Cultural Anthropology, CourseSmart eTextbook, 6th Edition

Successfully integrating attention to culture change, gender, class, race and ethnicity, and the environment, this text engages students with compelling ethnographic examples and by demonstrating the relevance of anthropology. Faculty and students praise the book’s proven ability to generate class discussion, increase faculty-student engagement, and enhance student learning.

 

Through clear writing, a balanced theoretical approach, and engaging examples, Miller stresses the importance of social inequality and human rights, the environment, culture change and applied aspects of anthropology. Rich examples of gender, ethnicity, race, class, and age thread through the topical coverage of economic systems, the life-cycle, health, kinship, social organization, politics, language, religion, and expressive culture. The last two chapters address how migration is changing world cultures and the importance of local cultural values and needs in shaping international development policies and programs.

 

Material throughout the book highlights the relevance of anthropology to students and how they can apply in their careers. By entwining attention to key theories for understanding culture with an emphasis on relevance of anthropological knowledge and skills, this text is the perfect choice for all introductory cultural anthropology courses.

BRIEF CONTENTS

Part I INTRODUCTION TO CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY  
         1 ANTHROPOLOGY AND THE STUDY OF CULTURE  
         2 THE EVOLUTION OF HUMANITY AND CULTURE  
         3 RESEARCHING CULTURE 
Part II CULTURAL FOUNDATIONS  
         4 MAKING A LIVING 
         5 CONSUMPTION AND EXCHANGE 
         6 REPRODUCTION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT  
         7 DISEASE, ILLNESS, AND HEALING 

Part III SOCIAL ORGANIZATION  
         8 KINSHIP AND DOMESTIC LIFE  
         9 SOCIAL GROUPS AND SOCIAL STRATIFICATION  
         10 POLITICAL AND LEGAL SYSTEMS 

Part IV SYMBOLIC SYSTEMS  
         11 COMMUNICATION  
         12 RELIGION  
         13 EXPRESSIVE CULTURE 

Part V CONTEMPORARY CULTURAL CHANGE  
         14 PEOPLE ON THE MOVE  
         15 PEOPLE DEFINING DEVELOPMENT