Conrad Kottak - Böcker

Charles Wagley (1913-1991) was an American anthropologist specializing in rural Latin America. His principal focus was Brazil, where he is considered one of the founders of contemporary Brazilian Anthropology. He made major contributions to the concept of cultural areas for Latin America (including a typology of subcultures for the region) and to the notion that race was a cultural construct. He conducted extensive research in the Amazon among indigenous and peasant peoples. Out of the latter came his classic description of peasant life (e.g. rubber tappers) in the Amazon- Amazon Town. Co-authors Conrad Kottak and Richard Pace have revised and updated Charles Wagley's Amazon Town to coincide with Wagley's 100th birthday in late 2013. Revisions include a new foreword by Conrad Kottak, and a new preface and chapter by Richard Pace.

Written by nationally recognized anthropologists Conrad Kottak and Lara Descartes, this ethnography of largely white, middle class families in a town in the midwest explores the role that the media play in influencing how those families cope with everyday work/family issues. The book insightfully reports that families struggle with, and make work/family decisions based largely on the images and ideas they receive from media sources, though they strongly deny being so influenced.  An ideal book for teaching undergraduate family, media, and methods courses.

Written by nationally recognized anthropologists Conrad Kottak and Lara Descartes, this ethnography of largely white, middle class families in a town in the midwest explores the role that the media play in influencing how those families cope with everyday work/family issues. The book insightfully reports that families struggle with, and make work/family decisions based largely on the images and ideas they receive from media sources, though they strongly deny being so influenced.  An ideal book for teaching undergraduate family, media, and methods courses.

Now in its 19th edition, Anthropology: Appreciating Human Diversity is an introduction to general (four-field) anthropology.  It covers the four subfields - biological anthropology, anthropological archaeology, cultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology, as well as anthropology’s two dimensions: academic and applied anthropology.  While presenting anthropology's core, the text also aims to demonstrate anthropology's relevance to the 21st-century world we inhabit. The subtitle of the text reflects its goal of instilling a sense of appreciation: (1) of human diversity, (2) of anthropology as a field, and (3) of how anthropology can build on, and help make sense of, the experience that students bring to the classroom. There is special coverage of the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on cultural behavior as well as updated consideration of race and ethnicity related to demographic shifts, and of gender fluidity.

Window on Humanity is a brief introduction to general anthropology. It covers the four subfields – biological anthropology, anthropological archaeology, sociocultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology – as well as anthropology’s two dimensions – academic and applied anthropology.  Its shorter length increases instructors options for assigning additional reading—case studies, readers, and other supplements within a one semester course. Window on Humanity can also work well in a quarter system, for which traditional texts may be too long. While presenting core concepts and topics, Window also aims to demonstrate anthropology’s relevance to the 21st-century world we inhabit. The text aims to instill an appreciation of human diversity, of anthropology as a field, and of how an anthropological approach can build on, and help make sense of, the experience that students bring to the classroom.