Introducing Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective

Okay, normally I despise introductory textbooks. They're stale, painfully dull, don't prepare students to actually think like an anthropologist, and make people memorize a bunch of quaint people groups and concepts that were last hot in the 1950s. However, this is more readable than most (aside from the small font... I know, I sound curmudgeonly!). This one's definitely worth reading as a Christian interested in anthropology, whether or not it's for a specific class. So -- short story -- I like it and recommend it. In the sections below, I'll give you an overview of the contents and offer a few thoughts on the book as a whole. Overview: I found the intro and first chapters on the discipline of anthropology to be broad and dull, as usual, but really enjoyed the second chapter ("the concept of culture"), which helps students see a number of ways in which anthropologists think about culture. This was a great overview even for me as a graduate student in anthropology. "Language" was okay, and "social structure" had good application to American anthropology. "Gender and sexuality" may present a challenge for some of the more conservative, but is well-handled overall. Chapter 6, "Production and exchange," was fairly well done, although I'm always frustrated with how intro textbooks spend so much time overviewing the concepts of foraging, horticulture, pastoralism, and agriculture, which I've never found of any use in life or in the field. Everyone covers redistribution and reciprocity, which are useful, but I'm left wondering (as with other books) if there isn't any better way to frame technological, labor-relations, and economic concerns in modern anthropology besides a few classic frameworks in small- and large-scale production and in gift-giving and negotiation. Their discussion of "authority and power" is well-done, and "kinship and marriage" (with all those little genealogical graphs) is again par for the course. "Religion and ritual," as one might expect from religiously-situated anthropologists, has a good overview of functional and symbolic perspectives on religion, as well as pointing students to see their own experiences in rites of intensification and affliction. Chapter 10 on "globalization and culture change" is also excellent, covering how countries have ended up in unequal relationships with each other. The section on theory is well-done, and I like how they've situated it at the end of the book. This means it's at that point when students are, hopefully, wanting to learn more and go deeper, rather than at the beginning, when most students are rushing through the orientation chapters to get to the "good stuff" about sex, warfare, and exotic pictures of half-clothed equatorial peoples... ahem. Anyhow, the final section on "anthropology in action" is useful, and well-placed to encourage students forward in anthropology. Thoughts I find this book to be strong overall and certainly the best Christian textbook I've seen on anthropology. Paris and Howell's writing is engaging, they introduce and define high-level concepts (nice glossary!) and they do a good job covering the standard topics in current intro anthro texts. They also are careful to connect to American Christian students who may have concerns with anthropology, without sacrificing disciplinary rigor in their explanations. To this end, they have some interesting formatting choices, using "devotions" rather than "exercises" at the end of each chapter to help students connect their religious ideas to an anthropological understanding of the world. I also like how this book isn't meant just as a preparation for missionaries, but for Christians of all types to learn to think with. If I was teaching at a Christian college, this is certainly the text I'd be using, along with some practical excerpts from something like Thinking Like an Anthropologist . Great job, Jenell and Brian!

I have taught Introduction to Cultural Anthropology to non-anthropology majors for four years using the first edition of this book. I am excited to begin using the second edition. The new chapter on Medical Anthropology is especially useful in framing anthropology in terms of work that even non-anthropology majors can relate to. I do miss the chapter on Globalization and Culture Change, which the authors decided to remove in favor of integrating material about globalization here and there throughout the book. But no matter, I am still going to be using this second edition of Introducing Cultural Anthropology:A Christian Perspective in all my introductory courses from now on!

This is a great book and a must read for anyone interested in anthropology. Furthermore, anyone interested in cross cultural work should read this book. The authors do a great job introducing and describing anthropology as a field. However, the “Christian” aspect of the book is limited to a few questions to ponder. When the authors present a Christian opinion, this obviously comes from their own not too conservative perspective. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but for a more conservative audience, it may not be what they are looking for. Overall, the book is a great tool for anthropology and reflection, but it is not a particularly “Christian” perspective as much as it is an anthropological perspective written by Christian authors.

I had never before discovered the subject of Anthropology But the book introduced the subject in such a good way, and also again again was it done in a practical and nice way, that make it easier for all people to understand. The subject came alive, and I was able to look at my own life, and feel challenged to do things differently. It has made my own life in Korea easier, as I was able to look at my life also and question some of the ways I was living my life. A great book with so many powerful and important truth for all of us. Please read it and get ready to learn

An excellent read on how white privilege has views that their culture is perfect and all others must adopt white culture. It goes into detail on prejudice and race issues and how some cultures have lost their own language. shipped in a timely manner, the product was as described and it was shipped so it was not damaged on its way to me. due to globalism.

Excellent guide and introduction of cultural anthropology that also includes the Christian perspectives and application without losing objectivity and professionalism. I am compelled to do further professional studies on the subject after this course!

I needed this book for my intro to anthro class and it was not your typical textbook. Very easy to read and understand if you're looking to learn more about anthropology.

Howell and Paris's intro text book on cultural anthropology gives an adequate account of the major themes and topics at the heart of the discipline. The book is very accessible for novices and helpfully explains the more complex concepts and theories. While there are a few areas that could have been done better (the theoretical sections as well as discussions of stratification could have been better developed), it still works great as a base text. Given its Christian perspective, however, this is obviously not a book for a normal course (if you are considering it as a textbook for a class) nor for someone simply wanting general knowledge in the field. It is filling a niche and does it well. That being said, Howell and Paris offer one of the few quality attempts at something sorely lacking in Christian publishing: thoughtful and rigorous social scientific works. Christians can often (and usually for good reason) exhibit a phobia toward the social sciences, but this book helps to move past that. As such, it makes for a great textbook for Anthro course at a Christian college (I assigned it in my last course). Lastly, another huge advantage is the price. Cultural Anthropology textbooks often cost three times as much. That makes the Howell and Paris text an affordable alternative.

This is a great book - written in a almost the same order as my set text but with Christian additions that do not change or deny set anthropological findings but views them from a position of faith. I am so glad there are believers in the academic world of Anthropology now I hope to find it in Sociology too.