permits them...to do HARM or cause others MISFORTUNE;""New Age: a loosley used term describing a combination of spirituality and superstition, a FAD and FARCE,that SUPPOSEDLY helps believes gain knowledge of the unknown;"and two of the four definitions involving the word magick end with the words "intended victim."Granted, the book was originally written in 1985 when withcraft, magick and Wicca weren't as accepted, but it was reprinted in 2001, so you'd think some of the definitions could have been changed.It just doesn't seem like an objective view of the supernatural and magick, but rather a negatively jaded one. It's getting 3 stars becasue I haven't finished it, and there's always a chance it could redeem itself at the end. ~Koppur

good summary of religion
This book is used by Butte college as well as Chico State. The book consists of independent articles, or exerpts, that illustrate the topics of each chapter. Some of the articles are difficult to read, but in general it does provide useful information. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. New Age    4. Occultism    5. Religion    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology of Religion    9. Religious groups    10. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (4)

Insightful and Helpful
A client who lived throughout Russia for around ten years and still conducts most of his business with Russians recommended this book to me.This is a good book, but a little too reliant on history in explaining present day Russian culture.The book really shines when talking about the Russians outside Moscow, but more and more the Moscow business elite seem to take their cue more from the New York or London elite than from their peasant ancestors, as this book contends. Overall, however, this book is as good any for gaining a better understanding of Russians and the Russian bureaucracy.

Short, well written and very insightful
Having lived and studied in Russia and being married to a Russian I am able to appreciate the tremendous understanding of the Russians by the author. this is a must read book if you intend to travel there, live there or marry someone who lives there; it will save you from making many mistakes or false assumptions. It is well written, concise , easy to read and inexpensive. Essential reading.

Modern Russian Culture: From Nyet to Da
This book is very informative and easy to read. My husband and I are traveling to Russia sometime in the next 2 months to adopt 2children and I feel it is important to understand their culture both for now and for their future. I have recommended this book to others on the adoption related mailing lists I am on and others have also responded favorably. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Russia & the Former Soviet Union    2. History - General History    3. History: World    4. National characteristics, Russ    5. National characteristics, Russian    6. Russia (Federation)    7. Social life and customs    8. Social psychology    9. Anthropology    10. Cultural studies    11. Russia    12. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Clinical Psychology    3. Cross-cultural studies    4. Education & Training    5. Ethnic Sociology    6. Handbooks, manuals, etc    7. Mental Health    8. Mental illness    9. Professional-Patient Relations    10. Psychiatry, Transcultural    11. Psychology    12. Psychotherapy    13. Psychiatry    14. Psychological methodology    15. Psychology & Psychiatry / General   

Editorial Review

Jared Diamond states the theme of his book up-front: "How the human species changed, within a short time, from just another species of big mammal to a world conqueror; and how we acquired the capacity to reverse all that progress overnight." Read more

Reviews (72)

What a wide angled view on history of humanity!
Very informative and enjoyable reading. I am impressed by the apparent easiness of the combination of historical, sociological, biological and evolutionary aspects.

His First Winner
A fine book, thought-provoking as usual, investigating with great skill why the human animal acts as it does. Not to be missed. A bit more propagandistic than "Collapse" and "Guns, Germs, and Steel," but that's interesting, too.

Nice coverage of many aspects of the human animal
A comparison of how our closest relatives from the animal kingdom show a remarkable number of our most cherished features.Diamond makes the bold claim that we are so similar in genetic make up, that we should stop and reconsider how we treat our chimpanzee cousins.He gives great coverage of our physical and psychological characteristics that have diverged from our ancestors, and he also gives reasons why.He paints a good portrait of human behaviour, both the good and the bad, and animal precedents we can refer to, to help us understand why we are the way we are.Finally we must be cautious, because only now does the human race have the technology to end not only other species existence, but our own. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Human Evolution    4. Life Sciences - Biology - General    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (6)

what a disturbing book
I haven't even finished reading this book yet and I'm already feeling queasy about my own diamond ring, which incidentally I haven't worn in a few years due to an allergic reaction.When my husband and I bought it, it was definitely the most expensive thing either of us had ever shelled out money for, except our co-op apartment.Neither of us knew about the bloody history of the industry and the likelihood that the "forever" symbol of our love was so tainted.I'd like to sell it and donate the proceeds to charity.At least then it would do something good for somebody.

Beautiful, heartbreaking, and important
As others here have noted, Tom Zoellner's book is comprehensive, engaging, and deeply troubling for those of us who had planned to proudly wear a diamond one day. In addition to these observations, I'd like to point out several other aspects of the book that place it a step above similar works of non-fiction.
Excellent read
As a current student at GIA, this book gives a total different story about diamonds and the diamond industry. He's fair, honest and meticulous in his explanations. This book is funny, sad, scary and you feel as though you are on a journey with him through the many areas of the world where mining occurs. Makes you really think about other world industries when a little rock can be the difference of whether you live or die. Excellent read, awesome author. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Diamonds    3. Natural Resources    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Customs    7. Jewellery & jewellery-making    8. Travel / Africa   

Subjects:  1. Human Evolution    2. Life Sciences - Evolution    3. Life Sciences - Evolution - Human    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Science / Paleontology   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Cultural And Social Anthropology    4. Ethnology    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Social & cultural anthropology    8. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (39)

A Great Book!
I loved "Lives of a Cell". It's not your ordinary biology textbook; the author's love for the world around him comes out in every page. He uses metaphor to describe the different parts and functions of the cell. For example, he compares the cell to a room, and then illustrates the different sizes of the components of the cell by comparing it to furniture.
I wasn't intrigued..
Though I understand other reviewers' opinions of this book, and I agree that some of the book's ideas were interesting, The Lives of a Cell just didn't appeal to me. I have always loved science, but not in the way this book displayed it. I got extremely bored with this book and found myself skimming chapters. Lewis Thomas seemed like he was trying to sound too intelligent while getting his opinion across, where a simple explanation would have been much more powerful. Some may like this book, but I think there are much better reads out there.

A Classic of Science Reading From 1974

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Subjects:  1. Addresses, essays, lectures    2. Biology    3. Essays    4. Life Sciences - Biology - General    5. Philosophy    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Cellular biology    9. Science / Cytology   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Anthropology - Physical    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Human evolution    5. Physical anthropology    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Anthropology    9. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (30)

Superlative work of art
Delhi is a city of many flavors. Some can be tasted, some viewed, some just felt and still others which are just to be believed......just taken for granted.
"City of Djinn" and "Age of Kali" -
A master's student of Asian cultures at the University of Pennsylvania, I first began reading William Dalrymple's books in the winter of 2003, just prior to my first trip to Asia.I found a beat up copy of "The Age of Kali" in my neighborhood's library when I was working a soul-killing desk job.The book was, in many ways, my introduction to India.It would not be an exaggeration to say that this book changed my life.
A masterpiece!
This book was published in 1993 and I got the chance to read it in 2005 and I must say no other book,author or historian has portrayed Delhi as Dalrymple did!.I cant believe how much I'm in love with this wonderful city more so after reading this book!.Author's sense of humour ably supports his apt and lucid sense of history.His passion for Delhi absolutely shines through and that illuminates every page.Though 'm young and not intelligent enough to commment on greats works and authors but Dalrymple is definitely on the greats!.He sure would make his generation proud.It is a must read whether you like Delhi,history or not. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Asia - India    3. Delhi (India)    4. Description And Travel    5. History    6. History - General History    7. India    8. Social History    9. Social Science    10. Social life and customs    11. Sociology    12. Travel / Asia / India   

Reviews (8)

Think again
This book is not rubbish.Yes it is slightly propagandistic on the part of "socialism" (though I agree with the views of a previous reviewer), though if you'd seen this type of poverty and social immobility in a FIRST WORLD COUNTRY you'd want to do the same thing. If you read this book and come out with the view that "they should have worked harder", then I believe you are only accepting the view that these people projected onto you. THEY believe they won't make it, so they don't do any work.Also to these Calvinists, maybe you'd like to do a little research of your own into the US education system, especially concentrating on the amount spent on these individuals.They say segregation is dead in the US, it's just gone underground (I'm including "involuntary minorities" eg the Hallway Hangers).

Moving and Troublesome
I read this years ago in an anthropology/sociology class in college, and I can say that it still carries as much weight today as it did then.Jay manages to weave entertaining narration with factual reporting, resulting in a moving work that points a critical finger at our society.I've actually met the author, and can say that he is an honest, engaging and professional writer.At no point did he milk the drama angle of this work, nor use it to further his own agenda.I noticed another reviewer called this book "socialist junk"; to this person I say: just because this work is a testament to some of the failures of America's precious capitalist model does not immediately make it socialist.Moreover, if socialism means having a conscience about racism and socioeconomic discrimination, then sign me up!

Socialist Junk
This book did a great job of showing how research can be distorted any way one desires. I was forced to read this text for a Social Anthropology class. The boys that MacLeod follows throughout his research fail because the just didn't try hard enough. The one boy who almost succeeds fails not because of social constraints but because he could not shed his tendancy towards poor behavior- such as having children at too young an age. Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Case studies    3. Poverty    4. Social Science    5. Social mobility    6. Sociology    7. United States    8. Urban poor    9. Youth with social disabilities    10. Anthropology    11. Social classes    12. USA   

Reviews (111)

Sykes could have his high college position partially due to nepotism
To the poster who talked about negative posters having "arrogance" blasting the book.
Fascinating reading!
I was totally amazed by this book, so much so that I stayed up all night reading it and finished it in one sitting.
Enjoyed 3/4 of this book
I enjoyed most all of this book, with the exception of the descriptions of the 'seven daughters". ..which I thought was a little too contrived.the science behind the genetics is laid out so the the average joe, can understand it, and the writing style of the author, makes the reading a pleasure.If you are interested in genetic history, but are not a professional scientist, this is the book for you.I dismiss the 7 daughters descriptions, as a swing and a miss.Would recommend. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Physical    2. Anthropometry    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. General    5. Human evolution    6. Human population genetics    7. Life Sciences - Evolution - Human    8. Life Sciences - Genetics & Genomics    9. Science    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Women   

Reviews (6)

Valuable Book
"...this valuable book is currently the most complete overview of behavioral procedures available...it is a must have and a must read book..." (Genes, Brain, and Behavior, 2002)

Essential Book
"I would recommend that every behavioral scientist has at least two copies, one for their own use and one that will be on permanent loan to their students, post-doctoral students and colleagues in molecular biology."-- TRENDS in Pharmacological Sciences (Gerard R. Dawson, Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories)

Expert Review
"[T]his volume succeeds as a useful introduction to the realm of behavioral phenotyping for those interested in creating or using the large and increasing number of promising targeted mutant mice."-- TRENDS in Neurosciences (John K. Belknap, Oregon Health Sciences University) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Animal models    2. Animals    3. Anthropology - Physical    4. Behavior    5. Laboratory Animals    6. Life Sciences - Biology - General    7. Life Sciences - Genetics & Genomics    8. Neurobiology    9. Neurogenetics    10. Neurology - General    11. Science    12. Science/Mathematics    13. Transgenic mice    14. Genetics (non-medical)    15. Science / Genetics    16. Zoology & animal sciences   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (64)

why would you NOT want to read this..
I picked this book up based on the title. I saw it sitting on the shelf and thought it would be a very honest book and worth reading.
One of the Most Balanced and Fair Books I Ever Read
It's not very often that one comes across a totally fair and balanced yet excellent work of non-fiction. It's even more exciting when one comes across such a book by chance.I first saw this book at the local branch of the Los angeles Public Library. Its title, which carries the singlemost offensive and taboo word in USA, was the factor that intrgued me. I expected it to be a preachy, judgemental book. And was I wrong!
Not as controversial as the cover
Randall Kennedy, Harvard Law Professor, has certainly created a great deal of discussion with his latest book.
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Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Anthropology - Cultural    3. Communication    4. Discrimination & Racism    5. Ethnic Issues    6. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    7. Race identity    8. Racism in language    9. Social Science    10. Social conditions    11. Sociology    12. Black studies    13. Social Science / Anthropology / Cultural    14. USA   

Reviews (3)

Gifts and giving
People living in the modern world often have an impression of life being simpler, easier, and less complicated in primitive, tribal societies, especially those without money, credit cards, mortgage bills and other forms of financial exchange.Those who think so should read this book by the French anthropologist Marcel Mauss.
Social Science Man
In his The Gift, Marcel Mauss attempts to explain and understand gifts in primitive societies.Mauss first decides to show that the motives behind giving gifts are more complicated than commonly believed to be.In modern day society, gifts are often thought of as something given out of good will and without the expectance of something in return.Mauss shows us that in many tribal and native cultures, this is not necessarily true.In discussing the Maori, he says, "They had a kind of exchange system, or rather one of giving presents that must ultimately either be reciprocated or given back" (10).The principle of gift giving is governed by the concept of mana, which is the authority, honor, and prestige derived from the wealth and glory of being a superior gift giver.One must give gifts in order to maintain and increase mana and reciprocates them in order to prevent oneself from losing it.The obligations to give and receive are both very important.To reject a gift leads to two problems.Initially, Mauss states that to do so "is to reject the bond of alliance and commonality" (13).To reject such an important bond in a society that so heavily values communal identity is "tantamount to declaring war" (13).The second problem is that of losing mana and being viewed as afraid to accept gifts because one is unable to reciprocate them.The concept of gift giving as one that has the motives of power and authority involved displaces the common belief of gift giving.Durkheim's influence on Mauss is apparent in Mauss' discussion of the contract and sacred qualities.The sacred quality of exchange and contracts also has a relationship to appeasing the gods according to Mauss, or so it is viewed in primitive societies (and according to Durkheim the remnants of such beliefs continue in today's society).Mauss says that the ideal of the gift as distributive justice arises from the belief that the gods punish those with great wealth who are not generous.Therefore, if a gift are given out of generosity and to promote justice, does that mean that those with less wealth have not only less honor and authority, but also a lower level of justness because they are unable to give great gifts? The Gift
Mauss' book is a part sociological, part anthropological study of the practice of gift exchange. First, he explores the various forms this practice takes in distinct ethnographic settings. In each case, one catches a glimpse of what Mauss calls the 'total social fact': the notion that exchanging gifts signifies, beneath its voluntary and individualistic fa�ade, a complex social affair. On the one hand, bonds of solidarity are created/maintained between implicated social groups; on the other, political relations of subordination (in which the donor often, if not always, occupies the dominant position) are reproduced/contested. Second, Mauss moves on to problematize the notion that the thing exchanged is merely an 'inert and lifeless object' and the synchronic view of gift exchange as a short-lived act devoid of temporality. Working his way through his ethnographic observations, Mauss unearths the historical dimension of the gift, which now appears to possess a 'spiritual' power irredemiably related to the donor and a historicity (and story) beyond the momentary encounter between donor and recipient. What follows from these two complementary arguments is that gift exchange, contrary to the individualistic notion that it merely involves the persons exchanging the gifts, establishes a wider social/political nexus, connecting the social groups the donor and recipient are members of. Finally, Mauss returns to the present and redeems the gift from its 'archaic' context to explore its potential as a social-democratic tool against 'unbridled' capitalist exchange. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Anthropology - General    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Customs & Traditions    5. Social Science    6. Sociology   

Reviews (1)

Excellent introduction to a diverse and dem