Anthropology: The Human Challenge [Paperback]

William A. Haviland (Author), Harald E. L. Prins (Author), Dana Walrath (Author), Bunny McBride (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0495095591 | ISBN-13: 978-0495095590 | Publication Date: March 23, 2007 | Edition: 012

Explore the most fascinating, creative, dangerous, and complex species alive today: you and your neighbors in the global village. With compelling photos, engaging examples, and select studies by anthropologists in far-flung places, the authors of ANTHROPOLOGY: The Human Challenge provide a holistic view of anthropology to help you make sense of today's world. With this text you will discover the different ways humans face the challenge of existence, the connection between biology and culture in the shaping of human behavior, and the impact of globalization on peoples and cultures around the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An up-to-date, colorful, and exciting text covering all the major four-field topics, yet with special applied emphasis. Each chapter problematizes several issues and then addresses them within the text. Chapters do not push one theory but remain adaptable to several different theoretical approaches. Haviland shows sensitivity to race, gender, and lifestyle issues while remaining a mainstream text. Beautifully illustrated and easy for students to absorb, with all the ancillaries and Internet support that students expect today. This is, plainly, the best introductory anthropology text in the field."

"Haviland’s work is up-to-date and accurate, especially the human evolution section. This is one of the major reasons our department has used the various editions of the book for over a decade. In each edition, the author and publisher make concerted efforts to keep the work as current as possible.... The modules strategically placed in the work are, in my opinion, one of the major attractions of the work. It seems the author took great care in selecting materials that are informative and entertaining."

"One feature I really appreciate is the numerous Anthropology Applied and Original Study features. In the past I used a supplemental reader that provided additional examples of ideas brought out either in the text or the lecture/discussion. Because Haviland’s text includes a number of illustrative examples, I feel free to forego the use of a separate reader." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Dr. William A. Haviland is Professor Emeritus at the University of Vermont, where he founded the Department of Anthropology and taught for thirty-two years. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. He has carried out original research in archaeology in Guatemala and Vermont, ethnography in Maine and Vermont and physical anthropology in Guatemala. He also served as technical consultant for the award winning telecourse, Faces of Culture, and is coeditor of the series Tikal Reports, published by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Besides his teaching and writing, Dr. Haviland has lectured to numerous audiences worldwide. A staunch supporter of indigenous rights, he served as an expert witness for the Missisquoi Abenakis of Vermont in an important court case over aboriginal fishing rights. Awards received by Dr. Haviland include being named University Scholar by the Graduate School of the University of Vermont, a Certificate of Appreciation from the Sovereign Republic of the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, St. Francis/Sokoki Band, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Center for Research in Vermont. Now retired from teaching, he continues his research, writing and lecturing from the coast of Maine. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 744 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 012 edition (March 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0495095591
• ISBN-13: 978-0495095590
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,350 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and not at all preaching., February 26, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Anthropology (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac) (Paperback)

I couldn't disagree more with the previous reviewer and felt the need to add my review to explain the absurdity of theirs. This book is very insighful, interesting, and makes perfect sense. Quite a bit of the writers opinions are included, but that is the case with most books on the social sciences. It is almost an unavoidable reality that the author will flavor the text with their own personal experience. The previous reviewer (a mathematician) seems more intent on discrediting Anthropology as a science than presenting the real facts. If one is truly interested in gleaning a generalized view of all the anthropological disciplines from one text, this book comes highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars college neccessity, September 4, 2011

By 

hollytbradley15 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Anthropology: The Human Challenge (Paperback)

It was a purchase for college. A required text book. Granted it does have some interesting information in it, but its still one of those books im forced to read. Im pretty sure if youre buying this book its for a class so youre probably going to buy it reguardless of any review.

5.0 out of 5 stars anthropology text for high schoolers too!, October 25, 2009

By 

Linda (Millis, MA, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Anthropology: The Human Challenge (Paperback)

I've used this book a couple of times for teaching either college freshmen or high school students and it is well-received. The readings are engaging and the authors bring in plenty of contemporary examples of uses for anthropology today.