Reviews (3)

Quality
This book was received quickly and was in perfect shape.I appreciate the promptness.

Excellent introductory text!
Parrillo's text is a helpful overview of the sociology of race and ethnicity in the United States taken from a group-to-groupapproach.Major sociological contributions on these matters are covered through the lens of particular groups that are most affected (e.g. LA riots are covered under black Americans but not under Korean Americans).The most recent edition is especially helpful as comments are made in conjunction with post-September 11th consequences on race and ethnic issues.The role of religion in racial dynamics and the continuing changes in immigration is a helpful addition as well as it is a rising area of study with race and ethnicity. From the Foreword author:
Strangers to These Shores is a comprehensive examination of the sharpest edges and more nuanced qualities of American pluralism.In its 14 chapters, Professor Parrillo provides students/readers--and those for whomit is not assigned--with a well conceived, carefully constructed, andhighly readable introduction to a very complex subject. --Peter I. Rose, Smith College ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Discrimination & Racism    3. Ethnic relations    4. Race And Ethnic Relations    5. Race relations    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology - General    9. United States    10. Ethnic studies    11. Social Science / Sociology / General    12. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (11)

Fun Read
Really satisfying-- it's got a great history about the U.S. food revolution along with some juicy gossip about the big players of the movement.You feel like an insider hearing all the stories about these people.David Kamp tells stories beautifully, and the footnotes are sometimes the most hilarious parts on the page.This is a must read for anyone who considers themself a foodie, and well, for anyone who just enjoys eating...and a good story!

Revelatory
Nietzsche writes, "What good is a book that doesn't take you beyond all books?"David Kamp illuminates a rare but relevant subject and, wittingly or not, goes far beyond it to animate the culture of 20th century America, from which its subject springs.His book renders each of the last several decades vividly and down to astonishing detail.The buoyancy and wit of his storytelling, and the accompanying sense that you're in the good hands of a rational historian, make this book an immense pleasure to read.

my two favorite things: Eating and Reading!!
Loved this book! Toast is a big accomplishment for me, yet I thoroughly enjoyed Kamp's story. Had to eat while I was reading it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Cookery, American    3. Cooking    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Cultural And Social Anthropology    6. Essays    7. Gastronomy    8. History    9. Cooking / Essays   

Reviews (9)

Info wanted
What is the CDfor in the 11th edition? I'm interested in the book, but most editions don't diff dramatically, but I do notice the 11th comes with a cd.

I don't know why the other reviews are so critical
I bought this because it is needed for my Cultural Anthropology class and it's a pretty smooth read. It has a definate liberal bias but no more than any other college book I've had to buy, if anything it's a bit less liberal bias than some of the books I've had to suffer through.
A Good Introductory Text
This is one of the better anthropology texts available today.It is very comprehensive, well-organized, and takes a very broad view of the human condition.The problem with textbooks is that they sometimes summarize issues as if they were settled questions, when, in reality, many of the problems involved are the subjects of complex debate.This is not necessarily a bad thing, since the majority of undergraduate students are not interested in primary sources that are very difficult to read and take a lot of work to understand.As an instructor I found the book to be very good as a basic resource that allowed me to teach my perspective of the discipline to students using supplementary materials and lectures.The major drawback is that it is so expensive, but not more so than other textbooks out there.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Anthropology - General    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Ethnology    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Social & cultural anthropology    8. Social Science / Anthropology / General    9. Sociology, Social Studies   

Editorial Review

In an effort to determine why people buy, Paco Underhill and his detailed-oriented band of retail researchers have camped out in stores over the course of 20 years, dedicating their lives to the "science of shopping." Armed with an array of video equipment, store maps, and customer-profile sheets, Underhill and his consulting firm, Envirosell, have observed over 900 aspects of interaction between shopper and store. They've discovered that men who take jeans into fitting rooms are more likely to buy than females (65 percent vs. 25 percent). They've learned how the "butt-brush factor" (bumped from behind, shoppers become irritated and move elsewhere) makes women avoid narrow aisles. They've quantified the importance of shopping baskets; contact between employees and shoppers; the "transition zone" (the area just inside the store's entrance); and "circulation patterns" (how shoppers move throughout a store). And they've explored the relationship between a customer's amenability and profitability, learning how good stores capitalize on a shopper's unspoken inclinations and desires.Read more

Reviews (123)

Brilliant
If you are in retail or you distribute your products through retail, this is a MUST read.

Merchandising practical lessons for US culture
A compelling book,loaded with insightful comments of the way customers responses at the retail world, ideas gathered in many years ofexperience the author and his team had expended watching people behave naturaly in a retail enviroment. A good book for business people interested in learning consumer behavior in a practical sense.
Flash of the obvious
An awesome new business book I read was Why we Buy- The Science of Shopping by Paco Underhill.This one is a business book primarily of interest to retailers (although I see similarities in retail and online habits).Paco (and his researchers) followed and recorded the behavior of tens of thousands of shoppers.From this he is able to run a consulting business that makes recommendations to retailers on minor changes they can make to increase their sales.
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Subjects:  1. Marketing - Research    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Marketing research    4. Anthropology - Cultural    5. Behavioural theory (Behaviourism)    6. Business & Economics / Consumer Behavior    7. Consumer Behavior - General    8. Shopping    9. Business/Economics    10. Business & Economics    11. Consumer behavior   

Editorial Review

Lia Lee was born in 1981 to a family of recent Hmong immigrants, and soon developed symptoms of epilepsy. By 1988 she was living at home but was brain dead after a tragic cycle of misunderstanding, overmedication, and culture clash: "What the doctors viewed as clinical efficiency the Hmong viewed as frosty arrogance." Read more

Reviews (166)

Well written...but some conclusions are just wrong!
This was a fascinating book.I enjoyed it and I learned a lot. I think the author didn't come to some conclusions which were painfully obvious. She continued to keep the theme of a culture that was impenetrable and would not change, even after thousands of years of persecution.What about after a few years of commercialism?It is only a matter of time before 2nd and 3rd generation Hmong will be completely assimilated into American culture.You could already see the signs when Fadiman described what the Lee children were doing now.Soccer, medical school, western music.It is inevitable.It is easy to keep a culture untouched for so long when you live in obscurity in the mountains with almost no interchange with the outside world.But when you put a TV in your house, the whole world is right there everyday.Now, the parents may not understand the language, but the kids sure do, and it will affect them.Twenty years from now, the shaman will be in the phone book and you can hire them perform at a kids birthday party, or there will be a class at the local community center on "Reconnecting to your Hmong Roots, all you need to learn in 8 weeks", just like the Native Americans, or learning hula dancing.When society is so connected by technology, you cannot live on a cultural island.I just don't believe it can happen.
I grew up in Merced and had no idea about this
I grew up amongst the sizable population of Hmong immigrants in Merced during the time the Lees were going through this ordeal.
just beautifully written
so all the praise i can possibly say about this book has been, so this will be short. all in all, even if i wasn't reading it for the subject matter, Fadiman's storytelling is amazing. not only is this book damn informative and perceptive-changing, it is also VERY ENTERTAINING. almost like a novel, it grips you at parts, makes you feel a gamult of emotions... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. California    2. Case studies    3. Ethics    4. General    5. Health - General    6. Hmong American children    7. Hmong Americans    8. Medical / Nursing    9. Medical care    10. Medicine    11. Minority Studies - General    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Transcultural medical care    15. Popular medicine   

Reviews (1)

Creative, engaging and edgy
This is a fascinating look into an aspect of Japanese culture I never knew existed.Joan Sinclair got incredible access -- access not only to the actual establishments, but access to the inner lives of some of these women and men whom she portrays with honesty and integrity.She has a fresh, exciting lens which comes through not without a revolutionary edge.This is an original.The intro by Farrer is also excellent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Cultural And Social Anthropology    3. Human Sexuality    4. Japan    5. Nightclubs    6. Pictorial works    7. Psychology    8. Sex customs    9. Sex-oriented businesses    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. Art / Popular Culture    13. Erotic art    14. Photographs: collections    15. Pop Culture; sex; travel; Japan   

Reviews (63)

Good and bad choices in financial trading
Having a choice in life is a good thing; a person without choices is often miserable.As the number of choices grows, our happiness grows with them, but then it begins to decline.Having too many choices creates stress.Schwartz describes his visit to a local supermarket: "...next to the crackers were 285 varieties of cookies.Among chocolate chip cookies there were 21 options. ... Across the isle were juices - 13 `sports drinks,' 65 `box drinks' for kids, 85 other flavors and brands of juices, and 75 iced teas and adult drinks.I could get these tea drinks sweetened (sugar or artificial sweetener), lemoned, and flavored. ... I found 61 varieties of suntan oil and sunblock, and 80 different pain relievers - aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen; 350 milligrams or 500 milligrams; caplets, capsules, and tablets; coated or uncoated.There were 40 options for toothpaste, 150 lipsticks, 75 eyeliners, and 90 colors of nail polish from one brand alone."
One of the most interesting, thought, provoking, and immediately useful books I've read.
I read about 4 books per month and this is hands down one of the best ones I've read in the past year. Packed with information, yet enjoyable to read, I had a hard time putting this one down.
F yeah
This book is one of the most interesting books I have ever read. The basic premise of this book is that the more choice we have, the more anxious we become about the decisions we have to make. Think for example, about how many different stores there are in a mall. You want to buy a dress shirt, but which store do you go into? Will the Gap have a better deal than Banana Republic? Or maybe Macy's or Lord & Taylor will have a better shirt. But then, which shirt do you pick once you decide what store to walk into? All these decisions prove to be quite exhausting, despite our unconscience ability to make such them on a constant basis.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Decision Making & Problem Solving    3. General    4. Popular Culture - General    5. Psychology    6. Social Psychology    7. Popular psychology    8. Psychology & Psychiatry / Social Psychology   

Reviews (2)

SPA
Excellent prompt service of a great book at a great price. Thank You ET

A lovely book filled with photos and ideas
Nothing is more lovely or inviting than a spa, and the best mimic pools and lovely outdoors environments. Whether you're a traveler seeking the ultimate spa or a homeowner seeking ideas for reproducing paradise in your own backyard, Spa is the book of choice for locating both ideas and destinations. Spas around the world, from resorts and hotel spas to, are profiled and packed into a lovely book filled with photos and ideas. Spa prices and services will appeal to destination-oriented travelers, while the extensive color shots of spa surroundings, both interior and exterior, offer plenty of ideas for homeowners who would create smaller versions of paradise.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Collections, Catalogs, Exhibitions    3. Photo Essays    4. Photoessays & Documentaries    5. Photography    6. Family & Health    7. Public buildings: civic, commercial, industrial, etc   

Reviews (4)

Excellent collection, a standard in anthro -- and the 12th is DIFFERENT from the11th
I've used this collection off and on for years in teaching Introduction to Cultural Anthropology.It's a great book, a real standard in anthropology.Honestly, I think the relevance and quality of the essays varies from edition to edition.I liked the 11th more than the 12th.Sometimes a 'favorite' essay gets replaced; and then in the next edition it is returned.Go figure.
Good stuff
The book came fast and it was brand new.The book was crisp.It's a soft covered book but it still made that new hard-textbook sound. :0)

Excellent introduction to cultural anthropology!
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! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology    2. Anthropology - Cultural    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Cultural And Social Anthropology    5. Ethnology    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Social & cultural anthropology    9. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (38)

A Decent Read
Reading about some of these kids, especially Frank, made me thank God I had parents who thought I pushed myself too hard, who told me to relax. However, Robbin's solutions seem too thrown out there. Most of them are a lot easier said than done. Like throwing out the SAT. That won't happen anytime in the forseeable future. I also would have liked to see a more-balanced argument. More input from admissions officers who count on all of the overachiever activities. It definitely would have made for a more engrossing read.

Recollections from an "average" kid...
The author's writing style does an excellent job of bringing these young people to life, and it seems easier to feel sympathy for these youngsters than it was to empathize with the rather bitchy young adults she described in "Pledged".
A real eye-opener
This books offers an insider's view of driven kids and their crazy over-achieving lifestyle.I grew up in a relatively small city in the South, and we had just a few of these type of over-achievers at our school.It was alarming to see what lengths these kids go to to get ahead and pad their transcripts and resumes.It also details many of the problems with the education system today.I highly recommend for anyone interested in the problems facing education in the US. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Case studies    3. Children's Studies    4. Cultural And Social Anthropology    5. Overachievement    6. Secondary Education    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Reviews (4)

twenty-something Tom Wolfe
Jeremy Iversen is a talented journalist and I really did enjoy this book. That said, I couldn't shake the feeling that his subject matter wasn't worthy of his talents. Sex, drugs, random acts of cruelty--same old, same old, in the world of teens. The only thing that may come as a surprise to the reader is the complete lack of learning going on in the schools. The kids are aware of it but accept their fate; they only fight back when one among them is directly threatened in a way that would prevent graduation (The school may have done a horrible job providing an education, but it excels at instilling the empty good school--good college--good job mantra used to justify so much today.) Jeremy constructs his characters with care--and that's really what they are--a good deal of fictionalizing must have gone into turning his experience into a story structured as tightly as a tv sitcom. Still, it is a story worth exploring, as we should all be interested in these Millenials, for they will soon be the young adults leading us into what is increasingly becoming an uncertain future. The final issue I had was Jeremy's age. His sudden decision to go undercover lacked any discussion of issues related to how he would support himself, or what he did between the ages of 21 and 24 (Obviously he wrote a book because it's listed here on Amazon). That is a gaping hole and it bothers the reader. Also, because of my work I meet about 150 people in the 18-25 age group per year. I've been at my job for 11 years. I can assure you the 25 year-olds are generally just as clueless as the kids right out of high school. I almost wished Jeremy had chosen to jump onto the Wall Street "track", as he calls it, and write about that. I think arrogance and narcissism of people we believe to be adults would have made a more compelling story.

Better than any TV show story
Some days it seems like everywhere you look some adult is spouting off about the problems of our youth: teen sex, teen pregnancy, teen drugs, our failing schools, and on and on. To these experts in far-away offices, the answers seem clear cut: more rules, more programs, more standards. That's gotta work, right?
Written like a bad soap opera
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it was written in a very dramatic style that made me care so little about the kids he wrote about. Ultimately, his attempt to emulate Cameron Crowe comes off as exactly that - someone trying to be something he is not, and that overshadows his "undercover" work too much to make this an enjoyable read. Get it from your library and save yourself the cash if you want to read it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Cultural And Social Anthropology    3. Education / Teaching    4. Education, Secondary    5. High school students    6. Miscellanea    7. Philosophy & Social Aspects    8. Secondary Education    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Social Science / Popular Culture   

Reviews (9)

Excellent book to learn about diversity
This is an excellent book for someone who is learning about diversity. This book isn't 100% perfect but it's a start for someone to learn about diversity in society. The author tried to address each group without bias (as much as possible).

fast shipping
I was happy with this order. It was shipped to me fast and I received it just in time for class

Sorry but this is a very poor customer service
Sorry I have not received yet this shippment. I will appreciated that you cancel this order because it is taking too long to send it. I needed for college. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Issues    2. Ethnic Studies - General    3. Ethnic relations    4. Minorities    5. Minority Studies - Ethnic American    6. Minority Studies - Race Relations    7. Prejudices    8. Race relations    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. United States    12. Ethnic studies    13. Ethnography    14. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Editorial Review

Few people outside certain scholarly circles had heard the name Robert D. Putnam before 1995. But then this self-described "obscure academic" hit a nerve with a journal article called "Bowling Alone." Suddenly he found himself invited to Camp David, his picture in Read more

Reviews (62)

Excellent review of the decline of community, but somewhat blinded to the causes
Professor Putnam has written a superb review of the decliine of community in the United States through the end of the 20th Century. He points to television, urban and suburban sprawl, generational change and changing work habits as being the major causes of the collapse of the American community.
An Essential Read
I can't add anything that isn't already on the backcover. Putnam has detailed research showing the loss of social capital in the U.S. and insightful analysis of the implications as well as possible solutions. It's a highly readable book for academics and non-academics alike. A vital read that will be relevant for years to come.

Well Worth Wading Through
This book definitely gets a little bogged down in statistics at points.A couple of the chapters could have been easily trimmed down by a couple paragraphs and tables (and boy are there a lot of tables).However, I still think this book is an important contribution to the discussion of american community versus radical individualism.
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Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. 20th century    3. Anthropology - Cultural    4. Community    5. History    6. Social Classes    7. Social Interaction    8. Social Science    9. Social change    10. Social conditions    11. Sociology    12. Sociology - General    13. United States    14. United States - 20th Century    15. United States - 20th Century (1945 to 2000)    16. Cultural studies    17. Social Science / Sociology / General    18. Social groups & communities    19. USA   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Anthropology - General    3. Applied anthropology    4. Archaeology / Anthropology    5. Ethnology    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Social & cultural anthropology    9. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (12)

Boring!
I lent this book to my MIL before I read it but told her not to tell me about it or her thoughts on it until after I read it. I couldn't get passed the 2nd chapter. I found myself skipping pages that soon. I asked her if she liked it and she said she skipped a lot of pages also and found it to be very repetitive and boring. In my honest opinion it is one of the most boring books I have picked up. It just reads BORING!!

The dark side of Amish
Very interesting look into the little know practice of rumspringa, during which the Amish allow their teenagers to experience the dangerous temptations of "the English."We usually believe the Amish are rather naive and simple; in truth, they can be just as wild as non-Amish youths.The clinical analysis tended to be rather dry, but the portraits of the Amish youth were fascinating.

not really about rumspringa
I was very surprised that the editor of this book allowed it to be hyped as a book about rumspringa.A very small percentage of the book is about this teenage Amish tradition.The rest is about Amish life in general (farming, faith, etc.), which, while interesting, is not about the moral conflicts teenagers face.
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Subjects:  1. Amish teenagers    2. Anthropology - Cultural    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Christianity - Amish    5. Conduct of life    6. Cultural And Social Anthropology    7. Religious life    8. Rumspringa    9. Social Science    10. Sociology   

Reviews (2)

Very biased against "Whites"
It is a shame to think that some teachers are using this as their only text.As such, it gives a totally distorted view of so-called "Anglos" and "Whites" in America.For instance, in the chapters on American Indians, the Spanish depravity visited on the indigenous peoples in what is now the American west and southwest isn't even mentioned.The authors assertions of peaceful assimilation by the Spanish of the indigenous peoples (p. 199) is irresponsible and absurd.But this book is sure to please the America-hating politically correct crowd that equates white European Americans with Satan.

"Interethnic Relations In America" forces me think
Early this Spring I decided to take on the task ofan Honors Intercultural Studies course at De Anza College. Although I had taken many classes of the same genre, little could have prepared me for the mass ofknowledge that I would obtain. Through reading an average of 60-80 pages of"Interethnic Relations in America" each week, I have been able togain not only a cultural perspective, but a sociological and historical onetoo! I have found that although it is challenging because it contains SOmuch information, that it reigns as a great work because it is seeminglynon-biased, very modern, and well written. I would definetly reccommendthis book to people of all ages, races, ethnicities, regardless of their"cultural baggage." I have been forced to think, and thus I feelcompelled to share my experinces with others. This book can truly changeyour life in many ways! Not to mention that my professor has used it atboth Stanford and Berkeley in the past! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Discrimination & Racism    4. Ethnic Issues    5. Ethnic Studies - General    6. Ethnic relations    7. Minorities    8. Minority Studies - Ethnic American    9. Minority Studies - Race Relations    10. Race And Ethnic Relations    11. Race relations    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. United States    15. Education / Teaching Methods & Materials / Social Science    16. Ethnic studies   

Editorial Review

It's an inspired idea--to better understand the human diet, explore what culturally diverse families eat for a week. That's what photographer Peter Menzel and author-journalist Faith D'Alusio, authors of the equally ambitious Read more

Reviews (17)

Wonderful Look at the World
If you enjoy the Material World series, you will love this book.It is a fantastic look at something that we all share, food, and how it can be so different around the world.Like traveling without leaving your couch.

Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today.Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Hungry Planet.I loved seeing the photos of each family representing a country on this great planet. It made me think about how much I pay for food during the week,and what my family eats. It also showed that the countries that ate more vegetables and less processed foods seemed to have less diseases and spent less.I also liked to read how members in thefamilies helped each other out with daily chores. I especially found the essay titled, Baked, Boiled, Roasted and Fried interesting. It was about how humans are the only species on Earth that cooks their food and that humans are not carnivores, but cookivores. I highly recommend it and look forward to reading other books by the this author and photographer team.

i was in the book
My name is Tyrone Demery and i am the younger son from the Revis family.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Diet    3. Food    4. Food habits    5. Photo Techniques    6. Photoessays & Documentaries    7. Photography    8. Photography Of Specific Subjects    9. Pictorial works    10. Regional & Ethnic - International    11. Subjects & Themes - General    12. Subjects & Themes - Travel - World/General    13. Food & Drink / Cookery    14. Photographs: collections   

Reviews (9)

Bible of Open Space
This is a very good hand-book for open space newcomers.Easy to understand and easy to read.I strongly suggest this book for anybody who want to start learning open space technology

One of the most valuable books in the world
As Brookings revealed in 2000, most of the world's 10000 biggest organisations don't yet have the measures to govern the vast majority of value now produced in services and knowledge businesses because as our networking age blossoms value dynamics are mainly intangible, deeply woven into the human relationships we self-organise, not for precise planning and overpowering command and control from the top. Value multiplication is a core gravity which should be embedded in everyone's right to work, learn , behave openly. a "How to" book
I recommend using open space tehcnology and/or other large scale intervention techniques to mine the collective emotional intelligence of a group of people (this may be your company, or people from an acadamic field you belong to). Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Communication - Meetings & Presentations    4. Business/Economics    5. Conference rooms    6. Congresses and conventions    7. Cultural And Social Anthropology    8. Decision Making & Problem Solving    9. Employee Participation In Management    10. Entrepreneurship    11. Group decision-making    12. Management - General    13. Planning    14. Spatial behavior    15. Project management    16. Trade fairs & exhibitions   

Reviews (7)

"Civic-ness" and Democracy
In the early 1970s, political power was decentralized in Italy.The power once held by the central government in Rome was reallocated to the newly created regional governments. Constitutionally, the regions possessed similar political institutions.However, the regions varied socially, economically and in political context.Putnam, seeing a ready laboratory for social science, chose to study the role of environmental factors on institutional performance in the new regional governments.Institutions serve as Putnam's independent variable, while a number of environmental factors act as the dependent variables.As such three main research questions emerged; 1) how does institutional change affect identity, power, and strategy of the regional political actors, 2) how is institutional performance a function of history, and lastly 3) which features of social context most powerfully affect institutional performance (8).