Cengage Advantage Books: Cultural Anthropology: A Problem-Based Approach (Paperback)

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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 alternate Paperback edition.

Product Description

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 341 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing; 4 edition (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534640745
• ISBN-13: 978-0534640743
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #588,049 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 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

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.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quick shipping. Good book., September 12, 2009

By	Malcolm X (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

The book is "used." Has tatttered corners and front cover but the book is clean. The writing on the inside helps.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars would help if recieved, May 29, 2009

By	Danielle Emme - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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

I'm sure the book was a great help for those who actually got their copy, my seller never sent the book and i'm still trying to get my money bacy