Cover Image: A Degree in a Book: Anthropology

A Degree in a Book: Anthropology

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Member Reviews

In depth coverage of the subject. As the title suggests this is a degree in a book such is the breadth of the subject covered. Very interesting, well written.

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I received a free eARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fascinating look at the study of anthropology for a general audience. It was easy to understand, and well organised, progressing logically from one point to the next. It looks at the history of anthropology as a science, tracing major developments from its earliest roots to the present. It also looks at major theories in anthropological studies, and provides real world examples/case studies. These are not limited to Western theories, but also include theories by people of colour, and feminist scholars. While focusing primarily on social and cultural anthropology, it also delves into biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, and archaeological anthropology.

An absolutely brilliant read. I'd recommend for anyone interested in dipping their toes into anthropology for the first time.

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My daughter is doing a degree and I am baffled This book is fascinating, informative and I enjoyed reading it, but if this were at degree level then I feel that I would find it harder to absorb.

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I really thought this was a great insightful book. There was a great balance of theory and scholarship, alongside applied examples. I've never taken anthropology but I feel that I know a bit about it now. Easily organized chapters present some specific research projects and excellent suggestions for further reading. I thought this would be a "Dummies" book, something 90s-ish. This is a lot better and readable than a reference book like that. Really looking forward to this series expanding

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For those interested in the history of anthropology, the development of its thought, and the areas of most salient interest today, <i>A Degree in a Book: Anthropology</i> recommends itself. It is far more thorough than other books aimed at the layman, like <i>Anthropology for Dummies</i>:: following a general history of the field, the book addresses particularly salient areas of study within anthropology in turn. Each section stresses key concepts and contributors within the field, and the book itself is visually attractive, and never tedious -- provided, of course, one is interested in the subject. Even for the non-enthusiast, however, <i>Anthropology</i> is extremely useful, given its careful breakdowns of the subjects and highlighting of those key concepts; a student anxious about reviewing the fundamentals would find this a welcome resource.

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A Degree in a Book: Anthropology is a book that takes you on a journey as to the how and where of anthropological research. It covers all the major concepts that have defined the discipline and merges early advancements in the field with contemporary studies. Although the emphasis is on anthropology throughout Europe and the United States, it does offer global insight into the topic, too. Happily, it draws on some of the most underappreciated and underrepresented scholars, those of colour, female anthropologists and researchers in what became known as the global south. Focusing mainly on the way the discipline was institutionalised in the 19th century into an academic area of study, the book does also acknowledge those who played early pioneering roles in studying and documenting cultural differences and diversity around the world. It unpacks what anthropology actually is before introducing the different frameworks anthropologists use to comprehensively understand human cultures.

While the focus is primarily on social and cultural anthropology as the largest fields within the subject, it does touch upon biological anthropology and archaeological and linguistic anthropology and how they interact to provide different lenses with which to view and explain questions on human variety and unity. By the end of the book, you will have much more of an understanding of what it means to be human and the use of introductions to key figures in the field and their influence over their respective areas, highlighted definitions crucial to understanding the topic and diagrams and images to help you to grasp arguably some of the more complex concepts, it has multiple ways to learn the information. A fascinating, sprawling and excellent introduction to anthropological concepts but also a great refresher for those who are perhaps a little rusty. Accessible, informative and readable and set out in digestible chunks, this is a solid and engaging guide. Highly recommended.

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This book gives a lot of good information about anthropology, some of the information is opinion instead of fact. I did like how it covered all the different types of anthropology, including my favorite forensic anthropology.

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Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very well done book! I loved how the book addressed all these concepts in one book. It answered a lot of questions, some I didn’t even know I had! I would recommend to anyone interested in anthropology.

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Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would have loved this as an introductory anthropology book when I was in college. Opening with George Floyd's murder and the aftermath shows how this updated book is greatly needed.

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This was very compelling reading! I found myself intending to read a chapter and then looking up and realizing it had been an hour. It's a perfect balance of in-depth, well-sourced information presented in manageable bites. I felt so much smarter when I was done!

The inserts, infographics, vocabulary lists, and mini-biographies make facts accessible and easy to put in context. I really hope this is a series as I'd love to see the same treatment with different subjects.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

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