This five-volume Encyclopedia of Anthropology is a unique collection of over 1,000 entries that focuses on topics in physical anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and applied anthropology. Also included are relevant articles on geology, paleontology, biology, evolution, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and theology. The contributions are authored by over 250 internationally renowned experts, professors, and scholars from some of the most distinguished museums, universities, and institutes in the world. Special attention is given to human evolution, primate behavior, genetics, ancient civilizations, sociocultural theories, and the value of human language for symbolic communication.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Despite the fact that the study of anthropology is well respected and time honored, there has been a peculiar gap in the reference literature. No general, multivolume encyclopedia has offered a broad overview of the subject. Existing encyclopedias, such as Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology (Holt, 1996), cover one aspect of the discipline. Several other single-volume encyclopedias are more like dictionaries, an example being the Companion Encyclopedia of Anthropology: Humanity, Culture, and Social Life (Routledge, 2002). But there has been nothing quite like this new Encyclopedia of Anthropology from Sage.
Five substantial volumes, with more than 1,000 entries, encompass information on all of the various aspects of the field. According to the accompanying literature, those are physical/biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural/social anthropology, linguistics, and applied anthropology. Articles on related topics such as biology, evolution, geology, paleontology, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and theology are also included. Approximately 230 of the entries are biographical. The entries themselves are clearly written in language accessible for an undergraduate student or informed user but are substantial enough to be of value to the more advanced researcher.
The editorial attitude of the work seems totally in the camp of Darwinian evolution, in that the theories put forth by Darwin are valid and are well supported by the evidence available in the fossil record and the current state of development. However, other opinions are addressed. There is, for example, no entry on intelligent design (though there are several page references in the index), but there is one on Creationism, beliefs in and one on Non-Darwinian evolutionary mechanisms. Another controversy in anthropology, the issue of repatriation of artifacts, is presented most specifically in articles on Native peoples of the United States and Human rights in anthropology.
The volumes themselves are beautiful and a pleasure to use and read. The paper is thick and glossy, the bindings substantial. There is elegant and eye-catching use of color in the decorations at the top of the pages and as background for such elements as sidebars and bibliographies. Color pictures enhance the text. The volumes have all the features one has come to expect from a high-end encyclopedia: a list of contributors, a list of entries in alphabetical order and another list of entries in thematic groupings, cross-references and suggested additional reading, and a master bibliography. The only critical comment to be made is that the index refers only to page numbers without volume numbers, and there are no page ranges given on the spines of the volumes. The difficulty that this causes is somewhat balanced by having the entire index in each volume.
This source has no peer or competition that can be readily found. All academic and large public libraries with an interest in anthropology should buy it. Danise Hoover
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"Thorough coverage is given to a wide range of topics in physical anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, anthropological linguistics, and applied anthropology. More than 250 respected anthropologists and scholars have contributed over 1000 A-to-Z articles… Color photographs accompany many of the articles and lend the encyclopedia a pleasing appearance. The signed entries are written in accessible, nonscholarly language, which makes the work suitable for undergraduate students and informed lay readers alike… This balanced and user-friendly resource will be a good starting point for basic anthropological research. Highly recommended for academic libraries with anthropology collections and large public libraries where there is interest in anthropology." (LIBRARY JOURNAL )
"The Encyclopedia of Anthropology is a magnificent achievement. It's intelligent, it doesn't shrink from the tough issues, it's very user-friendly and beautifully produced." (Bill Cooke The Open Society )
SAGE Reference delivers a unique five-volume set with its recent publication of the Encyclopedia of Anthropology. With over 1000 entries written by more than 250 authors, it is the first encyclopedic work that attempts to represent and integrate the various and diverse areas of physical/biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural/social anthropology, linguistics, and applied anthropology. This is a tall order but this set does an admirable job. . . . Both academic libraries supporting anthropology courses and public libraries needing a reference treating this diverse field should give it strong consideration. (Against the Grain Against the Grain )
"No general, multivolume encyclopedia has offered a broad overview of the subject. . . . there has been nothing quite like this new Encyclopedia of Anthropology from SAGE. . . . The volumes are beautiful and a pleasure to use and read. . . . The volumes have all the features one has come to expect from a high-end encyclopedia: a list of contributors, a list of entries in alphabetical order and another list of entries in thematic groupings, cross-references and suggested additional reading, and a master bibliography. . . . This source has no peer or competition that can be readily found. All academic and large public libraries with an interest in anthropology should buy it." (BOOKLIST BOOKLIST )
"The full-color illustrations are appealing to students, and important aids include the repetition of the reader's guide and index in every volume. This outstanding resource is an essential purchase for academic and large public libraries." (John Lawrence )
"With thick pages on brilliant white paper, 300 spectacular color illustrations, top edgings in elegant brown, further reading in green boxes, and cross references in red, this resource's attention to detail is unparalleled. Defining anthropology as "the comparative scientific study of human societies throughout the world and throughout time," the work covers key themes in 1000 authoritative entries. Expensive, but worth it." (Library Journal )
"This colorfully illustrated encyclopedia of humankind includes over 1,000 entries by more than 250 authors from around the world. All subfields of anthropology are included: physical/biological and cultural/social anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and even applied anthropology, as well as some related material. Other reference works of this sort have tended to focus on subfields of anthropology rather than the entire discipline. Teachers, students, scholars, and the broad public can all benefit from this wide-ranging and beautifully illustrated publication." (M. R. Dittemore )
"Editor Birx has made sure that thorough coverage is given to a wide range of topics in physical anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, anthropological linguistics, and applied anthropology. This balanced and user-friendly resource will be a good starting point for basic anthropological research. Highly recommended for academic libraries with anthropology collections and large public libraries where there is interest in anthropology." (Elizabeth Salt )
"It includes color photographs, side-bars, and graphs that give the Encyclopedia an attractive and informative edge. In the words of the editor, this encyclopedia is "the human story of [the human] epic journey that has been over five billion years in the making." It is a handy stepping-stone for research in anthropology. Recommended for reference collections supporting the research and teaching of Anthropology." (F.H.D. )
"This is the first general multivolume encyclopedia offering a broad overview of the subject." (Booklist )
"This resource is highly recommended for all academic libraries and any other library with patrons interested in anthropology." (ARBA )
"The Encyclopedia of Anthropology is a magnificent achievement. It's intelligent, it doesn't shrink from the tough issues, it's very user-friendly and beautifully produced." (Bill Cooke The Open Society )
SAGE Reference delivers a unique five-volume set with its recent publication of the Encyclopedia of Anthropology. With over 1000 entries written by more than 250 authors, it is the first encyclopedic work that attempts to represent and integrate the various and diverse areas of physical/biological anthropology, archaeology, cultural/social anthropology, linguistics, and applied anthropology. This is a tall order but this set does an admirable job. . . . Both academic libraries supporting anthropology courses and public libraries needing a reference treating this diverse field should give it strong consideration. (Against the Grain Against the Grain )
"No general, multivolume encyclopedia has offered a broad overview of the subject. . . . there has been nothing quite like this new Encyclopedia of Anthropology from SAGE. . . . The volumes are beautiful and a pleasure to use and read. . . . The volumes have all the features one has come to expect from a high-end encyclopedia: a list of contributors, a list of entries in alphabetical order and another list of entries in thematic groupings, cross-references and suggested additional reading, and a master bibliography. . . . This source has no peer or competition that can be readily found. All academic and large public libraries with an interest in anthropology should buy it." (BOOKLIST BOOKLIST )
"The full-color illustrations are appealing to students, and important aids include the repetition of the reader's guide and index in every volume. This outstanding resource is an essential purchase for academic and large public libraries." (John Lawrence )
"With thick pages on brilliant white paper, 300 spectacular color illustrations, top edgings in elegant brown, further reading in green boxes, and cross references in red, this resource's attention to detail is unparalleled. Defining anthropology as "the comparative scientific study of human societies throughout the world and throughout time," the work covers key themes in 1000 authoritative entries. Expensive, but worth it." (Library Journal )
"This colorfully illustrated encyclopedia of humankind includes over 1,000 entries by more than 250 authors from around the world. All subfields of anthropology are included: physical/biological and cultural/social anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and even applied anthropology, as well as some related material. Other reference works of this sort have tended to focus on subfields of anthropology rather than the entire discipline. Teachers, students, scholars, and the broad public can all benefit from this wide-ranging and beautifully illustrated publication." (M. R. Dittemore )
"Editor Birx has made sure that thorough coverage is given to a wide range of topics in physical anthropology, archaeology, cultural anthropology, anthropological linguistics, and applied anthropology. This balanced and user-friendly resource will be a good starting point for basic anthropological research. Highly recommended for academic libraries with anthropology collections and large public libraries where there is interest in anthropology." (Elizabeth Salt )
"It includes color photographs, side-bars, and graphs that give the Encyclopedia an attractive and informative edge. In the words of the editor, this encyclopedia is "the human story of [the human] epic journey that has been over five billion years in the making." It is a handy stepping-stone for research in anthropology. Recommended for reference collections supporting the research and teaching of Anthropology." (F.H.D. )
"This is the first general multivolume encyclopedia offering a broad overview of the subject." (Booklist )
"This resource is highly recommended for all academic libraries and any other library with patrons interested in anthropology." (ARBA )
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