Synopses & Reviews
Written by one of the prominent scholars in the field and recent inductee of The National Academy of Sciences, this concise, up-to-date introduction to general anthropology carefully balances coverage of core topics and contemporary changes in the field. Since no single or monolithic theoretical perspective orients this book, instructors with a wide range of views and approaches can use it effectively. The combination of brevity and readability make Window on Humanity a perfect match for general anthropology courses that use readings or ethnographies along with a main text.
About the Author
Conrad Phillip Kottak (A.B. Columbia, 1963; Ph.D. Columbia, 1966) is Professor and Chair of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, where he has taught since 1968. In 1991 he was honored for his teaching by the University and the state of Michigan. In 1992 he received an excellence in teaching award from the College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts of the University of Michigan. Professor Kottak has done fieldwork in cultural anthropology in Brazil (since 1962), Madagascar (since 1966), and the United States. In current research projects, Kottak and his colleagues have investigated the emergence of ecological awareness in Brazil, the social context of deforestation in Madagascar, and popular participation in economic development planning in northeastern Brazil.
Table of Contents
BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 What Is Anthropology?
Chapter 2 Ethics and Methods
Chapter 3 Evolution, Genetics, and Human Variation
Chapter 4 The Primates
Chapter 5 The First Hominins
Chapter 6 The First Humans
Chapter 7 The First Farmers
Chapter 8 The First Cities and States
Chapter 9 Culture
Chapter 10 Language and Communication
Chapter 11 Making a Living
Chapter 12 Political Systems
Chapter 13 Families, Kinship, and Marriage
Chapter 14 Gender
Chapter 15 Religion
Chapter 16 The World System and Colonialism
Chapter 17 Ethnicity and Race
Chapter 18 Applying Anthropology
Chapter 19 Cultural Exchange and Survival