Silent but Deadly

Kirsten Bell received her doctorate in social anthropology from James Cook University and has worked at universities in the USA, Australia, Canada and the UK. She is currently Senior Research Fellow in Anthropology at Imperial College in London.

‘Silent but Deadly is... clever, lucid, engaging and easy to read—and has both the credibility to appeal to academic anthropologists and the clarity to make sense to non-academics. A fabulous read—I recommend it strongly’ — Gillian Tett, author of Anthro-Vision.​‘Kirsten Bell in Silent but Deadly brings her learned but witty eye to bear on our most intimate of everyday activities showing how they reveal the unconscious worlds of meaning in which we all live. She may lay your anxieties about tipping to rest but you will never feel safe in the bathroom, kitchen or dentist’s chair again though you will certainly laugh’ — Nigel Barley, author of The Innocent Anthropologist.​‘Kirsten Bell is an Australian social anthropologist living in the UK. She writes straight up, no messing about, and she’s incredibly funny. Think Erma Bombeck crossed with Jilly Cooper and a dash of Tom Sharpe…  Silent but Deadly is an absolute delight’ — Ellen Whyte, Counsellor & Psychotherapist.‘Silent but Deadly is a minor classic of anthropological writing: sharp, funny, and deeply humane. I recommend it without hesitation to fellow anthropologists, interdisciplinary scholars, and anyone who has ever felt vaguely embarrassed by their body, their habits, or their kitchen appliances. Read it for the laughs, stay for the insights—and maybe buy a copy for your dentist’ — Paul Mason, The Australian Journal of Anthropology.‘Bell’s engaging writing style ensures the content is accessible to a general audience. Her ability to blend humour with academic analysis makes complex cultural phenomena easily understandable, allowing readers from various backgrounds to appreciate the subtle insights woven throughout the narrative’ — Nihal Raj, Social Anthropology/Anthropologie Sociale​.‘With a sharp wit and a keen anthropological eye, Bell explores the peculiarities of human habits, unpacking their quirks and inconsistencies with humour and insight. The book is both highly engaging and intellectually rich, presenting standalone chapters that, when read together, create a compelling portrait of human behaviour’ — Nikhil Kaithwas, Anthropology Book Forum.‘[Bell’s] aim is to decipher the “cultural patterns that underlie our everyday quirks, foibles and habits,” and she does so with a light, witty and self-deprecating personal touch… The book is well-documented with sources from the academic literature, but also spiced up with footnotes telling tales from her own experiences’ — The British Columbia Review.

• Preface 1. Silent but Deadly 2. Pits of Despair 3. For the Love of Toilet Paper 4. Going to the Dentist Bites 5. Laundry Location, Location, Location 6. A Slug is a Snail Without a House 7. Must Love Dogs8. Menageries and Stock Markets 9. The Illogic of Tipping 10. Beware of Colleagues Bearing Drinks 11. You Can't Say 'C*nt' in Canada 12. Cack Hands and Southpaws 13. The Magic of Numbers Conclusion Sources Acknowledgements