Anthropology For Dummies [Paperback]

Cameron M. Smith (Author), Evan T. Davies PhD (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2008

Covers the latest competing theories in the field

Get a handle on the fundamentals of biological and cultural anthropology

When did the first civilizations arise? How many human languages exist? The answers are found in anthropology - and this friendly guide explains its concepts in clear detail. You'll see how anthropology developed as a science, what it tells us about our ancestors, and how it can help with some of the hot-button issues our world is facing today.

Discover:

• How anthropologists learn about the past
• Humanity's earliest activities, from migration to civilization
• Why our language differs from other animal communication
• How to find a career in anthropology

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Covers the latest competing theories in the field

Get a handle on the fundamentals of biological and cultural anthropology

When did the first civilizations arise? How many human languages exist? The answers are found in anthropology — and this friendly guide explains its concepts in clear detail. You'll see how anthropology developed as a science, what it tells us about our ancestors, and how it can help with some of the hot-button issues our world is facing today.

Discover:

• How anthropologists learn about the past
• Humanity's earliest activities, from migration to civilization
• Why our language differs from other animal communication
• How to find a career in anthropology

About the Author

Cameron M. Smith’s fascination with humanity was sparked on a 1984 trip to Mexico’s Maya ruins; by 1987, he was a student of both Harvard University’s early human archaeology field school at Kenya’s Leakey research station and the University of London’s Institute of Archaeology. He then went to Durham University in northern England for a Joint Honours BA in Anthropology & Archaeology, followed by an MA in Anthropology at Portland State University (in Portland, Oregon) and a PhD from Canada’s Simon Fraser University.
Since 2002, Dr. Smith has taught a wide variety of courses as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Portland State University’s Department of Anthropology; he has also taught at Washington State University and Linfield College.
Dr. Smith’s scientific works have been published in journals such as the American Journal of Physical Anthropology and the Journal of Field Archaeology and books published by International Monographs in Prehistory and Oxford’s British Archaeology Reports. His research has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Science Foundation-funded Barrow Arctic Science Consortium.
Reaching out from the academic world, Dr. Smith has written popular-science articles for Scientific American MIND, Archaeology, Playboy, Spaceflight, Skeptical Inquirer, South American Explorer, The Next Step, Cultural Survival Quarterly, The Bulletin of Primitive Technology, and other magazines. Anthropology For Dummies is Dr. Smith’s second book. His first, written with Charles Sullivan, was The Top Ten Myths About Evolution (Prometheus, 2006).

Evan T. Davies received his BA from Cornell University where he began his studies in anthropology. He earned a PhD in cultural anthropology from Rice University, and has conducted fieldwork throughout Europe, the South Pacific, and in many locations throughout sub-Saharan Africa. His doctoral dissertation reported on the land use patterns of the BaAka foragers of the central African rainforests whose subsistence and hunting strategies he studied while living with them through the seasons. He has recently become involved with the protection of archaeological sites in Iraq.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (August 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470279664
• ISBN-13: 978-0470279663
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #106,769 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Educated in Africa, England, the USA and Canada, Dr. Cameron M. Smith teaches archaeology and human evolution at Portland State University and Linfield College. He has published in peer-reviewed research journals, written features for magazines such as 'Scientific American MIND' and 'Archaeology', and written several books. His award-winning travel writing has appeared in both magazines and anthologies. Away from his office, Cameron is an active SCUBA diver and paraglider pilot whose many expeditions have taken him from Africa to the Arctic. He is currently writing two books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for a passing interest or more advanced studies, August 24, 2008

By 

Michael Carpenter (Virginia, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anthropology For Dummies (Paperback)

I'm a junior with an anthropology major, so I'm not exactly the highest source when it comes to recommending anthropology books, but as a general reader and someone with an interest in anthropology, I can say that this is one of the best general study books on anthropology that I've read. There are clear explanations for each of the four subfields of anthropology, which are biological (or physical) anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and cultural anthropology. While obviously not a comprehensive study of any of the subfields (it is, after all, a For Dummies book), it provides a good amount of information on these subjects without becoming too convoluted.I felt that some of the information on biological anthropology can get a bit exhausting, such as with dates and fossil names, but that may just be because I've never been great at memorizing dates and whatnot.

I feel that there is something for everyone in this book. Even if you're not an anthropology student, there are still topics in this book, such as the origin of language, tool-making, and culture in general, that anyone who is interested in other fellow human beings (i.e, everyone) will find relevant and useful.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview for students and general public, October 23, 2009

By 

Guy P. Harrison "author of 50 Popular Beliefs... (Earth) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Anthropology For Dummies (Paperback)

I love this book! As a serious life-long student of anthropology I was familiar with most of the content, but this well-written and gentle survey of the wonderful and important world of anthropology was a great ride, nonetheless. While prospective and new anthropology students will find much of interest, I'm confident just about anyone else would find this work fascinating and relevant too. There is so much here and it flies by with ease so no one should fear either boredom or cerebral stress. Many people don't seem to realize how broad the field of anthropology is. Explore this book to find out: from linguistics, to archaeology; from "race" to religion; from Homo erectus to farming, it's all here. And none of it is stale or monotonous. For example, there is even a cool section on anthropologically themed books and films. I also loved "Ten Things to Remember About Anthropology". That chapter alone is worth the price of admission.

The best endorsement I can offer is this: I will be giving away a few copies to friends this Christmas. I think a book like this can be especially powerful with young people. The authors will never know, but I am sure that many careers in anthropology will be inspired by this fun and enlightening book.


--Guy P. Harrison, author of
Race and Reality: What Everyone Should Know about Our Biological Diversity

and

50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A BOOK FOR DUMMIES IN NAME ONLY, June 11, 2010

By 

Kay's Husband (Virginia, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Anthropology For Dummies (Paperback)

Though I have seen many of these "dummy" books on bookstore shelves until this one on Anthropology I have passed them all by. Following a B.S. in Anthropology in college I could not dismiss this one.

To my surprise the book does a terrific job for the layman and for the student. All the information for either study or reference is here. Great too for cramming for those mid-terms or finals. I think so highly of this book that I think my next purchase will be the book Archaeology for Dummies.

This volume is one designed for the reader to either thumb through stopping to read those sections of interest and is also designed for the reader who wants to read completely through all sections. There are pictures, maps, drawings, etc., with bold type and icons for calling attention to items the author felt of importance. A good book for use up to and through the introductory level course in Anthropology, but not for the graduate student unless used for reference.

A real addition to the practical books available to anyone interested all aspects of Anthropology. I recall that though our lecture hall classes were filled they were not packed, there were no standing in line ever to register for a course in Anthropology. Mostly the other way round, we had to have so many students signed up for the course to have it taught as scheduled. Sometimes it took a few quarters to catch up with a course that was desired or required.

Whether presently involved with a course in Anthropology or just having curious interest in this practical and far ranging field, this is an excellent starting point and at a reasonable cost. Anyone taking Anthropology courses in college these days will be only too aware of book costs on campus.

Semper Fi.