Suggested Readings Per Chapter
Chapter
1: The Nature of Anthropology
Bonvillain,
N. (1998). Women and men: Cultural constructs of
gender (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
This
book presents a comprehensive examination of gender notes from an ethnographic
and historical perspective. Some topics considered are gender and the
body, gender and religion, and gender roles within several cultural groups
discussed in this textbook (e.g., Ju/'hoansi, Inuit, Yanomamo).
Cole,
S. (2000). Reflections on anthropology in Canada. Anthropologica,
42 , (2), 23-30.
A
review of current trends in anthropology in Canada, including the persistence
of psychological anthropology and the importance of political economy,
gender, and changing relationships with First Nations people.
DeVita,
P.R. (Ed.). (1992). The naked anthropologist: Tales from around the
world . Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
This
collection of personal accounts from anthropologists teaches us about
the trials and tribulations, as well as the joys, of ethnographic fieldwork.
Lett,
J. (1987). The human enterprise: A critical introduction to anthropological
theory . Boulder, CO: Westview.
Part
1 examines the philosophical foundations of anthropological theory, paying
special attention to the nature of scientific inquiry and the mechanisms
of scientific progress. Part 2 deals with the nature of social science
as well as the particular features of anthropology.
Peacock,
J.L. (1986). The anthropological lens: Harsh light, soft focus .
New York: Cambridge University Press.
This
lively and innovative book manages to give readers a good understanding
of the diversity of activities anthropologists undertake while identifying
the unifying themes that hold the discipline together.
Ruggiero,
V.R. (2001). Thinking critically about ethical issues (5th ed.).
Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.
A
refreshing look at ethical issues from a practical or applied stance rather
than a theoretical perspective. Each chapter ends with a collection of
ethical or moral questions relevant to anthropologists and the general
public.
Spradley,
J.P. (1970). The ethnographic interview . New York: Holt, Rinehart
and Winston.
Although
somewhat dated, this book contains one of the best available discussions
on the nature and value of ethnographic research. The bulk of the book
is devoted to a step-by-step, easy-to-understand account of how to conduct
ethnographic research with the assistance of "informants." Numerous examples
drawn from the author's own research in such diverse settings as skid
row, courtrooms, and bars make for interesting reading. A companion volume,
Participant Observation , also is highly recommended.
Chapter
2: The Nature of Culture
Brown,
D.E. (1991). Human universals . New York: McGraw-Hill.
The
message of this book is that we should not let our fascination with the
diversity of cultural practices interfere with the study of those aspects
all cultures share in spite of their differences. Important though the
differences are, the universals have special relevance for our understanding
of the nature of all humanity and raise issues that transcend the boundaries
of biological and social science, as well as the humanities.
Ervin,
A.M. (2001). Canadian perspectives in cultural anthropology .
Toronto: Nelson Thomson Learning.
An
excellent supplement to any introductory sociocultural anthropology textbook,
this book contains 20 modules that expound on a variety of subjects relevant
to Canadian students, from the development of Canadian anthropology to
French-Canadian extended families and Vietnamese refugees in Montreal.
Hatch,
E. (1983). Culture and morality: The relativity of values in anthropology
. New York: Columbia University Press.
This
book is about cultural relativism, often used as a cover term for the
quite different concepts of relativity of knowledge, historical relativism,
and ethical relativism. It traces the attempts of anthropologists to grapple
with these concepts, beginning with the rise of the discipline in the
19th century.
Leblanc,
L. (1999). Pretty in punk: Girls' resistance in a boys' subculture
. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
Labelled
an "ethnography of gender resistance," this book provides an insider's
look at the punk subculture. It examines females in punk groups, their
power relations, and their ability to create an alternative gender norm.
Written in a style that a general audience can enjoy and appreciate.
Lee,
R.B., & Daly, R. (Eds.). (1999). The Cambridge encyclopedia of
hunters and gatherers . Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University
Press.
This
impressive work presents the ethnographic research on diverse hunting-and-gathering
peoples around the world, including several aboriginal groups in Canada.
The book is divided into two parts, the first containing more than 50
case studies, written by experts on hunter-gatherer peoples, the second
containing essays on prehistory, social life, gender, music and art, health,
religion, and indigenous knowledge.
Manning,
F. (Ed.). (1983). Consciousness and inquiry: Ethnology and Canadian
realities . No. 89E. Ottawa: National Museum of Canada.
This
collection of essays provides an excellent opportunity for students to
examine some of the issues unique to Canadian anthropology and Canadian
society: multiculturalism, the anthropology of Quebec, applied anthropology
in Canada, as well as reflections on anthropology as a discipline.
McLellan,
J. (2002). Many petals of the lotus: Five Asian Buddhist communities
in Toronto . Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
A
very readable ethnography of five Buddhist communities in Toronto. McLellan
provides readers with an honest account of the successes and difficulties
faced by Asian immigrants and refugees in Canada.
Reasons,
C.E., & Pavlich, D. (1995). The legal and social alienation of aboriginal
peoples in Canada. International Journal of Canadian Studies, 12 .
This
article examines the struggles between aboriginal people and their colonizers,
as well as the loss of their land, culture, and self-worth. It discusses
the social, political, and legal attempts to reduce social alienation.
Women
in Canadian society. (1995). International Journal of Canadian Studies,
11 .
This
is a collection of interdisciplinary essays, presenting an international
perspective on contemporary issues. Many of the essays focus on the effects
of gender construction.
Chapter
3: The Beginnings of Human Culture
de
Waal, F. (1996). Good natured: The origins of right and wrong in humans
and other animals . Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Primatologist
Frans de Waal, although fully up on field studies of wild primates, has
spent much of his career studying chimpanzees and other primates in captivity.
In this book he argues that moral behaviour can be found in nonhuman animals,
most clearly in apes but also in other primate and even nonprimate species.
Written for a general audience, but with a strong scientific foundation,
the book communicates its message in a clear and responsible way.
Fedigan
L.M., & Strum, S.C. (2000). Primate encounters: Models of science,
gender, and society . Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Examines
primatology in the context of social, cultural, and historical issues.
International and gender perspectives on primate research are emphasized.
E-mail exchanges among the authors are included and provide unparalleled
access to the thought processes behind the essays.
Goodall,
J. (1990). Through a window . Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
This
fascinating book is a personal account of Goodall's 30 years of experience
studying wild chimpanzees in Tanzania. A pleasure to read and a fount
of information on the behaviour of these apes, the book is profusely illustrated
as well.
Klein,
R.G., & Edgar, B. (2002). The dawn of human culture . New
York: Wiley.
How
and when human culture came to be is the subject of this book, which proposes
a new, genetically based theory. The account follows the record of human
origins, focusing on technology, and includes some of the most recent
fossil discoveries.
Shreeve,
J. (1995). The Neandertal enigma: Solving the mystery of modern human
origins . New York: Morrow.
Shreeve
is a science writer who has written extensively about human evolution.
This book is engagingly written and covers most of the major issues in
the Neanderthal- Modern debate.
Chapter
4: Language and Communication
Birdwhistell,
R.L. (1970). Kinesics and context: Essays in body motion communication
. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Kinesics
was first delineated as an area for anthropological research by Birdwhistell,
so this book is particularly appropriate for those who wish to know more
about the phenomenon.
Bonvillain,
N. (2000). Language, culture, and communication: The meaning of messages
(3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
A
discussion of language and the meaning of symbolic messages.
Eastman,
C.M. (1990). Aspects of language and culture (2nd ed.). Novato,
CA: Chandler and Sharp.
The
bulk of this book is devoted to the subjects of worldview, ethnography
of communication, nonverbal behaviour, animal communication, discourse
pragmatics, conversational analysis, semiotics, and ethnicity. A single
chapter deals with linguistics as a field tool.
Edwards,
J. (Ed.). (1998). Language in Canada . Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press.
This
comprehensive book provides a contemporary account of the linguistic and
cultural state of affairs in Canada, including conflicts and tension evident
today. The articles are divided into four main categories: French language
issues, English language issues, aboriginal language issues, followed
by a province-by-province examination of specific linguistic circumstances.
Gardner,
R.A., Gardner, B.T., & Van Cantfort, T.E. (Eds.). (1989). Teaching
sign language to chimpanzees . Albany, NY: State University of New
York Press.
In
10 jargon-free chapters, easily accessible to the interested layperson
as well as professionals, the methods and results of the Gardners and
their students are laid out in great detail. Psychologists and anthropologists
who reviewed the book agree it represents a milestone in ape language
research and, as one put it, should be read by all interested in the evolution
of human behaviour.
Hickerson,
N.P. (1980). Linguistic anthropology . New York: Holt, Rinehart
and Winston.
A
description and explanation of what anthropological linguistics is all
about, written so beginning students can understand it.
Jebwab,
J. (2000). Ethnic identification and heritage language in Canada .
Montreal: Éditions Images.
A
brief examination of Canada's multiethnic and multilingual nature. Although
full of statistics, this book will provide readers with a clear picture
of the linguistic and cultural dynamics of Canadian society, and the current
state of heritage languages in Canada.
Ruhlen,
M. (1994). The origin of language: Tracing the evolution of the mother
tongue . New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Scholarly
in substance but written for a popular audience, this book is a good introduction
to comparative linguistics for beginning anthropology students. With an
evolutionary theme, it cuts through the difficult problems of our linguistic
ancestors with plausible though still controversial results.
Chapter
5: Making a Living
Bates,
D.G., & Plog, F. (1991). Human adaptive strategies . New
York: McGraw-Hill.
This
book takes an ecological approach to understanding human cultural diversity.
A chapter each is devoted to hunting-and-gathering, horticultural, pastoral,
intensive agricultural, and industrial societies, with a final chapter
devoted to change and development. Theoretical issues are made easy to
grasp through the use of readable ethnographic cases.
Friesen,
J.W. (1999). First Nations of the Plains: Creative, adaptable and
enduring . Calgary: Detselig.
This
book provides an in-depth look at aboriginal people of the Plains after
contact with Europeans. Cultural groups are examined from a geographical,
historical, and cultural perspective. Highly recommended for students
of aboriginal culture.
Lee,
R.B. (2003). The Dobe Ju/'hoansi (3rd ed.). Toronto: Nelson
Thomson Learning.
One
of the pivotal case studies in anthropology, this ethnography features
the Dobe Ju/'hoansi foragers of the Kalahari Desert. Based on years of
ethnographic fieldwork, this very readable ethnography introduces us to
the lives of the Ju/'hoansi. It also brings us up to the present, discussing
the challenges, such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic, faced by the Ju/'hoansi
in the modern world.
Lee,
R.B., & Daly, R. (Eds.). (1999). The Cambridge encyclopedia of
hunter-gatherers . Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
This
impressive work presents ethnographic research on diverse hunting-and-gathering
peoples around the world, including several aboriginal groups in Canada.
The book is divided into two parts: The first part contains more than
50 case studies, written by experts on hunter-gatherer peoples; the second
part contains essays on prehistory, social life, gender, music and art,
health, religion, and indigenous knowledge.
Lustig-Arecco,
V. (1975). Technology: Strategies for survival . New York: Holt,
Rinehart and Winston.
Although
the early anthropologists devoted a good deal of attention to technology,
the subject fell into neglect early in the 20th century. This is one of
the few more recent studies of the subject. The author's particular interest
is the technoeconomic adaptation of hunters, pastoralists, and farmers.
McMillan,
A.D. (1988). Native peoples and cultures of Canada: An anthropological
overview . Vancouver: Douglas and McIntyre.
This
book is an up-to-date overview of Canada's aboriginal people, from a cultural,
historical, and social perspective. The information is clearly presented
and covers numerous topics, serving as an excellent resource for students.
Schrire,
C. (Ed.). (1984). Past and present in hunter gatherer studies .
Orlando, FL: Academic Press.
This
collection of papers demolishes many myths (including several held by
anthropologists) about food-foraging societies. Especially recommended
is the editor's introduction, "Wild Surmises on Savage Thoughts."
Chapter
6: Economic Systems
Dalton,
G. (1971). Traditional tribal and peasant economies: An introductory
survey of economic anthropology . Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
This
is just what the title says it is, by a major specialist in economic anthropology.
Freeman,
M.M.R., Bogoslovskayas, L., Caulfield, R.A., Egede, I., Krupnik,
I., & Stevenson, M.G. (1998). Inuit, whaling, and sustainability
. Walnut Creek, CA: Altamira Press.
This
book examines the challenges faced by Inuit whalers in today's world.
It looks at the cultural conflict created between hunting peoples, who
are fighting for the right to continue their traditional hunting practices,
and outsiders, who believe the whales should be protected. It is also
an examination of efforts to protect the ocean ecosystem and sustain whale
populations. This is an excellent opportunity for students to consider
both sides of the story, and perhaps develop a deeper understanding of
the philosophy of hunting peoples.
Moore,
J.H. (1993). The political economy of North American Indians .
Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press.
A
collection of papers delivered at the 1988 meetings of the 12th International
Congress of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences. These discussions
seek to apply a political economic approach to the study of North American
aboriginal cultures. Although most of the articles focus on U.S. cultures,
there is some content directed at Canadian groups: "Natives and the development
of mercantile capitalism: A new look at 'opposition' in the eighteenth-century
fur trade," "Autonomy and constraint: The household economy on a southern
Ontario reserve," and "The quest for Indian development in Canada: Contrasts
and contradictions."
Newell,
D., & Ommer, E. (Eds.). (1999). Fishing places, fishing people:
Traditions and issues in Canadian small-scale fisheries . Toronto:
University of Toronto Press.
Employing
an interdisciplinary approach, the authors of these essays examine current
problems in worldwide fisheries, including Canadian fisheries, and offer
some direction for alternative management approaches.
Plattner,
S. (Ed.). (1989). Economic anthropology . Stanford, CA: Stanford
University Press.
This
is the first comprehensive text in economic anthropology to appear since
the 1970s. Twelve scholars in the field contributed chapters on a variety
of issues ranging from economic behaviour in foraging, horticultural,
preindustrial-state, peasant, and industrial societies to sex roles, common-property
resources, informal economics in industrial societies, and mass marketing
in urban areas.
Chapter
7: Sex and Marriage
Boddy,
J. (1994). Aman, the story of a Somali girl . Toronto: Knopf.
The
story of a young Somalian girl as told to the author. Examines the issue
of female genital mutilation and Aman's objections to Westerners "educating"
her people about the wrongness of their customs. An enlightening glimpse
into the other side of this difficult gender issue.
Bonvillain,
N. (1998). Women and men: Cultural constructs of gender (2nd
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
This
book is a reliable examination of gender issues, with an emphasis on marriage
practices. The book takes a cross-cultural perspective, particularly in
the first part, which describes several cultural groups, including the
Ju/'hoansi, Inuit, Haida, Innu, and Iroquois. Part II again uses some
cross-cultural
material to discuss various issues of gender, such as gender and the body,
religion, and language.
duToit,
B.M. (1991). Human sexuality: Cross cultural readings . New York:
McGraw Hill.
Of
the numerous texts that deal with most aspects of human sexuality, this
is the only one that gives adequate recognition to the fact that most
peoples in the world do things differently from North Americans. This
reader deals cross-culturally with such topics as the menstrual cycle,
pair bonding, sexuality, pregnancy and childbirth, childhood, puberty,
birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, sex roles, and the climacteric.
Goody,
J. (1976). Production and reproduction: A comparative study of the
domestic domain . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
This
book is especially good in its discussion of the interrelationship between
marriage, property, and inheritance. Although the text is cross-cultural
in its approach, readers will be fascinated by the many insights into
the history of marriage in the Western world.
Mackie,
M. (1991). Gender relations in Canada: Further explorations .
Toronto: Harcourt Brace Canada.
A
comprehensive, gender-inclusive study of Canadian gender issues. Of particular
relevance to students who wish to study marriage and the family, the book
examines the family as a primary agent of gender socialization.
Ramu,
G.N. (Ed.). (1989). Marriage and the family in Canada today .
Scarborough, ON: Prentice-Hall.
This
book presents a succinct examination of emerging trends in courtship,
marriage, family, and related issues in Canada. Major theoretical frameworks
are discussed in detail.
Chapter
8: Family and Household
Briggs,
J.L. (1970/1998). Inuit morality play: The emotional education of a three-year-old.
Social and Economic Studies , No. 67. Institute of Social and
Economic Research.
The
book follows six months in the life of a three-year-old Inuit girl as
she tries to make sense of her world. Included are touching stories of
Chubby Matta, as her family gently enculturates her into Inuit social
life. Of special interest to students of anthropology is the way moral
questions are posed for the little girl to ponder.
Briggs,
J.L. (1970). Never in anger: Portrait of an Eskimo family . Cambridge,
MA: Harvard University Press.
This
readable book is based on fieldwork Jean Briggs conducted among the Inuit
living north of Hudson Bay. Her research focuses on emotional expression,
in particular the handling of emotion. Her disconcerting experience of
being shunned highlights some of the travails ethnographers encounter
when living with a culture much different from their own.
Eichler,
M. (1983). Families in Canada today: Recent changes and their policy
consequences . Toronto: Gage.
Although
somewhat dated and steeped in theoretical jargon, this book does contain
an enormous amount of information on Canadian families and changing patterns
in recent decades.
Goody,
J. (1983). Development of the family and marriage in Europe .
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
This
historical study shows how the nature of the family changed in Europe
in response to regulations the Catholic Church introduced to weaken the
power of kin groups and gain access to property. It explains how European
patterns of kinship and marriage came to differ from those of the ancient
circum-Mediterranean world and from those that succeeded them in the Middle
East and North Africa.
Mandell,
N., & Duffy, A. (1995). Canadian families: Diversity, conflict
and change . Toronto: Harcourt Brace Canada.
This
book explores the dynamic and tumultuous aspects of marriage and the family
in Canadian society. It challenges our traditional approaches to marriage
and the family, and addresses the effects of gender, race, class, sexual
orientation, divorce, and violence on the family.
Ramu,
G.N. (Ed.). (1980). Courtship, marriage, and the family in Canada
. Toronto: Gage.
This
book provides an introductory overview of courtship, marriage, and the
family life cycle in Canada. Although somewhat dated, it still presents
useful information on theoretical orientations, and it touches on several
aspects of marriage, including the family, sex roles, kinship networks,
divorce and remarriage, and ethnic perspectives.
Stacey,
J. (1990). Brave new families: Stories of domestic conflict in late
twentieth century America . New York: Basic Books.
Written
by a sociologist, this book takes an anthropological approach to understanding
the changes affecting family structure in the United States. The author
concludes that "the family" is not here to stay, nor should we wish otherwise.
For all the difficulties attendant to "the family's demise," alternative
arrangements do open hopeful possibilities for the future.
Thorne,
B., & Yalom, M. (Eds.). (1982). Rethinking the family: Some feminist
questions . New York: Longman.
As
anthropologists have paid more attention to how institutions and practices
work from a woman's perspective, they have had to reexamine existing assumptions
about families in human societies. The 12 original essays in this volume,
by scholars in economics, history, law, literature, philosophy, psychology,
and sociology, as well as anthropology, examine topics such as the idea
of the monolithic family, the sexual division of labour and inequality,
motherhood, parenting, mental illness, and relations between family, class,
and state. Especially recommended is the essay "Is There a Family? New
Anthropological Views."
Chapter
9: Kinship and Descent
Blackman,
M. (1992). During my time: Florence Edenshaw Davidson, a Haida woman
(Rev. ed.). Vancouver: Douglas and McIntyre.
A
very readable ethnographic account of matrilineality.
Fox,
R. (1967). Kinship and marriage in an anthropological perspective
. Baltimore: Penguin.
An
excellent introduction to the concepts of kinship and marriage, this book
outlines some of the methods of analysis used in the anthropological treatment
of kinship and marriage. It updates Radcliffe-Brown's African Systems
of Kinship and Marriage and features a perspective focused on kinship
groups and social organization.
Ramu,
G.N. (1989). Marriage and the family in Canada today . Scarborough,
ON: Prentice-Hall Canada.
This
is an updated version of Courtship, Marriage, and the Family in Canada
. It presents significant information on the state of marriage, kinship,
and the family and emphasizes emerging trends in marriage.
Schusky,
E.L. (1975). Variation in kinship . New York: Holt, Rinehart
and Winston.
This
book is an introduction to kinship, descent, and residence for the beginner.
A case-study approach leads the reader from basic data to generalizations,
a strategy that helps remove some of the abstraction students of kinship
organization sometimes find confusing.
Schusky,
E.L. (1983). Manual for kinship analysis (2nd ed.). Lanham,
MD: University Press of America.
This
useful book discusses the elements of kinship, diagramming, systems classification,
and descent with specific examples.
Thompson,
R.H. (1989). Toronto's Chinatown: The changing social organization
of an ethnic community . New York: AMS Press.
This
community study addresses issues such as the way government policies have
affected Chinese Canadians, and provides valuable information on the history
and social organization of Toronto's Chinese population. Other topics
include Chinese immigration, Chinese associations, and class structure,
conflict, and status.
Chapter
10: Social Stratification and Groupings
Bernardi,
B. (1985). Age class systems: Social institutions and policies based
on age . New York: Cambridge University Press.
This
is a cross-cultural analysis of age as a device for organizing society
and for distributing and rotating power.
Brooks,
G. (1994). Nine parts of desire: The hidden world of Islamic women
. New York: Anchor Books.
A
refreshingly well-written, interesting book examining the lives of Muslim
women. Geraldine Brooks travels through the Middle East on a journey of
discovery. Her insights are remarkably objective, serving to break down
many of the misconceptions Westerners have about Islamic people.
Li,
P.S. (1988). The Chinese in Canada . Toronto: Oxford University
Press.
This
book provides a comprehensive, readable discussion of the lives and situations
of Chinese immigrants to Canada over the course of the last 130 years.
A good source for understanding the institutionalized racism Chinese Canadians
have experienced in Canada.
Nelson,
E.D., & Robinson, B.W. (Eds.). (1999). Gender in Canada .
Scarborough, ON: Prentice Hall, Allyn and Bacon Canada.
A
comprehensive examination of gender in Canadian society, this book will
provide students with a firm grasp of issues related to gender.
Price,
T.D., & Feinman, G.M. (Eds.). (1995). Foundations of social inequality
. New York: Plenum.
This
book is a collection of essays by various contributors that examines the
emergence of social inequality.
Sanday,
P.R. (1981). Female power and male dominance: On the origins of sexual
inequality . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
In
this cross-cultural study, Professor Sanday reveals the various ways male-female
relations are organized in human societies and demonstrates that male
dominance is not inherent in those relations. Rather, it appears to emerge
in situations of stress as a result of such things as chronic food shortages,
migration, and colonial domination.
Chapter
11: Political Organization and the Maintenance of Order
Bothwell,
R. (1998). Canada and Quebec: One country, two histories . Vancouver:
UBC Press.
This
book addresses the relationship and sources of misunderstanding between
Quebec and the rest of Canada through interviews with politicians, journalists,
and academics, such as Jean Chrétien, Ovide Mercredi, Lise Bissonnette,
Graham Fraser, Michael Bliss, and Ramsay Cook. Through personal accounts
and opinions, readers will become acquainted with the critical issues
facing Canadian unity.
Frideres,
J.S. (1998). Aboriginal peoples of Canada: Contemporary conflicts
(5th ed.). Scarborough, ON: Prentice Hall Allyn and Bacon Canada.
This
comprehensive book traces the changes in aboriginal-White relations from
first contact to the present day. The book covers such diverse topics
as colonialism, treaties and land claims, and self-government.
Gordon,
R.J., & Meggitt, M.J. (1985). Law and order in the New Guinea
highlands . Hanover, NH: University Press of New England.
This
ethnographic study of the resurgence of tribal fighting among the Mae-Enga
addresses two issues of major importance in today's world: the changing
nature of law and order in "underdeveloped" countries and the nature of
violence in human societies.
Johnson,
A.W., & Earle, T. (1987). The evolution of human societies, from
foraging group to agrarian state . Stanford, CA: Stanford University
Press.
Although
written as a synthesis of economic and ecological anthropology, this is
also a book on the evolution of political organization in human societies.
Proceeding from family-level up through state organization, the authors
discuss nine levels, illustrating each with specific case studies, and
specify the conditions that give rise to each level.
McGlynn,
F., & Tuden, A. (Eds.). (1991). Anthropological approaches to
political behavior . Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh Press.
A
diverse collection of essays taken from previous editions of the journal
Ethnology. These articles serve to highlight various theoretical concerns
in political anthropology, and provide valuable insight into political
behaviour, power, and action.
McRoberts,
K. (1997). Misconceiving Canada: The struggle for national unity .
Toronto: Oxford University Press.
A
very readable examination of the struggle for national unity in Canada.
In addition to providing political analysis, McRoberts examines from a
historical perspective the issues of unity facing Canadians.
Chapter
12: Religion and the Supernatural
Guenther,
M. (1999). Tricksters and trancers: Bushman religion and society .
Bloomington and Indianapolis, IL: Indiana University Press.
Although
this extensive examination of Ju/'hoansi mythology and cosmology is fairly
academic, there is some interesting information on Ju/'hoansi beliefs
about tricksters and trancers.
Kalwet,
H. (1988). Dreamtime and inner space: The world of the shaman .
New York: Random House.
Written
by an ethnopsychologist, this book surveys the practices and paranormal
experiences of healers and shamans from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and
Australia.
Lehmann,
A.C., & Myers, J.E. (Eds.). (1993). Magic, witchcraft and religion:
An anthropological study of the supernatural (3rd ed.). Mountain
View, CA: Mayfield.
This
anthology of readings is cross-cultural in scope, covering traditional
as well as nontraditional themes. Well represented are both "tribal" and
"modern" religions. It is a good way to discover the relevance and vitality
of anthropological approaches to the supernatural.
Pearson,
J., Roberts, R.H., & Samuel, G. (Eds.). (1998). Nature religion
today: Paganism in the modern world . Edinburgh: Edinburgh University
Press.
This
is a well-written, fascinating look at contemporary neo-pagan religions,
including Druidism, Wicca, and New Age. The articles in the book examine
these religions from an anthropological, sociological, and historical
perspective, and some of the contributors are practising neo-pagans.
Ridington,
R. (1988). Trail to heaven: Knowledge and narrative in a northern
native community . Vancouver: Douglas and McIntyre.
This
book describes moments in the life of a northern Beaver (Dane-zaa) community
from the point of view of Ridington's experiences in the community. The
author reflects on the prevailing philosophy of anthropology while examining
the complex belief systems of the Dane-zaa.
Wallace,
A.F.C. (1966). Religion: An anthropological view . New York:
Random House.
This
is a classic textbook treatment of religion by an anthropologist who has
specialized in the study of revitalization movements.
Chapter
13: Artistic Expression
Dundes,
A. (1980). Interpreting folk lore . Bloomington: Indiana University
Press.
A
collection of articles that assess the materials folklorists have amassed
and classified, this book seeks to broaden and refine traditional assumptions
about the proper subject matter and methods of folklore.
Hannah,
J.L. (1988). Dance, sex and gender . Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.
Like
other art forms, dances are social acts that contribute to the continuation
and emergence of culture. One of the oldest - if not the oldest - art
forms, dance shares the same instrument, the human body, with sexuality.
This book, written for a broad nonspecialist audience, explicitly examines
sexuality and the construction of gender identities as they are played
out in the production and visual imagery of dance.
Hatcher,
E.P. (1985). Art as culture: An introduction to the anthropology of
art . New York: University Press of America.
This
handy, clearly written book does a nice job of relating the visual arts
to other aspects of culture. Topics include "The Technological Means,"
"The Psychological Perspective," "Social Contexts and Social Functions,"
"Art as Communication," and "The Time Dimension." Numerous line drawings
help the reader understand the varied art forms in non-Western societies.
Inuit
art: An anthology . (1988). Introduction by Alma Houston. Winnipeg:
Watson & Dwyer.
A
collection of vivid photographs of Inuit artwork, coupled with descriptions
of historical and contemporary Inuit art. The book features some well-known
Inuit artists.
Otten,
C.M. (1971). Anthropology and art: Readings in cross-cultural aesthetics
. Garden City, NY: Natural History Press.
This
is a collection of articles by anthropologists and art historians with
emphasis on the functional relationships between art and culture.
Randall,
H., & Polhemus, T. (1996). The customized body . London:
Serpent's Tail.
An
informative and visually stimulating examination of body art, including
painting, tattooing, scarification, body piercing, makeup and jewellery,
and gender modification.
Chapter
14: Medical Anthropology
Baer,
H.A., Singer, M., & Susser, I. (2004). Medical anthropology and
the world system: A Critical Perspective (2nd ed.). Westport, CT:
Bergin and Garvey.
The
standard introduction to critical medical anthropology, originally published
in 1997, and based on a concept pioneered by Baer and Singer in 1982.
It contains extensive discussion of such topics as health and the human
condition; the impact on health of poverty, alcohol, tobacco, and illicit
drugs such as cocaine and heroin; and the political economy of HIV/AIDS.
Brown,
P. (Ed.). (1998). Understanding and applying medical anthropology
. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield.
The
major reader in medical anthropology, containing over 40 selections on
every branch of the subdiscipline, including classic articles by Claude
Lévi-Strauss, Nancy Scheper-Hughes and Margaret Lock, George Armelagos,
and Emily Martin.
Crosby,
A. (1972/2003). The Columbian exchange: Biological and cultural consequences
of 1492 (30th anniversary ed.). Westport, CT: Praeger.
Crosby's
book is the definitive account of the impact the "discovery" and colonization
of the New World after 1492 had on global ecology and health. It is particularly
informative in detailing the introduction of European diseases into indigenous
populations of the New World and describing their devastating impact.
Farmer,
P. (1992). AIDS and accusation: Haiti and the geography of blame .
Berkeley: University of California Press.
Farmer's
research combines biocultural and cultural interpretive medical anthropology
in a brilliant synthesis that emphasizes the politics and economics of
international health care inequities. His case study of AIDS in a Haitian
village is a classic in critical medical anthropology.
Garrett,
L. (2000). Betrayal of trust: The collapse of global public health
. New York: Hyperion.
An
award-winning investigation into the state of public health at the turn
of the millennium, and an excellent source of information about the dramatic
decline in health in post-Soviet Russia and in parts of the developing
world. It also documents in massive detail the up-and-down struggle for
public health in the United States and the political forces at work. The
chapter on the threats of biological warfare and terrorism is particularly
timely.
Goodman,
A.H., & Leatherman, T.L. (Eds.). (1998). Building a new biocultural
synthesis: Political-economic perspectives on human biology . Ann
Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
An
important work of synthesis in which biological anthropologists attempt
to apply the findings of the field to important health and social issues
of the current era.
Joralemon,
D. (1999). Exploring medical anthropology . Boston: Allyn and
Bacon.
Joralemon's
book is an excellent short introduction to medical anthropology from the
cultural interpretive point of view. It is a particularly rich account
of shamanistic healing based in part on the author's own fieldwork on
healing by indigenous curanderos in Peru.
Scheper-Hughes,
N., & Lock, M. (1987). The mindful body: A prolegomenon to future
work in medical anthropology. Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 1
(1).
An
influential essay that attempts to ground medical anthropology in a theoretical
framework that transcends the Cartesian mind-body dualism and links it
to four bodies of theory: European phenomenology, symbolic anthropology,
Foucaultian poststructuralism, and classical political economy.
Vitebsky,
P. (1995). The shaman . Boston: Little Brown and Co.
An
excellent brief introduction to shamanism from its prehistoric origins
to its current diversity in many world regions. Strong emphasis on the
elaborate belief systems articulated within shamanistic traditions.
Waldram,
J.B., Herring, A., & Kue Young, T. (1995). Aboriginal health in
Canada: Historical, cultural and epidemiological perspectives . Toronto:
University of Toronto Press.
This
important volume brings together much of the recent research on aboriginal
health in Canada, including material on diabetes, cancer, infant and child
health, and mental health and spirituality. The authors are three of Canada's
leading medical anthropologists.
Chapter
15: Cultural Change and the Future of Humanity
Bodley,
J.H. (1985). Anthropology and contemporary human problems (2nd
ed.). Palo Alto, CA: Mayfield.
Anthropologist
Bodley examines some of the most serious problems in the world today:
overconsumption, resource depletion, hunger and starvation, overpopulation,
and violence and war.
Bodley,
J.H. (1990). Victims of progress (3rd ed.). Mountain View, CA:
Mayfield.
Few
North Americans are aware of the devastation unleashed on indigenous peoples
in the name of "progress," nor are they aware that this continues on an
unprecedented scale today or of the extent to which their own society's
institutions contribute to it. For most, this book will be a real eye-opener.
Davis,
S.H. (1982). Victims of the miracle . Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press.
An
anthropologist looks at Brazil's efforts to develop the Amazon region,
the motivations behind those efforts, and their impact on indigenous peoples.
Davis pays special attention to the role multinational corporations play,
how they relate to the Brazilian government, and who benefits from it
all.
Hedican,
E.J. (1995). Applied anthropology in Canada: Understanding aboriginal
issues . Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
This
book examines anthropology's relevance in modern Canadian society. In
a clear and concise manner, Hedican addresses the role of anthropology
in the study of aboriginal peoples of Canada. He also provides a historical
look at the development of applied anthropology, profiling some of the
"greats" of Canadian anthropology.
Mackie,
M. (1991). Gender relations in Canada . Toronto: Harcourt Brace.
This
text is a comprehensive analysis of gender, including an in-depth examination
of feminist perspectives and theories. Beginning with gender differences,
Mackie looks at socialization agents, such as the family, peer groups,
schools, religion, and the media. The book also examines social stratification,
the family and aging, and avenues of change.
Miller,
S. (Ed.). (1993). State of the peoples: A global human rights report
on societies in danger . Boston: Beacon Press.
This
important publication from Cultural Survival Quarterly systematically
reports on the situation of indigenous peoples throughout the world, region
by region. Also included are professional articles on critical issues
affecting such diverse peoples as Bosnians and the Ju/'hoansi, all sorts
of useful maps and charts, and suggested solutions to many challenges
indigenous peoples face. A "must read" for anyone who is in any way concerned
with the "New World Disorder."
Robbins,
Richard H. (2002). Global problems and the culture of capitalism
(2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
A
detailed survey of many of the issues raised in this chapter, with a thorough
discussion of the historical rise of capitalism and its impact, both positive
and negative, on the modern world. Chapters on environment, indigenous
peoples, hunger and poverty, and resistance and rebellion offer anthropological
perpectives on the problems humanity will have to face if it is to have
a future.
Stannard,
D.E. (1992). American holocaust . Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Stannard
deals with 500 years of cultural change in the Americas related to the
contact of European and native cultures. In doing so, he focuses on genocide,
relates it to the Holocaust of World War II, and demonstrates how deeply
rooted the phenomenon is in Western culture and Christianity.
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