Cultural Anthropology 12th Edition

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"Cultural Anthropology" by Serena Nanda and Richard L. Warms is a good presentation of the topic for both classroom and reference. I like how the information narrative flows from the Introduction to ideas to specifics areas (Gender, Religion, Arts, Politics, etc). It makes the reading comfortable. The chapter format is also easy on the eyes. I like the range of cultural representation as well. The only thing that I'm not as keen on is the light blue font in some areas as it is a little hard to read but otherwise, this is a good presentation of one of my favorite topics.

The first few chapters had me thinking this was only aimed at those intending to become cultural anthropologists. After that, though, it offered a very good introduction for both those just entering the field (in a freshman college class), as well as students with an interest in learning more, but majoring in another area.Here’s the basics of what each chapter covers:1: what anthropology is; major subdivisions in anthropology; how the study of anthropology is used; cultural relativism; race; how anthropology has changed2: history of anthropology; participant observation; emic and etic perspectives; cross-cultural research; feminism; postmodernism; collaborative and engaged anthropology; ethical dilemmas3: what culture is; relationship between child-rearing and culture; how people classify the world; symbols, rituals, and games; how culture is like a system and not like a system; norms and values; shared / not shared culture; cultural and biological adaptation; how culture changes, including conflict and consensus4: what language is; how we learn language; phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics; language as a system; performing language; Sapir-Whorf hypothesis; nonverbal communication; how language changes; globalizations effects on language5: environment and subsistence strategy; foraging, pastoralism, and horticulture; environmental impact of horticulture vs. agriculture; peasants, landlords, and social structures; agriculture vs. industrialism6: what economics is; resource allocation in foraging, pastoral, horticultural and agricultural societies; generalized, balanced, and negative reciprocity; market exchange; capitalism; how people in wealthy nations participate in and resist capitalism7: egalitarian, rank, and stratified societies; leadership at the band, tribe, chiefdom, and state level; violence in political organization; social stratification in state-level societies; nation-states; ethnicity in nation-states; globalization8: functionalist and conflict approaches to inequality; wealth, power, and prestige; class and caste systems; income inequality in the USA; concept of race in USA compared to Brazil; social stratification and race; different models of assimilation to US culture9: kinship; kinship systems; unilineal and nonunilineal kinship systems; patrilineal and matrilineal kinship; bilateral and ambilaneal descent systems; kin classification and how it differs in the US and India10: marriage and family; incest taboo; endogamy and exogamy; monogamy, polygny, and polyandry; bride service, bridewealth, and dowry; nuclear, composite and extended families; how American families have changed; effects of globalization in poor and wealthy countries11: sex, sexuality, and gender; how gender is culturally constructed; gender ideology; alternative genders; sexuality in different cultures; gender hierarchies; gender relations in foraging, horticultural, pastoral, and agricultural societies; changes in the understanding of gender12: religion and order and meaning; religion and social control; what religion is; religious rituals and rites; comparing priests and shamans; magic; role of accusations of witchcraft and sorcery in society; role of religion in social change13: art in politics and ritual; how art symbolizes cultural ideas; deep play; how art reflects cultural and personal identity in different societies; art for the international market14: European expansion in the 16th century; disease and expansion; creating European wealth; colonization in different eras; colonial wealth extraction through the ages, including the 20th century; colony independence15: attempts to eliminate poverty after WWII; social and technological changes; effects of poverty, violence, and government instability today; multinational corporations; urbanization; population growth; environmental challenges; indigenous people in modern nationsI found Nanda and Warms to offer thought-provoking material over a wide range of cultural anthropology topics. It’s not just a text trying to stuff info into student’s brains, it also encourages independent thought.But that’s JustMe.

For professors seeking a new text for their anthropology class, this text has a number of outstanding features that make it a strong text for any introductory or community college class.In order to prevent reader-fatigue and keep first-year students interested, the text has large photos and figures (some consume a full page). Likewise the chapters are very brief. This allows students to read the chapters several times before the next class. And, given the brevity of each chapter, this also allows students to focus on the bolded vocabulary words found in the text. Now, it will be incumbent upon the professor to stress that the short chapters permit re-readings and deep consideration (as opposed to students spending less time on a text than ever).The end of each chapter offers a summary, critical thinking questions, key terms, and a glossary. This is always valuable when studying for quizzes, exams, and finals. Moreover, these end-of-chapter glossaries are significantly more valuable (i.e. visited more by the student) than end-of-book glossaries. This was a very sage choice on the part of the authors and the publisher.Finally, professors might like to know that the language remains entirely accessible to community college and entry-level undergraduate courses. Anything that may be confusing to a young scholar is clearly defined.This is a phenomenal text for non-majors and entry-level courses. Professors should give this text consideration for their courses. Highly recommended!

This book is well written and interesting. It has a lot of visual appeal that breaks up the text and reinforces important concepts and ideas.It's an introductory text, and the language is accessible and engaging. It's thorough but it's not overly thick. It's easy to carry and use. ( I hate overly thick texts that break your back getting to distant classes!)

Let's just say it now. Professors Warms and Nanda are the New England Patriots of Cultural Anthropology texts with only one caveat. Belichick and Brady may be in the playoffs every year, but they don't win the Super Bowl each time. But Warms and Nanda for the twelfth time have issued a perfect text. So Warms and Nanda 12 beats Belichick and Brady 6! So... professors and instructors: if you're looking for a CA text for your class... who are you going to draft?Rex Grossman or Tom Brady? Who do you want to coach your team? Bucky the Beaver or Bill Belichick?Case dismissed. Point proven. THIS is the one.