Thomson Advantage Books: Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach [Paperback]

Richard H. Robbins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2006 | ISBN-10: 0534640745 | ISBN-13: 978-0534640743 | Edition: 4

CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY: A PROBLEM-BASED APPROACH provides a fresh look at cultural anthropology while challenging students to engage in active learning and critical thinking. With an engaging narrative, author Richard Robbins teaches students to recognize their own cultures as a basis for understanding the cultures of others. This briefer book is organized around problems rather than topics, creating a natural and integrated discussion of such traditional concerns as kinship, caste, gender roles, and religion. These subjects are explored within the context of meaningful questions, such as: How can people begin to understand beliefs and behaviors that are different from their own?, How do societies give meaning to and justify collective violence?, Why are some societies more industrially advanced than others? What can anthropology tell us about attempts to link intelligence and class?, and more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The writing style is both direct and engaging and, in my opinion, is one of the major strengths of the book. The author has the ability to explain complex concepts, theories, and theoretical debates in simple language without jeopardizing rigor."

"This is the most engaging textbook for introductory cultural anthropology that I have ever read. It is particularly strong in showing students how culture matters--how it makes us human and how it can get us killed if we don't learn how to interpret it right. It is exciting! It is [also] very effective at laying out skills anthropology gives students for the job market. It is extremely creative and well-written."

"The greatest strength of this book is the "problem-based approach" which introduces students to the field of anthropology through consideration of human questions of enduring significance. This approach demonstrates the relevance of anthropological concepts while engaging students in higher order thinking and intellectual development." --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Richard H. Robbins is SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of anthropology at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. His teaching interests include courses on global problems, utopian societies, comparative religion, and activist anthropology. He has conducted research among indigenous peoples of Canada and fishing communities in Northeastern New Brunswick. His recent books include GLOBAL PROBLEMS AND THE CULTURE OF CAPITALISM (4th edition), DARWIN AND THE BIBLE: THE CULTURAL CONFRONTATION (with Mark Cohen), and GLOBALIZATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT (with Gary Kroll). Professor Robbins is the recipient of the 2005 American Anthropological Association/McGraw Hill award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching.

Product Details

• Paperback: 341 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 4 edition (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534640745
• ISBN-13: 978-0534640743
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Professor review--don't assign this text to your students, December 23, 2008

By 

Quickhappy "quickhappy" (Big city, big country) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thomson Advantage Books: Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach (Paperback)

As a prof, I was happy to assign this book. After all, I loved Robbins' Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism (4th Edition) (a fabulous book), and I needed a basic anthro text to provide basics. And, indeed, many basic anthropological themes are offered. However, the organization and style of presentation are terribly awkward. The book is more or less ruined by a question and answer format. The text is boring to read, and difficult to work with. I found it very difficult to integrate into my course. Say, for example, I wanted to work with kinship... the book's strange splicing of the subject, teamed with its fumbled questions, left me flummoxed. I will continue to look for Robbins work, but I will never assign this book again.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars to the study of cultures, September 26, 2010

By 

dan perham - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cengage Advantage Books: Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach (Paperback)

this is a decent book, very informative, but not my favorite though that doesn't stop me from reading it. for those that wish to get a different perspective on our culture then this is a good book to check out

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Online shopping is the way to go for college students, January 21, 2011

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heyheyvee - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cengage Advantage Books: Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach (Paperback)

Not only was this book cheap, but it came in great condition. It arrived quickly and it's actually a very useful book if you're taking an Anthropology class.