Other People’s Worlds: An Introduction to Cultural and Social Anthropology

by Joy Hendry

Other People's Worlds offers the perfect introduction to cultural and social anthropology for anyone approaching the subject for the first time. Hendry introduces classic theoretical ideas of the key founders of cultural and social anthropology, placing them in their historical and geographical context. Carefully structured so that one chapter builds on the next, Other People's Worlds covers the core topics in an even-handed and illuminating manner, introducing the reader to divergent views on all the most basic subjects-food, hygiene, gift-exchange, rites of passage, symbolism, religion, politics, and the environment-and raising awareness of the emotional value people place on those views. Covering a wide array of countries, it brings the subject of cultural and social anthropology right into the neighborhood of the reader, wherever they are in the world.
Combining an abundance of references and further readings for the serious student with an immensely readable and engaging writing style, Other People's Worlds offers a compelling introduction to an enigmatic and exciting subject, drawing out its relevance and value for the complex multicultural world in which we live.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction

249 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 1999

Reviews

[Mothwing · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opened up my world when I was nineteen and just starting university. I did a semester of Social Anthropology at my uni, and this neat little overview of how people do culture and see the world was mind-blowing. It felt so incredibly good, too, to realise that my view of cultures being fundamentally equal because they did the same thing for people was shared by others. There are problems with this book that I see now which I didn't pick up on after

[Roberta McDonnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book - for a small volume it is packed with ideas, theories and cultural examples, a brilliant introduction to social anthropology for the curious and a great revision tool for students already familiar with key themes.

[Phoenix2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, that makes anthropology understandable.

[Devon · Rating 3 out of 5]

For such a small book, it compacted a lot of information within. I thought it did a good job of explaining anthropology terms and definitions.