Anthropological Theory: An Introductory History

by R. Jon McGee (Editor), Richard L Warms

The sixth edition of this market-leading introduction to anthropological theory offers 43 seminal essays from 1860 through the present day, including six new essays from Kroeber, Benedict, Spradley, Wardlow, Ortner, and Gomberg-Munoz. Accessible introductions and commentary provide necessary background information and historical context of each article. This edition also features a new timeline and recommended additional readings.

Presenting a selection of critical essays in anthropology from 1860 to the current day, this sixth edition of Anthropological Theory includes classic authors such as Tylor, Marx, Boas, Malinowski, Foucault, Turner, and Geertz as well as contemporary thinkers such as Appadurai, Abu-Lughod, and Bourgois. Most essays are reprinted without abridgement. Those that are shortened include notes explaining how much and what was removed.

What sets McGee and Warms’ text apart from other readers are its introductions, footnotes, and index. Detailed introductions examine critical developments in theory, introduce key people and discuss historical and personal influences on theorists. In extensive footnotes the editors provide commentary that puts the writing in historical and cultural context, defines unusual terms, translates non-English phrases, identifies references to other scholars and their works, and offers paraphrases and summaries of complex passages. The notes identify and provide background information on hundreds of scholars and concepts important in the development of anthropology. This makes the essays more accessible to both students and current day scholars. An extensive index makes this book an invaluable reference tool.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, History, School, Textbooks, Science, Philosophy

784 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good for classes, but otherwise it takes all the romance out of anthropology. Maybe that's a good thing.

[Cara Ferrantelli]

#footnotes
#anthropology
#seniorseminar
#done

[Brieahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this text in college, and re-visited it in grad school. A great source for general information.

[Serena Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent reference book that shows how anthropology has developed over time. The many readings from various authors - some easier to relate to and understand than others - really brought to life the concepts discussed in my History of Anthropology class. The introductory sections that explained the time period and its ideas were good background and added historical perspective to the essays by various anthropologists that followed. The examples chosen for each epoch were very helpful in seeing where people came from when what they wrote was new and different.

Recommended for anyone who is curious about the past and how people tried to make sense of other cultures as well as their own.

[Rania · Rating 2 out of 5]

i had to study this book for two semesters my Anthropological Theory class ...it was a nightmare at the beginning, precisely the original scripts ! very strange and hard language with no clear findings !!
finally i succeeded to cope with it but still unlucky start for my anthro major .

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the fifth edition published in 2012.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read the sixth edition (2017) in my Anthro Theory class this semester, but this is the most recent edition listed on this website so... :/

[Janice Heebsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a textbook for an Anthropological Theory class, and while its a dry read for many people it clearly shows how the field of anthropology has evolved.

[Mint · Rating 4 out of 5]

I use to study in Sociological and Anthropological Theories Courses.

[Ellie J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

[Teresa Dyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great resource. The footnotes are very helpful for understanding the concepts in text with confusing and/or antiquated language.

[AviChaim Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an ok overview of anthropology. It's a shame how much these individuals shill for Marxism and its ideals. It ignores those who oppose those views #propaganda

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

read this for a class! good overview of theory

[Melissa Kidd · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did skip some of this book due to class constraints but I was forced to read most of it so I am counting the book as being read. I thought the information provided was very valuable. I had to struggle with the jargon some of the time but that got better the further in the class I got. It was a little dry and that also caused me to sigh while reading, but for an introduction to the theories of Anthropology it was good introduction. The footnotes were mostly helpful but I thoughts some of the commentary by the editors was unneeded. This is another book I will referring to for future Anthropology classes.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good source for reading actual essays and journal articles written by anthropologists and sociologists as opposed to only reading a text book's take on the subject. It lets you read the work for what it is. The editors have included a significant amount of footnotes that include their reviews and additional background information.

[Matt D · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a well organized book, certainly. The text was broken up into each theoretical school of anthropological thought, and a few selections from each of them; each section came with an introduction, explaining the school and a bit about the major voices from each. Overall, though, it was just too dry for my personal tastes.

[Sarah J. Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really like anthropological theory...but if you aren't constantly reading it, you lose a lot of it...I read this twice: in 1999 and 2002 for two separate classes and it was worth it both times...that Freud article is the best...

[Xarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provided a good overview on the history of anthropological theory. I found the introductions and footnotes by the authors to be extremely helpful in understanding some of the more obscure theoretical stands.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great overview of anthropological theory, but, you know, pretty much only helpful if you're really into anthropology or theory. Some the the selections are interesting in and of themselves,however, such as Lila Abu-Lughod's piece on pregnancy.

[Glen Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one so much that I finished reading it after graduation.

[Kass · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent theory text, I particularly appreciate the notes at the bottom of each reading

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Katrina McBride · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dense, but the footnotes are very helpful. Someone should compile a book entirely made of footnotes.