Why Nothing Works: The Anthropology of Daily Life (Touchstone Books) [Paperback]

Marvin Harris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1987 | Series: Touchstone Books

A Simon & Schuster eBook

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Revised edition (January 15, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671635778
• ISBN-13: 978-0671635770
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #606,803 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reasonable, engaging explanation of today's problems., April 25, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Nothing Works: The Anthropology of Daily Life (Touchstone Books) (Paperback)

I loved this book and found it intriguing as well as nice reading. This "anthropology of daily life" makes fascinating connections between various aspects of American society, attempting to show the cause-and-effect relationships which created some of today's messes. Harris covers such topics as "Why the Help Won't Help You", "Why the Dollar Shrank", "Why Women Left Home", "Why the Cults are Coming", "Why There's Terror on the Streets", and "Why the Gays Came Out of the Closet", keeping an even tone throughout and avoiding stereotypes and scapegoating. Warning: If you're looking for a book that'll blame women, blacks, immigrants, or gays for all your problems, you've come to the wrong place

9 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars For Enlightened Usefulness, March 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Nothing Works: The Anthropology of Daily Life (Touchstone Books) (Paperback)

I first read America Now in 1985. It was required reading for a college course. I continue to revisit my now worn copy as a touchstone. I have loaned it to several friends after intense discussions. Harris provides a quick and enjoyable reading. The book helps us to understand the highly complex and perplexing situations of today's society. The book should be on everyone's desk at work or nightstand at home. It helps to keep one grounded in thinking straight about controversial issues. That brings to mind another required reading from college that I would recommend be revisited often, "Guides To Straight Thinking" by Stuart Chase. Both of these books can do a lot to restore reason and civility to social discourse.

15 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Did the other readers read the same book?, September 13, 2003

By 

Reginleif II "reginleif2" (Noo Hampsha) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Nothing Works: The Anthropology of Daily Life (Touchstone Books) (Paperback)

I read "Why Nothing Works" quite a few years ago. I seem to remember that Harris blamed the rise in crime then happening to women moving into the workforce. According to Harris, women were pushing white men into other jobs, and that movement was pushing black men out of the workforce. As a result, black males were venting their frustration by committing crimes. At the end of that chapter, Harris gave American women a blunt choice: stay home like a good little housewife, or go out and be mugged or raped.

Some of his other insights were interesting, but the above theory really stuck in my craw. And when the crime rate plummeted in the '90s, when more women were in the workforce than ever before, it was proven completely wrong. It's the people who commit crimes that are responsible for them. Punishing such people, not blaming women, is what made the streets safer.

I wonder if the reviewer above who claimed this book does not blame blacks or women for America's problems read the same book that I did.