Other Cultures - by John Beattie (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A valuable text in the examination of cultural influence and evolution, John Beattie presents the aims, methods, and achievements of social anthropology.

Other Cultures provides a lucid introduction to the field of social anthropology. John Beattie devotes the first part of the book to a consideration of what social anthropology is and seeks to do, what areas it covers, and the methods of investigation employed by social anthropologists.

In the second half, Beattie examines the major categories of research through which anthropologists have advanced the knowledge of other cultures. Additionally, the final chapters of the book survey contributions that social anthropology has made to the understand of other cultures.

From the Back Cover

"Other Cultures" provides a lucid introduction to the relatively new field of social anthropology. The author devotes the first part of the book to a consideration of what social anthropology is and seeks to do, what areas it covers, and the methods of investigation employed by social anthropologists.

The second part discusses the major categories of research through which social anthropologies have advanced our knowledge of other cultures. These include marriage, kinship, political organization, law, economic and property relations, magic, religion, and social change. The final chapter surveys some of the contributions social anthropology has made to the understanding of other cultures. A short reading list follows each chapter.

"Other Cultures" will be valuable as a text or as supplementary reading for introductory courses in Anthropology, especially Social and Cultural Anthropology.

About the Author

John Beattie was a distinguished social anthropologist and a lecturer in his field of study at Oxford University.