Cultural Anthropology: The Human Challenge [with CD-ROM & InfoTrac]

by William A. Haviland, Harald E.L. Prins, Dana Walrath

Book discusses cultural anthropoloy. Cover topics as terroism, racism, thnic conflict and sexuality. No CD ROM

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Reference, Textbooks, School, College, Social Science

528 pages, Paperback

First published July 26, 2004

Reviews

[soda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to read this book for my class. What a bunch of crap. "White superiority complex" combined with how some cultures force boys into homosexuality in order for them to "become men". Nothing more than liberal hippie indoctrination.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Despite this book being required for a class I was in, I was exited to read it. I thought that the information presented would help to round out my worldviews and give me more insight into cultures that are not my own. I was sorely disappointed, however.

Throughout the book there is much misinformation presented as fact, and even outright racism at times. I found myself wondering at multiple points throughout the course if the authors had made any effort to research what they were writing about at all, and how this book even made it through publishing. Racial slurs are used at many points throughout the book, and are even used as the identifying name of an indigenous group! When I pointed this out in class, my teacher told me that it was just the academic name used. This is a viewpoint seemingly backed by the authors of this text- written not in the '90s as I had first thought for it's problematic themes, but 2016.

The authors of this book also seemed fond of using racist stereotypes to describe indigenous peoples. Many groups were cast in either the role of the Noble Savage or the Ignoble Savage. I was shocked and dismayed to find that my people made an appearance, not to learn about our ways of life or the challenges that we face, but to exclaim how we harassed our animals, and how our traditional ways of life were "traumatic" to nature. The only one traumatized was ME after reading that. It was made even worse yet by the authors using another indigenous group, this one cast in the role of the noble savage, to compare and contrast who adapted to modernization/colonization better.

It became glaringly obvious to me how little the authors truly know even after dedicating their lives to these subjects. Were sensitivity readers used? Apparently not! No indigenous person would talk about another like we are talked about in this book. It was truly no surprise when yet another indigenous group was compared to animals in another portion of the text.

I would hope that the authors of this book and really just white authors in general would check with the communities they are trying to represent by hiring sensitivity readers and such before publishing. This was most if not all of my classmates first introduction to my people and it will forever be viewed through the bias this book provided them a basis for, much like my teacher excusing using racial slurs for them being included in textbooks such as these.

This book was overall very disappointing to read. It started off promising, I could even see the point the authors were trying to make at times. It was all overshadowed by their previously held beliefs and worldview, however. If those privileged people who hold weight in academia (such as the writers of this textbook) make no effort to combat racism, nothing will ever change.

[Wysterria · Rating 3 out of 5]

For my world cultures class. Nice overview of Anthropology and various cultural groups. Lots of info explaining what idiots Americans are. Lol.

[Rusty del Norte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a solid, if unexciting, textbook for Cultural Anthropology. Broken down by 16 chapters, it highlights definitions that are important to each area that is studied. If you are learning culture & anthropology for the first time, this will be helpful.

The case studies are interesting - one unique one near the end is about the life of Barrack Obama's mother who was an Anthropologist. It also uses many of the same studies & chapter notes as its sister book "Essence of Anthropology" that is also edited by William Haviland. In other words, if you have read one, I would not recommend reading the other.

So, go ahead and read it if you are new to the subject. But if you have read similar books, then this book would not be as foundational to your studies.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This anthropology textbook makes the subject seem boring, unscientific, and racist in a white-savior way. It also seems to hate the humans and their cultures that anthropologists are supposed to study. If this textbook was my only view of cultural anthropology, I would think of it as a heartless pseudoscience.

There are some interesting facts about humanity that I didn’t know before in this textbook, but it also takes Mead’s Samoan studies at face value, so I don’t know how true those are. I wish my professor had used a better textbook.

[Kevinhoytjr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Alyssa]

never taking an anthropology class again 🙏

[Aug · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is what i expected out of a cultural anthropology book

[Nicole H · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Cyliena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This textbook was assigned for my Introduction to Anthropology summer course. It is easy to read with side boxes including any new vocabulary introduced in each chapter. There are many examples given of cultures throughout the world as various aspects are discussed.

Original studies are extra related sectional readings in each chapter and all have interesting topics. All pictures and illustrations presented are relevant to the text. For an introductory course the amount of material presented is a bit overwhelming (we did skip two chapters, 4 and 16), but it is a solid look at the world of Anthropology.

This review is regarding the 13th edition of the textbook.

[Isabella Tugman - Audiobook Narrator · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the subject, but thought the book make it duller than it needed to be. The large blocks of text could be broken up and organized more with keywords. This book had the misfortune of being studied in conjunction with another textbook that I loved the structure of, so that probably shaped my opinion of it.

Overall, the subject is incredibly important and interesting, and I think everyone should study it.

[icedcheddar · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is an introductory cultural anthropology textbook that i had to purchase for the class that bears the same title.

surprisingly very good textbook. good primer on cultural relativism. nothing too earth shattering for college folk, but stimulating for a 100 level textbook. this book would be great for freshman in college or high schooler as an introduction to cultural relativism.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring but informative for the most part. The most disappointing aspect is that the voice of the book is very condescending when it compares "native" cultures to those in industrial and post-industrial countries. It became evident early on in the book, if I hadn't had to read it for a class I would have immediately put it down.

[Ac · Rating 4 out of 5]

While it is a bit of a survey book (more breadth than depth), it is a great read. For a textbook, it is easy to scan and read, clear and concise. There is a lot of great knowledge about cultural anthro. I only read a couple of chapters in depth and skimmed through the rest of the book, but I was impressed.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know much about Anthropology as a field, but this seemed like a decent introduction if a bit dated.

My main struggle was with the writing in certain passages being dry and repetitive. That said, overall the content is great. From a certain perspective, this is an overview of what it means to be human. This material should be a requirement for all human education.

[Devon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used this book for my cultural anthropology class. I really enjoyed it's in-depth look into different parts of culture and also the insight it provided into the history of cultural anthropology and the tidbits into cultures.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is a text book, but very interesting!!

[Hakija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[Rachelle]

Reading for a class...interesting.

[Bellina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cultural Relativism at its finest.

[Aiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a different edition; but I'm assuming they're pretty similar...it's a very interesting book that gives you a great overview of cultural anthropology.

[H3dakota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Textbook for one of my classes. Interesting subject, covers the basics.

[Dejanira Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

*still reading just dont feel like keeping track since it's a college textbook*

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Textbook