Cultural Anthropology: Asking Questions About Humanity

Product Description What is cultural anthropology, and how is it relevant in today's world? Robert L. Welsch and Luis A. Vivanco's Cultural Anthropology: Asking Questions About Humanity uses a questions-based approach to teach students how to think anthropologically, helping them view cultural issues and everyday experiences as an anthropologist might. Inspired by the common observation that 99 percent of a good answer is a good question, Cultural Anthropology: Asking Questions About Humanity combines a question-centered pedagogy with the topics typically covered in an introductory course. It emphasizes up front what the discipline of anthropology knows and which issues are in debate, and how a cultural perspective is relevant to understanding social, political, and economic dynamics in the contemporary world. Cultural Anthropology: Asking Questions About Humanity also represents an effort to close the gap between the realities of the discipline today and traditional views that are taught at the introductory level by bringing classic anthropological examples, cases, and analyses to bear on contemporary questions. Review "Cultural Anthropology is extremely accessible in terms of its writing style, organization, and use of contemporary ethnographic examples that will help those new to the field 'think anthropologically.'"--Keri Brondo, University of Memphis "This book does a phenomenal job introducing students to a wide variety of cultural behaviors, beliefs, and practices. The examples are cross-culturally rich, from many different parts of the world, and historically varied."--Kuinera de Kramer-Lynch, University of Delaware "The writing style is exceptionally clear and straightforward. I found myself actually wanting to read more. The critical thinking questions are outstanding! They are better--and more thought-provoking--than the discussion questions I currently use. I look forward to employing them in the classroom."--Jason Fancher, Mt. Hood Community College "The examples in the book provide opportunities for students to engage in anthropological thinking and are very effective. In addition, concepts that are typically covered in other texts are handled more fully here. They are not simply introduced, but are applied and integrated. Kudos to the authors!"--Jack M. Schultz, Concordia University "This book makes cultural anthropology come alive."--Neeraj Vedwan, Montclair State University "Cultural Anthropology is extremely accessible in terms of its writing style, organization, and use of contemporary ethnographic examples that will help those new to the field 'think anthropologically.'"--Keri Brondo, University of Memphis "This book does a phenomenal job introducing students to a wide variety of cultural behaviors, beliefs, and practices. The examples are cross-culturally rich, from many different parts of the world, and historically varied."--Kuinera de Kramer-Lynch, University of Delaware "The writing style is exceptionally clear and straightforward. I found myself actually wanting to read more. The critical thinking questions are outstanding! They are better--and more thought-provoking--than the discussion questions I currently use. I look forward to employing them in the classroom."--Jason Fancher, Mt. Hood Community College "The examples in the book provide opportunities for students to engage in anthropological thinking and are very effective. In addition, concepts that are typically covered in other texts are handled more fully here. They are not simply introduced, but are applied and integrated. Kudos to the authors!"--Jack M. Schultz, Concordia University "This book makes cultural anthropology come alive."--Neeraj Vedwan, Montclair State University About the Author Robert L. Welsch is Associate Professor of Anthropology at Franklin Pierce University. Luis A. Vivanco is Associate Professor of Anthropology and Co-Director of the Humanities Center at the University of Vermont.