The Routledge Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology [Hardcover]

Alan Barnard (Editor), Jonathan Spencer (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415409780 | ISBN-13: 978-0415409780 | Publication Date: January 20, 2010 | Edition: 2

Written by leading scholars in the field, this comprehensive and readable resource gives anthropology students a unique guide to the ideas, arguments and history of the discipline. The fully revised and expanded second edition reflects major changes in anthropology in the past decade.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The best one-volume reference source on social and cultural anthropology ... Highly recommended." – Choice

 

"This is an inspired volume. If anyone doubts that anthropology is in a new phase, they should look at the manner in which Second Edition enlarges on the First. A formidable task this, here executed with wisdom, acumen and brilliant collaboration. But what is really inspiring is the way contributors have been teamed up with topics. Some classic pairings, but also interesting and surprising ones. And the quality of the entries makes this not just a book of reference but, almost wherever one lands, an exceedingly good read in its own right."

- Marilyn Strathern, Emeritus Professor, Cambridge University

 

"This new edition is a magisterial work. Written by an erudite set of authors and edited with a sure hand, it is much more than a compendium of accumulated knowledge, although it is certainly that as well. It also maps the discipline as practiced today, pointing out its controversies and challenges, its critical edges, its areas of unsettlement. It is an indispensable source for anyone with an interest in things anthropological."

- John and Jean Comaroff, University of Chicago

"Libraries that found the first edition useful should note that this, while it still contains much of what was in the previous version, has been very substantially expanded, updated and rewritten, so they will probably find it worth upgrading." – Reference Reviews

About the Author

Alan Barnard is Professor of the Anthropology of Southern Africa at the University of Edinburgh, and a Fellow of the British Academy.

Jonathan Spencer is Professor of the Anthropology of South Asia at the University of Edinburgh, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 896 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (January 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415409780
• ISBN-13: 978-0415409780
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,403,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A loyal friend, June 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology (Routledge World Reference) (Paperback)

This book is invaluable. Whatever be your interest in anthropology, this will serve as a comprehensive guide and jumping off point for all areas of the discipline. It is easy to follow, well-written and full of references for further reading. Although it is not suitable for in-depth study (as the title suggests, it is an encyclopedia), it is a fantastic aid for clarifying and summarizing a broad spectrum of topics. For students and the novice, this book is a gem, just don't rely on it to get you through your exams.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Do not buy the Kindle Edition, August 12, 2010

By 

Malkauns (DC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology (Routledge World Reference) (Kindle Edition)

The Kindle edition of this encyclopedia does not have live links between the table of contents and the entries in the main text. Consequently it is impossible to look for an entry on a particular subject, which makes it rather useless as an encyclopedia. The publishers should figure out how to format digital content before trying to sell it.

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology, December 24, 2006

By 

Activist Max "The Crime of Making Love is Silent" (Brussels, Belgium) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology (Routledge World Reference) (Paperback)

I am studying anthropological courses in the university and bought the encyclopedia to help and guide me through the new terms I encountered. For these purposes I found this book extremely unhelpful. This is definitely not a book for students, those who start studying anthropology, but rather for those who already know a lot about the science.

For example, here is the definition of essentialism:

"Essentialism commonly appears as both a violation of anthropological relativism and one of the besetting conceptual sins of anthropology. Exemplified by such totalizing ideologies as nationalims and biological determinism, it is also frequently conflated with reification, objectivism and literalism". Etc.

For me in order to understand this definition, I need to read 3-4 page articles in the same encyclopedia about: relativism, biological determinism, objectivism, literalism. And even after that I don't think I will be able to understand what the authors wanted to say by this definition. And its the same almost about every other term or concept I was looking up.

Of course, if you are familiar with all these terms - it is easy, but then do you really need this encyclopedia.

A frustrating experience for me. This publication is collecting dust on a shelf now, and I turned to more popular publications, like "What is anthropology" (terms are explained in a much more accessible language), "Understanding social and cultural anthropology", etc. And... never underestimate wikipedia, the best for me as a student.

Would strongly not recommmend this book for students and whoever is starting to learn anthropology. Will advise it to my anthropology university professor with 20 years teaching experience, he may find it interesting.

Max