Medical Anthropology: A Biocultural Approach

by Andrea S. Wiley, John S. Allen

Medical anthropology encompasses a wide range of perspectives as it seeks to understand human health and illness. An ideal core text for introductory courses, Medical A Biocultural Approach provides a current and accessible overview of this diverse and rapidly expanding field.
Working from a Biocultural approach, Medical Anthropology examines the major health issues that affect most human societies, describing and synthesizing the ways in which biology, culture, health, and environment interact. It integrates up-to-date and relevant biological data with analyses of both
evolutionary theory and the sociocultural conditions that often lead to major challenges to our health and survival.
Authors Andrea S. Wiley and John S. Allen first present basic biological information on a specific health condition and then extend their investigation to include evolutionary, historical, sociocultural, and political-economic perspectives. Topics covered include healers and healing; health,
diet, and nutrition; child health, growth, and development; reproductive health; aging; infectious disease; behavioral disease; stress, social inequality, and race; and mental illness. Each chapter features a variety of case studies and examples--current and historical, local and global--that
demonstrate how a medical anthropological perspective can shed important light on a particular health condition. In addition, the text is enhanced by numerous tables, figures, review questions, critical thinking questions, suggestions for accompanying ethnographies, and a glossary to help students
better understand the material. Throughout the text, the authors consider how a biocultural anthropological approach could be applied to more effective prevention and treatment efforts. They also highlight the ways in which medical anthropology has the potential to help improve the health of
populations around the world.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Read For School, Textbooks, Social Science, Academic

459 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

An introduction to medical anthropology, this book is one of the finest textbooks I have ever had the pleasure to read. Yes, you read that right. PLEASURE. Wiley and Allen present the subject matter in a concise and compelling manner, engaging the student in the theoretical frameworks and practical applications of the field of medical anthropology. Rich with case studies and intriguing, thought-provoking examples, "Medical Anthropology: A Biocultural Approach" not only teaches the student what medical anthropology is but also pushes the student to take a more analytical look at the WORLD of medicine. The book has lists of suggested readings at the end of each chapter and a comprehensive list of all references used and cited at the end of the book, allowing the student to quickly and easily journey into further, in-depth readings as her interest is piqued. Absolutely wonderful textbook! Thank you, Wiley and Allen!

[꧁•⊹٭𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚒٭⊹•꧂]

Read this for Culture and Medicine. I thought this was really informative and a great intro to the subfield!

[Jaime T · Rating 3 out of 5]

ANT208: Medical Anthropology: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Health

Very interesting to learn about the overlying concept of biological normalcy on different health/diseases across space time. Who gets to decide what is normal/abnormal? What is healthy/unhealthy? What is regular/deviant? Ideas of what is normal has infected views of human health, and this book helps us understand that there are always cultural, social, historical processes at play that demand our attention.

[Michael Chan · Rating 2 out of 5]

not finished yet. The authors make wholly unconvincing arguments for their position on biomedicine. Will elaborate more when finished.

Also. Cultural relativism is an unsound system of ethics and yet the authors seem to have embraced the whole idea. I cannot accept their notion that the subjectivity around our understandings of health means that all sort of health practices are equivalent. Not on an ethical level and certainly not from a healthcare perspective.

[Ashley Couto · Rating 4 out of 5]

A salient and easy to read introduction to medical anthropology for any undergraduate student. I read this as a requirement for my Medical Anthropology class at U of T. I highly recommend getting the physical copy over the digital copy as the digital UX is still extremely clunky and has some kinks that the publisher seems in absolutely no rush to iron out.

[Mike Franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for ANT208: Medical Anthropology: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Health

Learning about the overlying concept of biological normalcy on different health/diseases across space time was very interesting.

[Cait McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a college class. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I wish I had bought the textbook instead of renting.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my anthropology class.
I wasn't sure what to expect. But I must say this book caught my attention. It wasn't difficult to read or understand and it gives a good perspective on a wide variety of subjects. If your looking to learn about medical anthropology this is a good book to introduce you to the field. I will be keeping this book to review in the future.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly captivating, but a solid and decently concise textbook. I would recommend it for a class.