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Anthropological Theory: An Introductory History Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I used this text for an upper division undergraduate course in social theory. In general, I found the selection of articles to be wise and helpful; I didn't use all of them but used more than I would from any other compilation. The book doesn't adequately cover the recent period, but no text could, and the teacher should choose her own supplements to the core texts found herein. Unlike the first reviewer, my students and I found the extensive footnotes to be the book's most valuable resource. They kept the students' attention, contextualized obscure references, and clearly explained more challenging passages. I did not find that these footnotes interfered with the role of the teacher; instead, they freed the class to spend more time in fruitful interrogation of the authors' ideas and less time buried in minutae. I highly recommend this book for teachers of upperdivision theory courses, and for graduate students looking for an unfair advantage on their rivals as they take their core courses.

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A comprehensive and accessible survey of the history of theory in anthropology, this anthology of classic and contemporary readings contains in-depth commentary in introductions and notes to help guide students through excerpts of seminal anthropological works. The commentary provides the background information needed to understand each article, its central concepts, and its relationship to the social and historical context in which it was written. Six of the 45 articles are new to this edition.

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Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands (The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More than 60 Countries) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is a complete joke. It was recently ridiculed in a Swedish business weekly for its description of Sweden. According to the book's authors:
1. The indigenous population in the north of the country are called lapps. The expression sami is somewhat derogatory. In fact it's the opposite! This is as if a European guide book on doing business in the US suggested their readers use the word "negro" instead of "african-american." Also, the Sami number some 20,000 persons, not really vital information if you are visiting a country of 9 million people. Moreover, comparing them to American indians or Australian aborigines is somewhat misleading, the non-sami population groups began to settle what is today Sweden sometime 2000 BC.
2. According to the book English is spoken in the major cities but if they plan to do business outside of the urban centres, they should speak German! This may have been true fifty years ago. A visiting US business person would should definately stick to English, German (with a US accent as well, I presume) will not get you very far.
In short, this book seems as if it's been written based on what the authors could find from a quick scan on the internet.
2. Most people in Sweden speak English.

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Guide to Cross-Cultural Communication (Guide to Business Communication Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)I really liked this book. I found it informative, with just enough information to be of help, but not so much that it's overwhelming. By the way, if you liked this book, I recommend you read Denise Pirrotti Hummel's, Speak Milk. Drink Wine. What I liked about Hummel's book is that it speaks to her decision to move to another country (Italy) to give her kids a cross cultural experience. The book is interesting, funny, poignant, and at the same time is a metaphor for every lesson one learns about interacting with another culture, from a business and personal perspective. In fact, the sub-title is "Becoming a Global Citizen."

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The goal of this book is to help busy professionals communicate across cultures by promoting cross-cultural understanding and fostering communication with foreign-born employees or employers. Brief, practical, and reader-friendly, it provides new insights on cultural requirements not taught in sales training manuals. Guide to Cross-Cultural Communication is a handy reference with information pertinent to negotiations, business writing, and speaking with those from diverse cultural backgrounds, with business-related examples throughout. Essential reading for those interested in understanding and improving intercultural communication both inside and outside their organizations; especially managers, executives, and other business professionals who must communicate in an increasingly multicultural workplace.

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Discovering Popular Culture (A Longman Topics Reader) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was very interesting and really explains the diverse aspects of popular culture. It is easy to understand and the topics of each passage are engaging. Overall the book was enjoyable and is great to use as a reference to papers on popular culture.

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International Views presents international perceptions of the U.S.'s relationship to the world, as well as views of that relationship from inside the United States, offering opportunities for students to examine the lines of political, ideological, and cultural conflict that can both enrich our international experience and threaten our understanding of America's place in the world.

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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a foreign citizen living in the US for about 4 years for graduate level degree in the US. Culture as well as language are the biggest obstacles of my life in the US. I overcame the basic survival and class language barrier after living 2-3 years, but the cultural barrier with combined with conversational language is very challenging. Not only for more socializing but also more nature English writing and speacking, I worked hard, and Culturacy Dictionary helps me a lot. It includes expressions from various areas, e.g. bible, literature, idiom, etc. During the reading or watching TV, I can understand better the implications and expressions rooted from relgion, history, literature, and other areas of culture.
I use this dictionary with several ways. First, just read the page I am intersted in. Second, I consult it during my writing to find better expression, and do more research to understand the background better via internet. Third, play game with this book with my American Classmates - in fact, this helps me the most. They explain what is not written in the dictionary, and this is the way I can acquire the knowledge of the expression easily and last long in my brain.
This dictionary is wonderful, I think, for both for navtive and non-native. Non natives can upgrade their English level with cultural understanding, and natives can be more sophisticated using their languages. It is a great tool, and I am happy to find it!

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The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character (Phoenix Books) Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was originally written as an addition to Kramer's previous work "History begins at Sumer". Eventually, however, a revised version of "History begins at Sumer" was published and incorporated a lot of material from "The Sumerians". Consequently, readers who have already become acquainted with "History begins at Sumer" may experience a bit of deja vu when reading the present book. For example, the chapters on Sumerian literature, education, and character contain extensive overlap with Kramer's other work. Despite this fact, Kramer's excellent discussion of Sumerian history, society and religion in "The Sumerians" still makes this book well-worth reading. As an added bonus, the appendix contains the Sumerian king list, the Code of Lipit-Ishtar (a forerunner of Hammurabi), and numerous other interesting translations.
I disagree with previous reviewers who claim that Kramer was prejudiced against the Sumerians and considered them to be inferior to their Semitic heirs. Indeed, if anything, I would say that Kramer emphasizes the legacy left by the Sumerians and the mark that they left behind on Semitic culture. The last chapter considers this subject in greater detail and also provides some interesting parallels between Sumerian culture and the Bible. Regardless of the negative criticism, "The Sumerians" is a great introduction to the history and culture of this ancient civilization and is worth checking out.

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The Sumerians, the pragmatic and gifted people who preceded the Semites in the land first known as Sumer and later as Babylonia, created what was probably the first high civilization in the history of man, spanning the fifth to the second millenniums B.C. This book is an unparalleled compendium of what is known about them.Professor Kramer communicates his enthusiasm for his subject as he outlines the history of the Sumerian civilization and describes their cities, religion, literature, education, scientific achievements, social structure, and psychology. Finally, he considers the legacy of Sumer to the ancient and modern world."There are few scholars in the world qualified to write such a book, and certainly Kramer is one of them. . . . One of the most valuable features of this book is the quantity of texts and fragments which are published for the first time in a form available to the general reader. For the layman the book provides a readable and up-to-date introduction to a most fascinating culture. For the specialist it presents a synthesis with which he may not agree but from which he will nonetheless derive stimulation."—American Journal of Archaeology"An uncontested authority on the civilization of Sumer, Professor Kramer writes with grace and urbanity."—Library Journal

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The Language of Composition: Reading - Writing - Rhetoric Review

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(More customer reviews)The introductory chapters are informative and provide a solid basis for an AP Language and comp course. The mix of selections and themes appeals to a wide range of interests and allows for teachers to pick and choose. The smattering of poetry and fiction adds a dimension--more would be welcome to those of us who must combine the writing elements of the course with literature. An occasional dip beyond 1800 might also make this a more complete sampling.
The conversation sections that end each chapter provide great practice for the synthesis essays on the AP Exam.
By using actual examples from chapter texts, Grammar as Rhetoric and Style sections add a level of practicality that most grammar drills lack.
The lack of colors shouldn't be an issue for teachers, but if this is intended for high schoolers, the publishers should spring for at least some "technicolor" layouts in the next edition.
Other items missing: Examples in the glossary at the end of the book (the ones that appear on pp. 58-59 in reference to the JFK Inaugural are very helpful); Toulmin; "Yes...,but/No..., but"
On the whole a worthy first edition, best suited for teachers planning to emphasize non-fiction over fiction, poetry and drama.

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The ideal book for the AP* English Language course. The Language of Composition is the first textbook built from the ground up to help students succeed in the new AP English Language course. Written by a team of experts with experience in both high school and college, this text focuses on teaching students the skills they need to read, write, and think at the college level. With practical advice on reading and writing and an extensive selection of readings— including essays, poetry, fiction, and visual texts that are both interesting and appropriate for a high school audience — The Language of Composition helps students develop the key skills they must master to pass the course, to succeed on the AP Exam, and to prepare for a successful college career.

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