{"data":[{"id":199,"title":"Native Peoples of North America","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2013,"ISBN10":null,"ISBN13":"9781942341024","license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":"unknown","description":"Native Peoples of North America is intended to be an introductory text about the Native peoples of North America (primarily the United States and Canada) presented from an anthropological perspective. As such, the text is organized around anthropological concepts such as language, kinship, marriage and family life, political and economic organization, food getting, spiritual and religious practices, and the arts. Prehistoric, historic and contemporary information is presented. Each chapter begins with an example from the oral tradition that reflects the theme of the chapter. The text includes suggested readings, videos, and classroom activities. This text was updated September 2019; the changes are detailed in an errata section in the text.","contributors":[{"id":2910,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Susan","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Stebbins","location":"University at Albany","background_text":"Dr. Susan Stebbins (Doctor of Arts in Humanities from the University at Albany) has been a member of the SUNY Potsdam Anthropology department since 1992. At Potsdam she has taught Cultural Anthropology, Introduction to Anthropology, Theory of Anthropology, Religion, Magic and Witchcraft, and many classes focusing on Native Americans, including The Native Americans, Indian Images and Women in Native America. Her research has been both historical (Traditional Roles of Iroquois Women) and contemporary, including research about a political protest at the bridge connecting New York, the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation and Ontario, Canada, and Native American Education, particularly that concerning the Native peoples of New York. She currently is the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity at SUNY Potsdam, where she continues to teach Native American Studies."}],"subjects":[{"id":40,"name":"Anthropology","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"GN25","visible_textbooks_count":9,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/anthropology"},{"id":46,"name":"Cultural \u0026 Ethnic Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM621","visible_textbooks_count":26,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies"},{"id":9,"name":"Social Sciences","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"H1","visible_textbooks_count":285,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/social-sciences"}],"publishers":[{"id":128,"url":"https://milneopentextbooks.org/","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:37.000-05:00","updated_at":"2024-04-15T10:35:54.000-05:00","name":"Open SUNY"}],"formats":[{"id":185,"type":"PDF","url":"https://mountainscholar.org/handle/20.500.11785/153","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":186,"type":"eBook","url":"https://mountainscholar.org/handle/20.500.11785/153","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":9,"reviews":[{"id":281,"first_name":"K.L","last_name":"Cespedes Cortes","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Colorado State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Native peoples of North America presents an assessment of Indigenous peoples in the U.S and Canada from an anthropological perspective.  As such, the text speaks to the discipline of Anthropology but also addresses the historical influence of Native enslavement and the mission system, imposed conversion, Native American health disparities, colonialism’s altering of food acquisition and the impact of post contact agricultural colonization. The text also provides an analysis of adaptations to spiritual and ceremonial practices, conflict between and among Indigenous populations with the onset of the reservation system, issues of Environmental Justice, and the arts.  Pre-Columbian and contemporary information is presented and each chapter incorporates narratives by Indigenous populations that coincide with the theme of the chapters. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Content of this text is accurate, well researched, impressively comparative.  ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content of this text is up-to-date and reflects well the scholarly positions within the fields of Native American Studies, Ethnic Studies, and Native American History.  The content is relevant and the text is arranged in a way that if necessary additional information can be implemented easily. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in lucid, accessible prose and provides definitions of terminology.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This text is internally consistent in framework and in the use of terminology. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This text can be easily realigned with subunits within a course and is divisible into smaller readings for students. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics in the book are well organized.  ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book is free of interface issues.  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The book is well written, and contains no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The book speaks to the historical and cultural experiences of Indigenous populations in North America and approaches the history of colonization with integrity.  The text does not however fully interweave the interconnections between Native American populations and other marginalized racial/ethnic groups. ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":378,"first_name":"Naomi","last_name":"Brandenfels","position":"Adjunct Faculty- Anthropology","institution_name":"Portland Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"As a brief text, It covers most areas and ideas of the subject with a few exceptions. I have iterated comments appropriately in each section, particularly in 'Relevancy'.  ","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Overall this text seems very accurate. The Introduction and Chapter 1 seem to lack some precision in discussing the practicalities of NAGPRA and other concepts more properly focused on by archaeologists including some of the more recent burgeoning information on the peopling of the Americas. On this topic it was very thin. Using David Hurst Thomas 1999 version of Skull Wars is perfectly valid, but there have been much more recent impacts of DNA studies that should be layered onto this information.  The Chapters 2-6 had a higher accuracy integrity although it seems as though Bonvillan 2001 was cited as the primary source for much of the cultural information. Many contemporary tribal entities have accessible and well written and cited tribal histories online. As a researcher and a writer that comes from an academic background, I feel as though these are valid sources to find histories as contemporary Native groups tell them in their own voices. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Because of the subject matter, much of this content is up to date, however, with a few exceptions there is a heavy dependence on sources from 2000 and earlier. Much needed is a comprehensive overview of the theories surrounding the peopling of the Americas that incorporates recent discoveries and the resulting implications. Information that addresses the new DNA technologies cannot be ignored by cultural anthropologists and historians alike as they are playing new roles in the stories we tell of the past. \n\nThe chapter on art and music as a form of advanced technology is an important comment on what we are taught to valorize and why. I can't see this chapter losing relevancy any time soon. It is a very important chapter and understanding that art is all around us as technology is wise. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This text is written clearly and is accessible. Terminology is highlighted and explained in clear language. Concepts- particularly difficult ones related to gender and race- are explicit and comprehensible for an undergraduate audience.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This text is internally consistent with a clear progression of conceptual ideas. ","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"This book is not overly self referential and Chapters 2-6 would be excellent as a base reading supplemented with more contemporary publications both from the academy as well as contemporary tribal source publications.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"This text is divided into six chapters with an introduction and a conclusion. The chapters are based on some of the expected divisions that we have historically seen in texts of this type- topics that the colonial powers that be consider to be of importance and relevance: resources, status, rank, religious beliefs, and technology. Having said this, I think that internally these topics are approached with a counter colonial subtext and the author uses these topics to create a text that addresses the points of view of  peoples who see the world in other ways. The use of oral historical narrative at the beginning of each chapter gives validity to the histories of the groups discussed in the text.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"This text is free of significant interface issues and distortion. There are a couple of half blank pages where the image has pushed the text to the next page. It is easily searched with the 'look-up' (looks like a magnifying glass) function on my tablet. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Grammatical errors were very few and overall it is written in an accessible voice. There are a few typos, particularly in the introduction and first chapter. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act should be 'NAGPRA', not 'NAGPA'. It is 'Beringia', not 'Beringa'. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"'Cultural Relevance' is one area that would be expected to be high from this particular text but therefore a reviewer needs to pay extra close attention. A key component of this curriculum is to emphasize the variances and nuances in Native American cultures in pre-contact, contact, and contemporary  contexts. Although because of the length of this text is brief some generalizations are made between regions, however, there is also caution in making those generalizations. Those that are made seem to be in line with the contemporary presentation of tribal identities. \n\nThe impact of settler colonialism on the social structure of Native American groups is represented in a way that seems very accessible. Also cogent is the relaying of certain aspects of tribal recognition, land allotments, assimilation, etc. that have a continuing impact. The increasing instances of peoples who self identify as Native American but are not included in communities and membership roles has been contributed to, and complicated by, issues surrounding blood quantum, the recent historic un-recognition of tribes, assimilation practices of the mid 20th century, etc. The marked increase in people self-identifying as Native American on the U.S. census could be considered more fully here in this text, especially with the 2010 census results, but it is mentioned and a critical thinking student will start to make these connections on their own. \n\nA couple of things that might be included in an updated version might be the impact of the new genetic identity that people are forming and recent instances that DNA has played in Native America identification. The published 2015 results of Kennewick Man could be an important example. The mitochondrial DNA of Kwäday Dän Ts'ìnchi was identifiable to a specific clan. As anthropologists we may want to consider this new embodied identity and recognize that this may have an impact on identity as contemporary tribes figure out how to relate, or not to relate, this information to their own self governance. \n\nAlso relevant is the use of oral tradition and storytelling as a basis for understanding and intersecting with the modular concepts by which this text is presenting. Much appreciated is the recognition that these stories are as relevant as the Western originated stories about these peoples as viewed from the outside. \n\nThe images chosen to illustrate the text were interesting and well connected to the written narrative. They always offered more information to connect these concepts together. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":395,"first_name":"Mary Ann","last_name":"Medlin","position":"Adjunct faculty","institution_name":"Portland Community College \u0026 Clackamas Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"One difficulty with a review for this book is that it is suggested for use in an Introductory Anthropology course (by Schwarz, the book reviewer, not the author herself), as I will do next quarter, for use in an Introduction to Native Nations course. It could be used for either. I think it might be better accepted for a Native Nations course because it clearly acknowledges the limitations of comprehensive example of Native nations' cultures in a single book. It does give some attention to archaeological work which could easily be supplemented by a course teacher. The topics it does cover are comprehensive for such a class and do cover areas critical for Native Nations in a way that should intrigue students of all backgrounds. I usually have Native American students in my courses and I look forward to their reaction to this book.\n\nAs a text for an Introductory Anthropology course this would need significant supplements which to me makes it an appealing choice. I would think several ethnographies could be used with this text and a good deal of in class material as well. It could be a good choice for someone wanting to avoid a \"canned\" publishers package and interested in creative course development. Major cultural anthropology course topics are covered in an introductory level, however less in depth than I would like, again an issue that can be supplemented.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"The book is general error free. I do not think the discussion of cross-cousins is accurate for a society with moieties or any unilineal society where a parent's sibling of the opposite sex would have children which did not belong to their lineage, clan, or moiety.. A mother's brother's children and a father's sister's children would be marriageable in that case. This is important in anthropology for understanding just how significant culture is in defining who we see as kin, and how culture determines so much about our life that is not \"just human nature\" (as I hear from students). There are a few typos.\nOther topics are presented in an accurate manner.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The book is both up-to-date and should remain relevant for a significant period of time. Updating should be relatively easy and straightforward.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I think the clarity of the book is outstanding but I am exciting about seeing my students' reactions this Winter quarter.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is clearly consistent in both its terminology and framework. I am an anthropologist who using a historian's book for another course that I teach and think this work should also be clear to historians who have some knowledge of anthropological principles.\nI almost did not find this book for review because it was not listed under the social sciences and think it could be listed both there and with the humanities.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I think in general the book is modular. There are some references to material presented earlier but those are explained or could be modified for use in a class using only modules.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"There is a clear logic to the presentation of the material from an anthropological point of view. For use outside of anthropology the author does include a summary of the organizational principles in the introduction might be helpful as well as specific ideas for other disciplines.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No navigation problem using my Surface. That is the only platform I tried. Images were great. I do require that my students submit doi references for articles in references so that I can access them more easily. They don't often submit a .pdf so I don't know if that is possible for references.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no problems with the grammar although there were a few typos.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I think the material was presented with respect and cultural awareness. The book is about Native American Nation in North American and did include some references to other populations as appropriate.\nI have found that college students, for the most part, know far too little about the original inhabitants of North American and this volume addresses that issue well. I agree with Stebbins that knowledge of the diversity of Native nations that existed and continue to exist is a critical component of education for college students today.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I almost did not find this book for review because it was not listed under the social sciences and think it could be listed both there and with the humanities.\nThat would have been sad and I am glad this has been made available.","created_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":448,"first_name":"Dr. Katie","last_name":"Nelson","position":"Instructor/Professor","institution_name":"Inver Hills Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This textbook is a concise introduction to the study of Native peoples of North America (including the United States and Canada) from an anthropological perspective written for an intended audience of undergraduate students. Using examples from a variety of native cultural groups, the text addresses topics ranging from pre-colonial times to colonial devastation and from religion and art to political and economic systems. The textbook provides a comprehensive foundation of theses topics that can easily be supplemented with additional instructor-selected materials.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The text is accurate and in general is free from errors or inappropriate/biased perspectives.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The book provides a contemporary treatment of native peoples of North America as dynamic and vibrant cultural groups. Each chapter provides a short example of an oral story that introduces the reader to the chapter’s theme. This adds an emic perspective to the prose.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in clear and engaging prose. It is accessible to a undergraduate student audience.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is internally consistent in terms of its organization, structure and content.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is organized into six topical chapters including an introduction and a conclusion. The chapter topics align with typical themes that are frequently taught in an undergraduate cultural anthropology course. This text could easily be divisible into smaller readings and supplemented with ethnographies and other reading materials.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics in the text are well organized and follow an internal logic/structure that flows well from one chapter to another.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is free from interface issues and appears to be professionally formatted. The images supplement and support the text and are appropriate.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text contains no obvious grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"A strength of this text is in how it presents the material from both emic (native) and etic (non-native) perspectives. It also approaches the topic by respectfully, presenting the varied cultural and historic experiences of native people without essentializing them.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"The textbook should be listed under Social Sciences and not humanities.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":457,"first_name":"Margaret","last_name":"Vaughan","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Metropolitan State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"It is a challenge to write a comprehensive text on First Nations in the U.S. and Canada. This is very comprehensive for an introductory text and covers many important terms and experiences. There is room for an instructor to expand on areas the book did not have room to cover and provide alternative points of view. For example, there are different viewpoints on the outcomes of John Collier’s work that the book did not have room to cover. In the different sections of the book focusing on the topic, the Bering Strait Theory is not consistently presented as an explanation less accepted in the field of First Nation Studies, First Nation cosmologies, and by Indigenous intellectuals.There is a note in the Suggested Resources section of Chapter One that includes recent archaeological scholarship about origins of First Nations in the Americas. In the introduction, it is pointed out that “Much truth can be found in the oral traditions of any society…The stories of a society can tell…us as much as any other source of information if we approach them with an open mind.” (p. 17). On a different topic, the simple lack of immunity argument explaining Native Peoples’ community member losses due to epidemic disease is also something that has been made more complex in the academic literature and that is not something included in the text. Additionally, the concept of appropriation of First Nation artistic motifs could be covered in more depth in the chapter on art, as well as in the chapter on religion.  The  book does not include an effective index or glossary, but it does include a section listing videos pertinent to the book content.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The text would benefit from many more in-text citation. There are places in the text I would have wanted an in-text reference, although there are a few in-text citations. Besides these issues, the book rates highly in accuracy.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"In terms of longevity, there are some statistics that have changed such as the number of U.S. federally recognized tribes. The text is interesting in two ways in regards to relevance. One aspect of the text is to get readers to compare pre-colonization period European societies and histories and Canadian and U.S. First Nation societies and histories. A second aspect is that the text does integrate both Canadian and U.S. First Nation experiences and examples in the entirety of the text. Each chapter has a set of questions that help the mainstream identified student or reader make the chapter content relevant to their life.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Many terms from anthropology are in bold text and explained using tribally-specific First Nation examples and context from both historical and in contemporary periods in a way that shows the non-static experiences of Native Peoples. Culture is described as “a web” (p. 4) and other terms included are “biological determinism,” \"Social Darwinism,\" \"race,\" and \"racism,\" and \"phenotypically\" (p. 6). Manifest Destiny is discussed on page five and the painting, Spirit of the Frontier by John Gast 1872 is included as an illustration on page 34.  Anthropological kinship terms and terms from the anthropology of religion are included in the book. The chapter titled, “Status, Rank, and Power” include useful terms related to tribal governments including the way two kinds of governments, the community system and the government adopted through Western influence/coercion, in a community may co-exist. Terms are made clear in the book, but there is not a glossary compiling all the terms together. The book is written in an accessible style.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text covers examples and contexts from the United States and Canada and keeps an anthropological focus with some historical background included. The voice is consistent—using a friendly first person voice that directly addresses the reader at many points in the text.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"There are a few guideposts included in the narrative to see information in other chapters of the text, but the chapters are lengthy and would also be divisible, in that one chapter could be assigned as a reading. There are no subheadings within the chapters. The chapters are divided into content that work well conceptually as divisible from the book: Chapter 1 In 1491…, Chapter 2: All our Relations, Chapter 3 Resources and their Distribution, Chapter 4 Status, Rank, and Power, Chapter 5 Religion and Spiritual Beliefs, Chapter 6 Is There a Word for Art?.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The Introduction is not as organized in terms of the flow of the content as the rest of the chapters. However, the actual chapter sections themselves have strong organization, structure and flow. The First Nation-specific origin and “how things came to be” stories at the beginning of some of the chapters work well for the text. The concluding chapter addresses the mainstream identified student to think critically about the course material and particular concepts such as sovereignty.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The photographs are crisp and clear and help illustrate aspects of a chapter. The maps and diagrams in the text are difficult to read and out of focus (in the pdf format) even when trying to enlarge the image. This is unfortunate because they would be useful as content.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The grammar is well-polished. The text has some (rare) repetitive word and spelling errors. For example, Greg Sarris’s name is misspelled on page 168. The Native American Graves and Repatriation Act is referred to as NAGPA instead of as NAGPRA.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"The book does not address Native students (in comparison to how chapter questions may be written directly to students who are members of First Nations). There is one example in the book that refers to living in dorms as students, which is relevant to some students but not to commuting students. At one point in the conclusion, the book uses the pronouns “we” and “us” in a series of questions that the reader may guess to be directed to mainstream identified readers. The book has plenty of strengths for mainstream identified readers to think critically about ethnocentrism, misunderstandings, and assumptions.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"The strengths of this book are in the depiction of contemporary and historical examples and experiences of specific First Nations in the U.S. and Canada and the introduction of terminology used in anthropology. The book is very useful as an anthropological text. Certain chapters may be useful for ethnic studies, religious studies, and Native American government courses.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2516,"first_name":"Todd","last_name":"VanPool","position":"Associate Professor of Anthropology","institution_name":"MOBIUS","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is a well-written and interesting book. However, it is not organized according to specific tribal groups. Instead, the six chapters are thematically organized with examples from various tribes being used to illustrate variation or specific themes. For example, Chapter 4 deals with status and political hierarchies, whereas Chapter 5 reals with religion and spiritual beliefs. Many different examples are used to talk about these themes, but the tribal groups selected vary from chapter to chapter and context to context. As a result, it is not particularly comprehensive, in that the reader will not gain a detailed understanding of any particular tribal entity. For example, the Hopi are used as an example of masked dancers (a perfect example), but are mentioned only once elsewhere in the text. A student reading this book would thus understand a lot about the variation and patterns in native North American religions, but would not be able to speak knowledgably about any specific group.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"While it is always possible to quibble, I did not see any glaring issues of scholarship.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Aside from Chapter 1, which deals with archaeology, prehistory, and initial European contact, the text relies on original, primary sources, and applies well accepted approaches to understand them. Chapter 1 is perhaps a bit out of date, but the general text will remain useful for many years to come. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Well-written and easily understood.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"There are no problems with consistency, EXCEPT that different tribal units are chosen chapter to chapter. ","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"I think it would be very easy to assign specific chapters in a class as opposed to the whole book. However, it would be more difficult to divide up chapters into smaller readings.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The text is logically organized, but is organized very differently than the typical text used to teach courses on North American Natives. Most books take a culture area approach, in which a culture area (say, the Plains) is discussed with examples from the culture area. The discussion of each group would be somewhat similar from example to example, and include a variety of topics (e.g., subsistence, kinship, economy, internal social organization, religion/ritual, etc.). This allows students to know comparable information about a number of specific groups, and be able to discuss differences and similarities in various culture areas.\r\n\r\n_Native Peoples of North America_ takes a very different approach, and is instead organized by thematic topic. This allows the student to know more about, say, religion across Native North American groups, but they will have a more limited knowledge of general culture areas and almost no general knowledge about specific groups. This isn't a bad thing, but it is different.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Its all fine. The images are very nice.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text is well-written and grammatically sound.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I didn't detect any problems or issues in terms of the text's cultural appropriateness. The images are appropriate. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2019-01-12T15:30:40.000-06:00","updated_at":"2019-01-12T15:30:40.000-06:00"},{"id":3468,"first_name":"Rory","last_name":"Becker","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Eastern Oregon University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The range of ideas and areas for Native North America are covered well.  I reviewed a downloaded PDF of this open text and, my versions at least, did not have an index or glossary.  The lack of glossary was noticeable due to the terms in bold throughout the chapters.  Students may find the addition of a glossary that includes all of the bold terms throughout the  text quite helpful.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The information is of high quality and appropriately covered for each topic given the author's stated approach to the text.  Moreover, the addition of an Errata following the text is excellent for this type of open source document.  Much appreciated.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The concepts covered are basline anthropological concepts that so the book will retain it's relevance for quite a long time.  In terms of preference, a fuller incorporation of archaeological data which support the cultural concepts being discussed may enrich the text.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The author's word choice, voice, and ability to explain complex topics in an approachable manner are well suited to an introductory anthropology text.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This is handled very well in the text.  The use of a native story to start each chapters frames the context for each section nicely.","modularity_rating":2,"modularity_review":"This category assumes that Modularity is valued in this type of text.  I am not sure I agree that it is and to achieve a higher score in this area the text would need to be organized according to regions, perhaps language groups, or some other topic.  The sum loss to this approach is greater than the benefits of Modularity and I tend to prefer the approach the author takes which builds on anthropological concepts from one chapter to the next.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"As mentioned in the Modularity category, I do prefer the author's choices in organizing this text.","interface_rating":2,"interface_review":"Several of the images (particularly the maps) would benefit form a higher DPI or the use of a native digital image.  These can be enlarged by the end user which is necessary to clearly see \u0026 interpret several of the maps.  Image and map choice, however, are quite good.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Spelling \u0026 grammar are handled well and transparently given the Errata at the end.","cultural_rating":1,"cultural_review":"The phrasing of this category, I believe, is intentionally done to assess the respondant's engagement.  For clarity and to be sure I am reading this correctly, this text is the example of cultural inclusivity and receives the highest marks in this category simply by it's topic and approach.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"The text well covers both an introductory course in Native North American and also anthropological concepts.  There is good versatility here and the text may work well for a wide range of courses in Anthropology and Native American Studies.","created_at":"2020-01-05T13:37:38.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-01-05T13:37:38.000-06:00"},{"id":33972,"first_name":"Andrea","last_name":"Perez","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Lane Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Well written","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Very Accurate","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Relevance and up to date.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Very clear without being overly simplistic","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The new term are in bold making it easy to look up if unknow to students","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"OK","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The subject of Native People of North American is hard to organize but this book did a good job and don't leave out Canada.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"I don't see any interface problems or distortion of images or charts. I hope in newer versions that the images and charts can be enlarged.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors that I could see.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text is not culturally insensitive at all in fact I believe it spell out the bloody truth of genocide to the Native American people.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Review the PDF version of this book. I don't think that students will have a problem with the fact that there is no glossary of term. Students can look up unknown terms. I like that each chapter starts with synopsis of a Native American story. These book does not over look the fact that this country was built on stolen for many different Native American people and has a dark pass that involves genocide. The book is very clear that it was not just English immigrants but Spanish, French, Dutch and Russians that all took part of the genocide of all Native American people on this continent. \r\nThe Topics in the Textbook cover the general anthropological concepts that will make it easy to understand and enjoy for a freshman class. \r\n It an interesting book well written which will make it relevance for many years.","created_at":"2022-08-02T19:19:04.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-08-02T19:19:04.000-05:00"},{"id":35419,"first_name":"Sharon","last_name":"Methvin","position":"Part Time Instructor","institution_name":"Mt. Hood Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Text uses the traditional sections format found in an Intro Cultural Anthropology text and applies that approach to this Native Peoples text. Thus,the traditional sections are well covered.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The material is well referenced. I would like to see more use of intext hyperlinks to current resources. While a few resource comments are found at the end of each section, they are limited and at times vague and lacking any actual links.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The materials were updated in 2019 (yea!) with consideration with new and expanded points. I would like to see more future updates that incorporate a greater use of graphs/images and websites to which the student can be referred.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Sections are consistent in tone and format. I love how each section begins with relevant cultural mythologies and stories. The discussion questions at the end of each section are well written, precise and usable. There is a flow to the text that runs across the separate chapters.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Each section is consistent in format throughout the text, beginning with a relevant indigenous story, bolded concepts interspersed in each section, discussion questions and additional resources at the end of each section. The chapter lengths differ with a very short and vague concluding chapter, preceded by a lengthy and detailed chapter on art. Current status of Native Peoples is lacking and would normally be a heavy hitting concluding section for each chapter or a final thorough chapter.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Each chapter is a stand alone module and so they can be used as a sequence or incorporated by sections by sections in other courses.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Traditional organization. Intro is strong, but the conclusions need to development on the current situation and there is a noticeable absence of linguistics and limited section on shamanism and health, ritual and nutrition.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The images and other display features are not consistent in size and clarity. They don't really add much to augment the material.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text has been proofed for grammar and typos and is consistent.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Makes a clear discussion of cultural repatriation and of historic bias and discrimination. This is a strong point of the text.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I like the text and the wonderful introductory stories from indigenous cultures were a delight to read. A more indepth concluding chapter which address some current demographics, achievements and concerns would be helpful.","created_at":"2025-03-24T08:09:16.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-03-24T08:09:16.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/native-peoples-of-north-america","updated_at":"2026-05-18T02:09:28.000-05:00"},{"id":608,"title":"Beyond Race: Cultural Influences on Human Social Life","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2018,"ISBN10":null,"ISBN13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":"","description":"The book is supported by discussion of relevant theory and research in cultural sociology. Beyond Race: Cultural Influences on Human Social Life has stressed learner-centered teaching with the instructor taking on the role of a facilitator of learning. As such, it is expected the instructor will serve as the mediator between the content of this book and learners’ understanding of material on multiple and higher levels. This book does not offer a set of rules in teaching cultural sociology, but rather suggests content and applications to consider and modify as needed by the ever-changing dynamics of instructors and learners.","contributors":[{"id":4676,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Vera","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Kennedy","location":null,"background_text":"Vera Kennedy, West Hills College Lemoore"}],"subjects":[{"id":46,"name":"Cultural \u0026 Ethnic Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM621","visible_textbooks_count":26,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies"},{"id":43,"name":"Sociology","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM586","visible_textbooks_count":35,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/sociology"}],"publishers":[{"id":586,"url":"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O4Isun9H9_QDwakSnCtmxZh2cJ1dvNv5/view","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-16T11:20:58.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-01-02T23:52:11.000-06:00","name":"Vera Kennedy"}],"formats":[{"id":1034,"type":"PDF","url":"https://dlib.phenikaa-uni.edu.vn/bitstream/PNK/7926/1/Beyond%20Race%20Cultural%20Influences%20on%20Human%20Social%20Life-2018.pdf","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":12,"reviews":[{"id":2422,"first_name":"Nicole","last_name":"English","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Fort Hays State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This textbook starts by defining basic terms, then building on these basic concepts to more complicated concepts.  It is very straightforward in explanations, yet engaging and readable for students.   It is a very comprehensive introductory text to the subject of Cultural Sociology.  \r\n","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The definitions are very clear, using appropriate examples.  Did not notice any inaccuracies.  ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The text uses timely and contemporary examples, such as social media, YouTube, and Web links, which make the topics much more interesting to students.  ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Terms are clearly defined, then illustrated with examples, before these terms used in more complicated concepts.  ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is very consistent in how it moves from basic concepts to more complex ones.  It also makes it easy to look things up, after reading.  The References and list of defined terms at the end of each chapter are also helpful.  \r\nThe questions at the end of each section are quite good for knitting concepts together, making the material seem more relevant and \"alive\".  ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Compared to other texts on this topic, this one has natural break points that allows one to mentally \"breathe\" and absorb what has just been read.  The way the text is divided up, it could be taught in either a linear, or non-linear, manner.  All of the topics are also easy to find within the chapters.  ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book is well-organized and flows easily from one concept to the next.  It covers a lot of territory in an effortless way.  Because of its easy layout, students can absorb the material easily.  \r\nDefinitions are bolded, easy to identify, and clearly defined.  Then these new terms are repeated at the end of the chapter for review.  (Including the definitions at the end might be a nice addition.)  \r\nHeaders and Subheadings make it easy to identify sections and the material related to the topic.  \r\nThe questions at the end of each section help students to integrated and understand the material.  ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"It would be nice if the table of contents could be hyper-linked to the individual chapters.  \r\nAlso, more text attached to the images would be helpful to connect the images to the topic being discussed.  The images could be used to \"illustrate\" rather than just as \"decoration\".  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Did not notice any grammatical errors.  \r\n","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Did not notice any culturally insensitive material.  However, in today's climate of political divisions, almost any sociological topic can be viewed as controversial, depending on presentation and perception.   Instructors seem to have to be constantly vigilant on how to mediate information to engage (not alienate) students.  One of the benefits of this textbook is that it is learner-centered, and gives the instructor a lot of autonomy in presenting the material.  ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This book is well-organized, clearly presented, and an engaging read.  This is a book that I would be happy to use in a Cultural Sociology course.   ","created_at":"2018-11-29T16:44:35.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-11-29T16:44:35.000-06:00"},{"id":2637,"first_name":"Steve","last_name":"Rust","position":"Part-time Instructor","institution_name":"Linn-Benton Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The title of this book is confusing because this is not a book about Race but a basic introduction to sociology textbook.  For those seeking to teach a 100-level course on cultural sociology this book would work very well as an OER source.  The book is conveniently organized into five modules that could be used as 1, 2, or 3 week modules depending on the timing of the course.  The module titles match current coverage of research areas in cultural sociology: \r\n    Module 1: Culture and Meaning\r\n    Module 2: Culture As A Social Construct\r\n    Module 3: Cultural Power\r\n    Module 4: Cultural Identity\r\n    Module 5: The Multicultural World\r\n\r\nEach module opens with a clear identification of key learning outcomes and the topics are then subdivided by paragraph section in the text. The table of contents makes it very easy to assign specific subsections of chapters.  \r\n\r\nThe module topics read like an well-orchestrated lecture. Vocabulary terms are defined contextually and highlighted in bold font to aid in comprehension as well as to make it easy for instructors to assess knowledge.  The writing is clear and very easy to follow. Examples are kept minimal but they are also easy to follow and not dated in terms of content.\r\n\r\nI would have liked more coverage of the topics of race, environmental justice, and other hot button topics; but the writing is academic in the sense that terms like power and difference are more typically used.  As someone who teaches a film course on difference, power, and discrimination, I was fishing for more information on race but Module 3: Cultural Power has turned out to be one that I am going to assign in my class to pair with films so that students can understand the topic of cultural more broadly before I help them apply that understanding to race, gender, etc.    I also like that each module contains sections of self-checking for students to take stock of their own positionality and agency on these topics.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Perhaps the greatest strength of this book is the accuracy of information and the very effective way that complex sociology terms are explained with clarity and concision. Since the book is largely organized around conveying key vocabulary terms it was a joy to have such a clear and compelling voice explaining these terms to me in the book.  As someone with some background in sociology I appreciate the accuracy.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Published in 2018, this text is currently the most relevant and up-to-date text available for studying key terms at the introductory college level for cultural sociology.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Textbook author Vera Kennedy received a lot of feedback and support on this project from colleagues and students their institutions and that feedback shows. What I mean is that it's easy to tell that the book has been revised for clarity and an ability to speak to many different kinds of readers. Seasoned teachers and students new to sociology will enjoy the accessible, inviting prose descriptions.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This book's module format and superb, consistent organizational design make it easy to work with in terms of scheduling readings and assignments.  All of the chapters have had the same care and polish put into the writing and design.  ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"See above comments on Comprehension.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"One of the pleasures or reading a well-organized textbook is when you can assign all or part of it without impacting student's understanding. For example, the module I plan to use Module 3: Cultural Power is organized just like the other modules.  It begins with a statement of learning objectives (which instructors can use on assignments and syllabi), proceeds with a general introduction to the module topic, and delves into paragraphs explaining concepts.  Rather than using too many chapter subheadings, key vocabulary words are placed in Bold font to help students navigate the chapters and transition from idea to idea.  Text boxes are used every few pages to call out key ideas, share related links to video and other content for readers, or to offer readers activities for taking stock of their own cultural agency. There are 4-5 of these activity boxes scattered throughout the 20 or so pages of the module.  Each chapter ends with a conclusion and list of references.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"Unfortunately you do have to do a lot of scrolling in the book as it is in PDF format only. It would be nice if Table of Contents headings linked to those pages in the PDF but that is not an option.  One very good thing is that all the links I tested to outside videos and other sites were all working.  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Looks perfect or near perfect.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I mean, come on, look at the title of the book.  The one thing I'll say again here, however, is do keep in mind that the title of the book promises to be more about Race than is the general focus of the book.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2019-03-07T16:45:30.000-06:00","updated_at":"2019-03-07T16:45:30.000-06:00"},{"id":2712,"first_name":"Marjorie","last_name":"Momplaisir-Ellis","position":"Adjunct Lecturer ","institution_name":"New York City College of Technology","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Beyond Race goes far beyond race to discuss  social class, gender identity and religion and their impact on our lives.  The author provides information from the macro level down to the individual micro level. There are examples of \"traditional\" cultures  but also more expansive collective cultures like the ones formed by a social media platform such as Twitter.  I had hoped that there would some discussion of social justice and advocacy but understand that it was out of scope for this book. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The author ensures that there is an accurate definition for each of the terms and provides a clear example of each. The portrayal of relationships and interactions between individuals is also accurate without being stereotypical. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The author uses current  pop culture references such as the \"This is America\" video by Childish Gambino to illustrate concepts. The use of current YouTube videos and other recent articles and academic references ensures the relevance of the text. Exercises like Visual Ethnography helps the reader to think concretely about the concepts and how they apply to their daily lives. ","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"Overall, the text is extremely clear. However,  there are times when several terms are strung together in a sentence with only a parenthetical explanation that is unclear.  There should be a limit to the number of new terms that are introduced in one sentence.  Also,  the various types of cultures are often compared as if they have equal impact.  For example, the author poses a question about whether the dominant culture allows unvaccinated children to attend school  or men to treat women as subordinates if their religion allows.  I appreciate the  fact that the author is exposing the reader to the challenges of our individual biases but I would caution against placing views that have such varying impact on people on the same scale. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent throughout in terms of the format and the way that information is presented, The references at the end of each chapter also provides additional information that is consistent with the content of the chapter. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapters are organized in such a way that reading assignments would flow well from week to week. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text is extremely well-organized with learning objects at the beginning of each chapter,  key terms in bold type face and a group of key terms at the end of each chapter,","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"It would be helpful to create links that could bring the reader directly to a particular chapter instead of having to constantly scroll down.  There was at least one link that did not work, \"See How the Rest of the World Lives, Organized by Income: https://goo.gl/uJc6Vd\"","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There seemed to be little to no grammatical errors in the text. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As a cultural reference text, the author does an excellent job of maintaining culturally humble language.  The Dollar Street depicted low and high income families of various compositions and countries.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This is a great sociological text.  I think that the title should be changed to reflect that it is related to the discipline of sociology.  ","created_at":"2019-03-30T15:42:54.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-03-30T15:42:54.000-05:00"},{"id":2835,"first_name":"Christian","last_name":"Bolden","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Loyola University New Orleans","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"Beyond Race provides the basics in conceptualizing the subject of culture. The text briefly touches on subjects, but does not provide advanced depth. The purpose of the book seems to be an introduction to the concepts related to culture. The definitions related to the subject are found within the book, but there is no index or glossary.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The information was presented in a neutral fashion. There was no apparent bias and the concepts were represented accurately. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The concepts are unlikely to change, so the book will remain relevant. There is plenty of room for updates as necessary. ","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"The prose did not flow well, as the writing consists of a lot of definitions with hard stops. There were quite a few confusing sentences that could be adjusted with commas in appropriate places. The readings would often jump from subject to subject without a clear understanding of the context. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The framework of the text was fairly consistent. Key words and concepts seem to be the primary thrust of the work. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Beyond Race works well regarding modularity. The segments of the text can easily be separated and used as supplemental units in a course. The text seems to work best as an introduction to the subject of culture, or as a supplemental segments. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization was clear and consistent. ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface was excellent, providing appropriate, interactive content and up-to-date web links to related material. ","grammatical_rating":3,"grammatical_review":"There were more than a few grammatical errors, mostly involving missing participles and plural forms of words.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The aim of the text is culturally sensitivity and it accomplishes that task. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Beyond Race: Cultural Influences of Human Social Life works as an introduction to the topic of culture or as supplemental text for various lesson plans for a variety of courses that need to touch on the subject of culture.","created_at":"2019-04-25T07:32:52.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-04-25T07:32:52.000-05:00"},{"id":3514,"first_name":"Mara","last_name":"Pierce","position":"Assistant Professor of Art Education","institution_name":"Montana State University - Billings","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The links provide a wide range of supplemental material that serves to augment the body well. The text covers the usual points of understanding culture and society from a sociological perspective. However, there are points at which race does become a part of the conversation, even though the title implies that we will be looking beyond racial attributes. Additionally, the idea of race as a social construct is addressed only once near the beginning and then later nearly 2/3 of the way through the text. This is a large part of why we have sociological discourse today and should be discussed in its own module given the weight it carries, and early. Additionally, there should be a section regarding social justice issues that also help to explain how people view one another beyond their ethnographic inclusions; for example, ageism.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"There are some points at which I would challenge the author’s statements. For example, on p. 21, she states that “Subcultures…blend into the larger society or cultural system.” This is not always true, yet the way it is stated, she makes it seem as if people from varied subcultures always blend in. In other areas, he makes a great deal of generalizations and assumptions that include individuals to whom they would not always and realistically apply. There are also need to be more research sources when “research shows” is indicted.","relevance_rating":2,"relevance_review":"There are parts of the text that would be relevant to undergraduate student courses, but not the text in its entirety. Additionally, it would not be relevant to understanding the gender identity differences beyond the bipolar structure we have known in the past.","clarity_rating":2,"clarity_review":"The tenets are clear, but the vocabulary is less than undergraduate level. Additionally, there is a need for examples to provide clarity and solidify ideas for the reader. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Throughout the text, there is complete consistency.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"As the text progresses, latter modules utilize terms introduced in earlier sections. Some refer specifically to earlier modules.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The text is organized appropriately by module. However, at the end of module there are questions that address content not covered prior to it. Additionally, vocabulary should be at the onset of the section or chapter as opposed to the end to make space for greater learning reinforcement throughout reading time. In terms of content, there are aspects, such as “race” that should be introduced earlier.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"I found it odd that the image links took the reader to the CC image contact sheet page instead of directly to photographer.","grammatical_rating":3,"grammatical_review":"There are some grammatical and fragment errors that should be addressed to ensure trust of the author’s content and capabilities.","cultural_rating":2,"cultural_review":"While she may not have meant it, there are indicators of cultural bias throughout the text. Through use of phrases such as “make you feel,” the author is implying power of one over another. Ironically, there are cultural aspects that in are inaccurate or do not provide alternative ways people perceive them. Given that the text presents ideas that surround cultural lifeways as being socially influential, I envision that many diversified perspectives would be necessary inclusions. For example, “Values of a dominant regional culture marginalize those who do not possess or have the cultural characteristics…” (p. 43-44). This limits who is excluded. However, exclusion, as mentioned before, is applied to all those who do not meet to socially accepted norm, not just those not from the dominant regional culture. Likewise, later she does not take into consideration that there are people today who still associate mental illness with supernatural forces as part of their cultural values, yet refers to those who do part of primitive societies.","overall_rating":6,"overall_review":"While there some rough gems throughout this text, I do not believe it should be a text offered for a class given it limited perspectives and cultural biases throughout.","created_at":"2020-01-15T15:31:23.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-01-15T15:31:23.000-06:00"},{"id":4112,"first_name":"Sheena","last_name":"Manuel","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Bridgewater State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book introduces the main ideas surrounding culture: theory, race, geographic location, religion, gender, age, etc. This is a good introductory text, however it lacks an index or glossary. The author included a reference list and a list of key terms and concepts for each module.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content seems to be accurate and unbiased.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The book’s content is relevant but could benefit from more current research. The text is written in a way that allows the author to easily update references and supplemental resources (i.e. videos, activities, etc.).","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text is clear and accessible for student use. The terminology is in bold print and the author provides definitions.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent as the author begins each module with learning objectives and ends with references and key terms and concepts. The author also provides a sociological application assignment in each module.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"As I reviewed the text, I made mental notes of how the information could be used in smaller reading sections and supplemental to a more in-depth text. Modules 3 and 4 can be assigned as supplemental reading in an education course surrounding cultural diversity.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The topics are presented in a logical, clear fashion. The author presents an overall theme in each module then provides an application. The book begins with the broader idea of culture and discusses theories (Module 1). It moves to a narrow focus as the author discusses cultural power and cultural identity (Module 3 and 4).","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The text seems to be free from significant interface issues. However, one link doesn’t work: Module 3, Visual Ethnography, Part 2, #1 See How the Rest of the World Lives.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"The text seems to be free from significant grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The text seems to be inclusive of ethnicities and backgrounds.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"This is a good introductory text to culture from a sociological standpoint. However, some of the modules can be assigned as supplemental reading for educational courses.","created_at":"2020-06-28T03:38:39.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-06-28T03:38:39.000-05:00"},{"id":4158,"first_name":"Heloisa","last_name":"DaCunha","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Middlesex Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"I find the content areas presented in the textbook to be thoroughly comprehensive; remarkably listing various forms of cultural concepts such as ways in which cultural groups are formed to different types of sub-cultural groups and how they shape society and the world. \r\nThe text is very informative in regards to introducing cultural studies; it provides definitions for several current theories in sociology and studies of cultures. The textbook does a nice job breaking down the different types of sub-cultural groups while also providing a discussion of each; such as gender inequality, sexual identify and orientation, to race and ethnicity. There is a very interesting section discussing mind and body as a sub-cultural category on how different types of behavior are seen as \"normal\", expected, and considered standard for certain cultural groups. \r\nAdditionally the text emphasizes how cultural groups are organized, citing traits and patterns within each level of organization.\r\nThe textbook closes with a comprehensive section dedicated to culture today, touching upon several cultural issues we see the world facing today from globalization to technological advancements and how it shapes the future of cultural groups. It wraps up by introducing the idea of resocialization providing a discussion on conscious efforts being made to remove cultural biases to manage influence of power in cross-cultural conflicts.\r\nI would consider this a very complete textbook for the audience it was intended for, including specific definitions and meaning of culture and cultural social construct to cultural identity and beyond.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I find the material to be very accurate, honoring similar work that is available, providing the same level of content presented in an unbiased fashion.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content is absolutely relevant to the field. I found that the textbook covers all the basic foundation I would want a student being introduced to cultural studies to know, it is relevant by introducing the topic and covering all major areas within it; it appropriately defines all major concepts of cultural groups such as sub cultural groups, cultural identify, cultural power and several theories within those areas.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"As a reader, I really appreciate the fact that every time a new concept within culture and sociology is introduced; it then provides a section on how those same could be applied in the real world helping the reader see the application of the content.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Yes, there is consistency in providing terminology; it always provides definitions when introducing new concepts.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text visually is easy to read, sections are broken down into smaller categories and sub divisions of major sections.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"There is a lot of consistency and organization throughout the textbook. Every chapter is visually presented in the same format and well organized providing the reader with learning outcomes for the chapter, then discussion on topics presented, application of topics and key terms covered within that unit of the textbook. Paragraphs and sections are easy to read, broken down at appropriate areas with not a lot of huge chunks of texts.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"There are only a few links sourcing out to youtube, and they are all working well. Very few images but all loaded properly.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No major noticeable grammatical errors. Work was well written.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As a cultural textbook presenting sensitive content on gender, race, sexual oriental and alike, it is presented from a very neutral perspective, not offensive to any particular groups, giving the same amount of attention to all groups.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I plan on using this textbook for my class and I really appreciate the work that was put into it.","created_at":"2020-06-29T22:43:21.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-06-29T22:43:21.000-05:00"},{"id":4161,"first_name":"Nikolas","last_name":"Gonzales","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"Bunker Hill Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The ideas and thoughts were very well communicated and it seems to follow sociological topics that include culture without including race, which I think may be problematic in our current political and social climate. It should have been clearly indicated within the book why the author chose not to discuss race and  should have been revisited thoroughly within the book's discourse. It covered cultural topics well- I would have just liked to have seen why the author decided not to discuss race when it is such an integral part of our society and culture.  Other than this, \"Beyond Race\" is good basic level sociology text that can be easily followed and covers all of basic concepts of contemporary sociology.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The sociological concepts that the book did cover, did so quite well. The more contemporary ones it covered it did well, even though some of the resources that are being used are dated. That being said, they are still relevant and used effectively to communicate the relevancies of the basic sociological topics being discussed..","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"To go back to my initial response in the comprehensiveness of the book. \"Beyond Race\" needs to be updated with contemporary themes in  race and state clearly why it chooses not to discuss them. This is a topic that is culturally relevant, now, in 2020 and a sociology course is the place to discuss it. Again, though race is not discussed in this book by design and focuses more on culture, it would be enlightening to the reader as to why, and this needs to be reemphasized  throughout the book so that it is understood and can be conceptualized by the reader.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This is one area in which the books excels.  The use of boldface type to highlight key terms well, the referencing, and the print of URL links to internet resources give the reader the chance to delve into many key topics.  It was written well, the grammar is concise, and the language is accessible for a 100 level course.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The books adherence to discussing culture and sociology, without an emphasis on race, was done well. Although, again, it did not elucidate as to why this was done or why the author felt this was necessary,  which left me wondering what the motive was for doing this considering how much of a role race plays in contemporary society in 2020. Granted the book was written before 2020 so of course race is not at the fever pitch as it is today in American society. Outside of this,  it was a novel, yet unorthodox way to approach a sociology text. My only questions is \"why?\" If this be a book that focuses on culture then it should probably clearly state this in the title.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections that can be assigned at different points within the course. Each chapter ends clearly with key terms and each chapter has formative assessments comprehension questions throughout the chapter.  Each chapter follows a logical path but not to a point in which the reader cannot skip to sections and access what is being sought.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is free of significant interface issues, including navigation problems, distortion of images/charts, and any other display features that may distract or confuse the reader.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There were no clear grammatical issues and the language that was used was very accessible for for a basic 100 level sociology course.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"The text is not overtly culturally insensitive or offensive. However, though it does provide a very good lens with which to view sociology \"Beyond Race,\" I do feel that more attention could be paid to this issue in the book. Why this approach?  Without acknowledging its importance and the book's strategy in not including race and focusing on culture, the topics it does bring up sans race could be taken by the reader as culturally insensitive in our contemporary social and political climate in 2020.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This was a well thought out approach to a sociology text and was quite informative. It attempts to view various forms of culture that go beyond the topic of race and though it does not go into any particular sociological topic it discusses in-depth, it provides a good wholistic approach to them, which I believe would be idea for any introductory level course. Conversely,  it does not clearly indicate the logic or reasoning behind its focus on culture and not race. As an instructor it occurs to me why this is done, but in trying to empathize with students on this matter, I wonder how they will understand these topics sans race, especially in more urban environments and areas of the country where race issue intensity is particularly high. Outside of this concern, \"Beyond Race\" would be ideal to introductory sociology text.","created_at":"2020-06-30T07:53:04.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-06-30T07:53:04.000-05:00"},{"id":4501,"first_name":"Juarez","last_name":"Anita","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"California State University, Dominguez Hills","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book offers a good introduction to cultural sociology. The content is relatively easy to grasp and, therefore, gives students a base understanding of key terms, concepts, and theories in the field. As stated in the preface, however, it is best to teach this book alongside other texts.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I think this book is up to date with cultural sociology as it currently stands.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"I really hope that as time moves on, the field of Sociology evolves and improves so that introductory books like this one reflect those improvements.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"I like how straightforward this book is and the briefness of each section. However, the author does mention that this book might require additional resources and/or methods. I absolutely agree. I think instructors need to provide additional guidance and/or readings to further elaborate on the concepts in the book, particularly the theoretical paradigms it lays out.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The learning objectives of the book are made clear from the beginning and are maintained throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I really like how the book is divided into different modules that can easily stand alone and be taught separately. The use of subheadings throughout each chapter makes it feel like an easy read. The suggested questions and activities at the end of each chapter are also appreciated.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization was very helpful. It made it easy for the reader to navigate the text.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The organization was very helpful. It made it easy for the reader to navigate the text.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There were no noticeable errors.","cultural_rating":1,"cultural_review":"As a whole, the field of Sociology is still very Eurocentric. It continuously centers the theories of white sociologists. As an introductory text to cultural sociology, this book therefore reflects those larger patterns within the field. Some of the images in the text are plain uncomfortable to look at but also, unfortunately, pretty accurate (ex. the image used to describe ethnographers is a photograph of a white man next to a group of dark-skinned people). You just cannot separate race and culture, at all. I appreciated the section about “cultural hierarchies” but it was not sufficient.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2020-12-31T15:33:14.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-12-31T15:33:14.000-06:00"},{"id":4751,"first_name":"Sean","last_name":"Carey","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Northeastern Illinois University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"As stated in the preface, this book is designed for introductory courses.  It does serve as an introduction to sociology concepts and terminology.  The entire book is less than 75 pages though, so it would likely need to be supplemented with other course materials.  There are several activities and prompts within each chapter that could be utilized for assignments or class discussions.  Further, all of the chapters end with references and a listing of all of the key terms and concepts from that section.  Two common textbook features that are missed are a glossary and an index.  However, this is an ebook and one can use the “find” tool to search within the text if needed.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate and well-researched.  Most terms, definitions, and concepts are cited in-text and have corresponding references at the end of each chapter.  Some of the sources used are other sociology textbooks, but there are a significant number of primary sources from key sociology scholars as well.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Much of the material is consistent with current introduction to sociology textbooks.  A contemporary topic included is a discussion of technological effects, like social media, on identity. However this area is changing rapidly, so this section will need current supplemental content.  Further, the section on gender and identity is rather short and likely needs to be supplemented with outside material.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is accessible and appears to be at a reading and content level appropriate for a 200 or 300 level college class.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Each chapter follows the same format beginning with learning objectives and an introduction of the general topic, is interspersed with prompts and activities, and concludes with the references and key terms.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book is organized into modules with specific themes.  If this book will be used as supplemental material in a course, individual modules should be able to be smoothly implemented into a curriculum.  For example, I have only used 3 of the 5 modules as supplemental material in my class.  The students collectively have comprehended the addressed concepts even though we have skipped other sections entirely.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The modules do progress from broader introductory sociological concepts to more specific content areas.  However, as noted previously, I have skipped entire modules and the class is able to follow along fine.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"This is essentially a traditional textbook, in pdf format.  There are a few activities in each chapter with links to online content like Youtube videos and TED talks.  None of the content is linked to a site associated with the textbook itself, so this linked content could potentially be removed from the hosting sites and would therefore be inaccessible.  There are no supplemental materials like Powerpoint slides or worksheets, but some of the included activities could be adapted, fairly easily, into a handout or worksheet.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There are no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As this is a sociology book about culture the text addresses different concepts like race, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender in an open and respectful manner.  Based on the contextual examples, activities, and hyperlinked content, this book would be received most easily in a US college or university.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2021-04-08T16:32:18.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-08T16:32:18.000-05:00"},{"id":35424,"first_name":"VICTOR","last_name":"ALLEN","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"University of Texas at Arlington","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Kennedy does a good job of teaching the main ideas of cultural sociology, such as language, identity, norms, values, and cultural transmission. It is a good entrance stairway for learning the discipline. It covers many fundamental details about contemporary sociological conflicts and quickly developing subfields like intersectional identities, digital culture, and transnationalism.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The material accurately represents sociological theories and concepts. Comparative viewpoints influence the reader to deepen research into key topics. Classical theorists like Durkheim, Marx, and Weber are appropriately referenced alongside more contemporary perspectives. There is no apparent ideological bias or factual error, and sociological vocabulary is used correctly. The integration of citations and definitions supports academic integrity and precision.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The text tackles concepts highly applicable to understanding contemporary society, such as cultural norms, identity formation, and socialization. While mostly general, the examples used aim to reflect real-world diversity, self-reflection, and self-awareness. Some material and exercises may benefit from updates to reflect current socio-economic and political movements, media trends, and global interconnectedness, but the subject remains pertinent to today's classroom discussions.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Kennedy writes in accessible language that avoids unnecessary jargon without sacrificing intellectual rigor. Definitions are clear, and complex ideas are broken down effectively. Students at the introductory level should be able to grasp concepts without requiring supplemental texts for clarification. Key points are reinforced through summaries and review questions.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text maintains a consistent tone, academic voice, and level of complexity throughout each chapter. The terminology is used uniformly across sections, reinforcing student understanding. Structural consistency is evident in how chapters are introduced, functionally highlighted (with objectives), developed (with core content), and closed (with review questions). This admirable and uniform approach aids in establishing reading expectations and contributes to the text's reliability as a teaching tool.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapters are thoughtfully segmented with subsections that can be used independently or reordered to match various syllabi. Each section functions as a standalone learning unit, allowing instructors to emphasize certain topics over others based on course goals. Transitions between chapters are smooth but not overly dependent, making modularity one of the textbook's strengths.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The book's overall organization is logical and student-centered. It begins with foundational ideas (what culture is and why it matters) and then expands into broader discussions such as identity, power, and cultural change. Content flows progressively, allowing learners to build understanding step by step. Internal chapter layouts are helpful and repetitive, reinforcing learning patterns. However, a few of the embedded media Ted Talk presentations do not effectively align with the content, which might be a drawback for more visual learners.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The digital version is well-designed and intuitively navigated. Hyperlinked chapters, glossary terms, and consistent formatting make the textbook easy to use on various platforms. The visual design complements the visual aids, such as charts and images.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The textbook is professionally edited, with minimal grammatical or typographical issues. The prose is clean, concise, and grammatically sound, contributing to its readability and academic tone.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Kennedy clearly attempts to incorporate examples across race, ethnicity, and global cultures. While some case studies have not been updated to reflect recent social justice movements, the intention toward inclusivity is evident. The text promotes cultural awareness and encourages students to reflect on their \"whole-person\" positions within social structures, aligning well with social science goals in higher education.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2025-03-28T00:15:05.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-03-28T00:15:05.000-05:00"},{"id":35634,"first_name":"Sharon","last_name":"Methvin","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Mt. Hood Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text is well written and the sections covered are quite exciting. I love the format and will use one module in my Cultural Anthropology course. \r\nWhile I like the brevity of the text, I think that there are some gaps in the coverage of the topic and so perhaps in the future, new modules can be added. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Material is up to date and well supported. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"I so love the inclusion of online sources such as interactive websites and videos. And they are placed in easily identifiable boxes that are consistent and easily found in each module. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Bolded concepts, consistent format and modules that are broken into easily absorbed chunks keep the reader engaged and the material intriguing and easy to follow and retain. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Wonderful!","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Easy as each section is a self contained module. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Consistent and eye catching and easy to follow. ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Format is professional and nice eye candy design. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not see any errors in either the format or the content. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Broad cultural applicability","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I love this text! The format is designed with the student in mind in nice, manageable chunks and incorporates a variety of consistent styles in each module. Examples are relevant to our students, and incorporate a variety of resources that the students can easily find and navigate, including interactive websites. Discussions are bite size and incorporate navigating outside resources that are intriguing and employ multiple modalities. This text Rocks! I plan to incorporate the material on cultural identity and exercise on cyber-bullying in my Anthropology course this term.   ","created_at":"2025-09-17T14:12:10.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-09-17T14:12:10.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/beyond-race-cultural-influences-on-human-social-life","updated_at":"2026-05-18T12:03:52.000-05:00"},{"id":558,"title":"Intercultural Learning: Critical preparation for international student travel","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2018,"ISBN10":null,"ISBN13":"9780994503992","license":"Attribution-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":"unknown","description":"Intercultural learning: Critical preparation for international student travel aims to take students beyond practical preparation, to equip them with a critical lens through which to view and understand their international experiences. The book leads students toward a deeper understanding of culture and cultural difference through an exploration of challenging concepts such as imperialism, racism, privilege and intercultural practice. As an adjunct to traditional approaches, the book adds a significant and valuable dimension to the process of preparing students for international study, increasing the potential for meaningful and transformative learning experiences.","contributors":[{"id":4541,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":"Dr","first_name":"Peter","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Jones","location":"James Cook University","background_text":"Dr Peter Jones is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work \u0026 Human Services at James Cook University with over 20 years experience in social work education, research and practice. Peter is a multi-award winning educator with a particular interest in the application of transformative learning theory in social work education. He is currently a Fellow of the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA). Peter’s research and practice interests include social work education, environmental social work, sustainable community development, international social work, and international student exchange. He has published scholarly work in all of these areas. Over the past six years Peter has also facilitated a number of international student exchanges to both Thailand and India."},{"id":4542,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":"Dr","first_name":"Debra","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Miles","location":"James Cook University","background_text":"Dr Debra Miles is an Associate Professor in Social Work \u0026 Human Services at James Cook University. She has worked in the tertiary education sector in Australia since 1995 teaching across a wide array of undergraduate and postgraduate subjects in professional social work and women’s studies courses at JCU and Charles Darwin University. Her teaching foci include human rights and social work practice. Deb’s research has focused on feminist social work practice particularly in child protection, women’s services, and in work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Her current research projects include international student exchange; internationalisation of social work education; and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their experience in field education."},{"id":4543,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":"Dr","first_name":"Narayan","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Gopalkrishnan","location":"James Cook University","background_text":"Dr Narayan Gopalkrishnan holds the position of Senior Lecturer in Social Work \u0026 Human Services at James Cook University. Narayan has a thirty-year career in Australia and overseas, working in universities, NGOs and the private sector. This has included major development projects and large corporate entities in India and work in the not-for-profit sector and academia in Australia. Narayan brings extensive experience in international development in Asia and has managed significant research projects in rural development. Narayan has expertise in Participatory Methodologies and has used these in studies at village and district levels in Asia. Narayan has also coordinated and taught in courses in community development, mental health, counselling, health, globalisation, social disadvantage, human rights and social justice, communication and thought, and social policy."}],"subjects":[{"id":46,"name":"Cultural \u0026 Ethnic Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM621","visible_textbooks_count":26,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies"},{"id":9,"name":"Social Sciences","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"H1","visible_textbooks_count":285,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/social-sciences"},{"id":43,"name":"Sociology","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM586","visible_textbooks_count":35,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/sociology"},{"id":10,"name":"Student Success","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"LB1062.6","visible_textbooks_count":65,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/student-success"}],"publishers":[{"id":525,"url":"http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/","year":2019,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:40.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-01-20T10:53:05.000-06:00","name":"UTS ePRESS"}],"formats":[{"id":888,"type":"PDF","url":"https://utsepress.lib.uts.edu.au/site/books/m/10.5130/978-0-9945039-9-2/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":16,"reviews":[{"id":2430,"first_name":"Yaprak","last_name":"Dalat Ward","position":"Assistant Professor ","institution_name":"Fort Hays State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is a well-thought out eBook which serves as a comprehensive resource covering intercultural topics ranging from basic definitions to complicated terms.  No key term is left unattended.  The authors present each and every topic in such a manner that some of the most complicated topics becomes easily digestible.  ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The choice of materials and teaching tools are introduced in an accurate and unbiased manner making this book an invaluable tool not only for “international travelers” but also for instructors and administrators.   ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Although intercultural learning has been around for decades, the process of teaching and learning the subject matter is not easy.  With modern-day examples supported by texts, videos, podcasts and many more instructional tools, this 2018 eBook turns this very complicated goal into a straightforward task.  ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The topics are introduced in a well-designed and defined manner. The intercultural literature is dealt with from all angles bringing crystal clarity to one of the most challenging subjects.   ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"One of the strengths of this eBook is its consistent presentation. If used as a course, the book could provide the instructors with a blueprint presented in a systematic manner, making intercultural learning easier to teach. In addition, the consistency would transform the learning process into an effortless task.    ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The modular presentation of this eBook is carefully planned.  The interrelated units turn the complicated nature of intercultural learning into smaller digestible chunks. Because each well-rounded module offers an effective learning platform-- with a myriad of questions, discussion topics, critical reflections, follow up-materials with hyper-links-- it is impossible not to make any progress. \r\n\r\nAs educators, we all know how challenging it could be to keep the instructional momentum going.  The make-up of these modules not only aims to tackle the learning process from a myriad of perspectives but also address the learning styles of the new generation learners.  \r\n\r\nIn addition, this eBook can be used in both face-to-face teaching settings and as part of online teaching. \r\n","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The eBook is well-organized with a logical structure, and is presented both as a student and an instructor manual.  The five modules--with “distinct goals,” learning strategies and learning tools--all make it easy to follow.  The structure and the presentation of the materials including texts, videos or podcasts invite learners to scroll through wanting to find out more.  Throughout the book the key terms, videos and learning resources are easily identified and clearly illustrated.  ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"This is a beautifully designed colorful eBook with texts, videos, podcasts—a pleasure to use both as a teaching and learning tool.  The carefully-selected images illustrate the effect of intercultural learning and are of high quality. The icons make the book easy to follow. The texts have hyper-links which are easily accessed.  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book itself intends to teach the notion of becoming aware of issues related to cultural sensitivities through a “critical lens.” The materials provide an excellent platform for learners to acquire or expand their knowledge, skills and abilities related to cultural differences.     ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This eBook is beautifully designed, clearly presented, and does what it intends to do: prepare students to become global citizens. \r\n\r\nAs comprehensive internationalization continues to shape the form and function of higher education, the nature and structure of study abroad/study away programs are required to provide the much-needed competencies that mold the learners as global citizens. This book is an ideal starting point in supporting any study abroad/study away curriculum with intercultural learning outcomes.  \r\n\r\nThe book should serve as a required reading for all incoming freshman students. \r\n","created_at":"2018-11-30T12:00:28.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-11-30T12:00:28.000-06:00"},{"id":2486,"first_name":"Sharon","last_name":"Varallo","position":"Professor, Communication Studies","institution_name":"Augustana College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This e-book gets a 5 not because it is factually comprehensive, but because the authors did an excellent job of prioritizing material.  At 51 pages, it is impossible to be \"comprehensive\" about anything, let alone Intercultural Learning.  But the authors are very clear about that.  They are clear upfront and at the end that this e-book and any module on intercultural learning is but a way in and the practice is lifelong.  ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I've taught Intercultural Communication in many contexts for 18 years,  so I'm confident that the content is accurate.  What is included reflects an approach based on critical awareness of power.  So, no, it is not \"unbiased\" in that it suggests we are not inherently objective thinkers from having been culturally socialized.  It doesn't attempt to instill a particular worldview but it teaches that we are taught to value particular worldviews.  That itself makes it distinct from \"pure\" social science approaches to culture (that, for example, might suggest culture is a thing to be learned or cultural knowledge is a thing that can objectively be assessed, check).  In short:  Content is accurate and the authors' choices of what to include were based on a critical framework.\r\n","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content was created for (Australian) students studying abroad.  As a US American professor of Intercultural Communication, I also find it relevant not for on-campus coursework on intercultural communication and learning.  I would probably skip some of the final student commentary videos (such as the one on Openness in Module 5), but most of the information in the modules is highly relevant to a variety of courses.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Great work on clarifying concepts that can be murky and difficult to explain.  The three professors were especially good at communicating ideas.  I found the student videos less satisfying (sorry students!) but I understand why they are there.  Still, I hoped those videos could be edited somehow to make them shorter.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Helpful links to a glossary.  I also appreciated that the authors explained that some terms are utilized differently in different fields.  I loved what was to me a new framework of \"Minority/Majority\" -- very nice.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Compact and easily separable into five major units.  The divisions were somewhat different than I have experienced in larger printed works, but they made sense and I prefer what they chose.  I'm impressed.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Easy to understand.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The site is attractive and once I had downloaded it I could navigate it (though I had a lot of difficulty when I was trying to read and review it without first having downloaded it).  I don't know to what extent the navigation errors were due to my own equipment, but I'll list here what was problematic for me.  \r\n1.  The definitions that were hyperlinked wouldn't \"x\" away, so every time I clicked to see a definition that box would remain open.  Most of the definition boxes had \"X\"s on them, but none of them worked.  A few definitions didn't have the \"X\" in the box at all.  I had to refresh the page each time.\r\n2.  I also could not \"X\" out of any of the embedded videos without leaving the entire site.  So I had to learn the hard way (an unfortunate number of times) only to use the back arrow.  \r\n3.  The Dass Ted Talk on Beauty of Human Skin in Every Color didn't load right for me, would get interrupted and the audio went out a few places.\r\n","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Concise and error-free.\r\n\r\nOne exception:  typos in definition of cultural genocide (\"of\" and \"approach\")","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This is a great primer for students learning about how to think about cultural learning.  ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Thank you for sharing this hard work!  I truly appreciate it and will share this with colleagues.","created_at":"2018-12-29T17:27:19.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-12-29T17:27:19.000-06:00"},{"id":2604,"first_name":"Courtney","last_name":"Anderegg","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"George Fox University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"Importantly, I could not read the all of the content presented in this textbook (see interface section below for details on navigation problems and other interface issues). These issues should be taken into consideration when reading my review. What text I could read seems to cover appropriate areas of interest for this topic. It is a great primer to intercultural communication. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content that could be read is accurate, error-free, and unbiased. Additionally, the authors' attitude toward the content and how that informs the writing is respectful of the overarching idea of culture as well as the example cultures described within the text. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The text seems to be up-to-date in terms of content and the use of modern examples -- as well as student insights -- provides great perspective. These examples will serve those who are reading it well for a number of years. I appreciate the interactive components of the text -- which also make it seem more modern than traditional textbooks -- but have some concerns as to the accessibility of this content to all learners (in addition to the interface issues discussed below). ","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"This book is written clearly and concisely. The videos add to the clarity, particularly for users who may enjoy audio as a channel through which learning can happen. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"All terminology was consistently used throughout. Additionally, I appreciated the consistency in design, as well. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I like the division of the text into five modules. The modules make sense and progress the reader through important steps in thinking and learning about culture, culminating in a section on putting knowledge into practice. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization of the text into five modules leads to clear understanding of the topic. ","interface_rating":1,"interface_review":"This is where the text really falls short for me. After downloading the PDF, I realized that I have limited access to the text due to the pop-up definition/critical reflection boxes. Although an interesting idea, these boxes were all activated when I downloaded the text and I was unable to \"X\" out of and close them. This resulted in portions or sometimes entire pages of text to be blocked from view. Additionally, although I love the idea of an interactive textbook, I wonder how difficult this would be for someone with a disability to use. For instance, would a screen reader be able to capture all of the intricacies of this text?","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text contains no grammatical errors. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This text provides a critical approach to thinking about cultural learning and does so in a culturally sensitive way. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2019-03-04T00:12:27.000-06:00","updated_at":"2019-03-04T00:12:27.000-06:00"},{"id":2707,"first_name":"Eloise","last_name":"Hockett","position":"Professor of Education","institution_name":"George Fox University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book succinctly addresses the main points of intercultural preparation. Each topic contains enough information for a basic course, with suggested resources so the student or faculty member can dive deeper into the topicss","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The accompanying videos and resources reflect a deep understanding of what participants need to know before going abroad.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The modules use new content, but also contain resources that have been accepted as fundamental to the various topics.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The explanations are clear and to the point; the text does not ramble.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The modules follow the same pattern; one can also get to the material a variety of ways. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Each module could  be used as a supplement on its own for a variety of settings.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The modules are well-organized for the content.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The accompanying graphics and visuals are easy to see and read.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The grammatical structure is appropriate for the collegiate level. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book addresses difficult topics in a respectful manner, encouraging the reader to examine their own biases and assumptions toward other cultures.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I plan to use portions of this book for my service-learning preparation courses.","created_at":"2019-03-28T19:41:42.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-03-28T19:41:42.000-05:00"},{"id":2730,"first_name":"Kari","last_name":"Eller","position":"Instructor; Graduate Teaching and Research Assistant","institution_name":"University of Nebraska - Lincoln","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The Welcome Section of this eBook clearly states what the book is and is not. Given these parameters, I feel that this resource is comprehensive in regards to what it sets out to do, \"equip students with a ‘critical lens’ through which their preparation process and experience of international travel can be viewed.\" As such, it is not intended to be the sole resource for intercultural learning but one to be used in conjunction with additional cultural and contextual materials. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The material presented is thoughtfully developed and provides numerous references for concepts shared and further investigation. Each module not only presents the information from a formal perspective but also in simple discussion with the academic team behind the development of the book.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The majority of the concepts presented in this eBook are historically rooted, yet continue to speak to a current audience, whether they are high schoolers, college students, or adult learners eager to embark on the journey of international study opportunities.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is clearly presented and easy to understand through accessible language.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"There is a common thread that can be identified throughout the text and that scaffolds material from one module to the next.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"There are five modules to the eBook. For each module there four learning strategies: engage, discuss, revise and reflect, and step forward. These learning strategies make it easy to divide the module into smaller sections and to tailor the lessons to the needs and interests of diverse learning communities.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The eBook is visually appealing with strong graphics to facilitate ease of learning. Modules use learning icons consistently throughout to visually distinguish key terms, videos, and learning resources. ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"To go in-between a .pdf and a web browser for videos was painless and quick.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"If there are any grammatical errors presented in the text, they are not easy to find and do not detract from the material presented.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The videos presented include a variety of diverse voices and the references cited stem from several different countries.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Having already used this resource in some of my teaching, I find that it works well not only at the undergraduate/graduate level but for intergenerational learning with high schoolers and their parents and/or grandparents. This is a resource worth recommending!","created_at":"2019-04-04T23:22:07.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-04-04T23:22:07.000-05:00"},{"id":2857,"first_name":"Francisca","last_name":"Oboh-Ikuenobe","position":"Professpr","institution_name":"Missouri University of Science and Technology","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book on intercultural learning is very comprehensive. The authors have done an excellent job in developing the five modules and providing a useful glossary.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This is one of the most balanced book I have read so far in that different points of views were covered. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This book will remain relevant for a very long time given the subject. The longevity of some of resources referenced (e.g. Jane Elliot’s Blue Eyes-Brown Eyes experiment) is a testament to how intercultural learning must continue to evolve.  ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is very well written.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The authors used consistent terminology as appropriate and the framework was thoughtfully developed.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The five modules were not too long or laborious to read, and majority of the accompanying videos were less than 7 minutes in duration.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics are logically organized and well balanced.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The text itself and illustrations have no issues, but there were some broken links to outside resources. The text in some of the comment boxes for definitions were incomplete (e.g. cultural genocide, Module 3). ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors noted.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As noted earlier, the book is well balanced. It is culturally sensitive and benefited immensely from testimonials by students of diverse backgrounds who have participated in study-abroad programs. ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I would definitely recommend this book to students who plan to travel abroad.","created_at":"2019-04-29T13:32:41.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-04-29T13:32:41.000-05:00"},{"id":2997,"first_name":"Craig","last_name":"Leon","position":"Woodard Family Foundation Fellow / Senior Instructor, Marketing \u0026 Sports Business","institution_name":"University of Oregon","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The e-book does a nice job framing the key elements of international student travel. The authors' view is more 30,000-feet and would be paired nicely with a resource that focused on the country/countries of that particular trip","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Well sourced with diverse input.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Content in the book is well done. The video content might not age as well.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Very readable with good use of key terms glossary.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Well designed and easy to follow","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Subdivided into learning modules with easy access to video content and other pop-up images.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Very well organized and designed for seamless learning.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Very logical and easy to use.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"None.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As the book's title suggests, the book does a great job addressing various cultures.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"As someone that has led student experiential trips for the past 5 years, I am going to add this to our list of resources.","created_at":"2019-06-17T16:21:11.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-06-17T16:21:11.000-05:00"},{"id":3144,"first_name":"Ayami","last_name":"Makino","position":"Instructor ","institution_name":"James Madison University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is a very nice book to cover with students in preparation for any cultural studies, especially those that involve international travels. The book guides the students to develop \"critical lens\" which will allow the students to practice deeper, and more complex analysis of their cultural experiences. I can imagine using this workbook not only in preparation to travels, but while traveling overseas to keep the reflections and discussions going. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate and up to date. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Because of the nature of the subject and intention of this book, the content will be relevant for a long period of time. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is well written, clear, and easy to follow. Glossary is provided. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistently well organized, new ideas and terminologies are introduced and practiced across the modules. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is divided into nice length modules that are easy to lead and follow. Each module includes introductions to ideas, outside sources such as videos, and excellent questions to discuss and reflect with students. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Well organized and easy to follow. The clean visuals keep the reader interesting and focused. ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No issues were found. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text is sensitive to all readers. ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This book does a great job at challenging readers' cultural awareness and how they may take a part in their intercultural learning experience. I will certainly be keeping this book as one of my resources. ","created_at":"2019-08-12T09:49:34.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-08-12T09:49:34.000-05:00"},{"id":3182,"first_name":"Brian","last_name":"Johnston","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"East Tennessee State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Intercultural Learning is a great resource for students preparing to study abroad.  Focusing on culture, cultural diversity,  racism and privilege gives students a foundation to prepare themselves mentally to explore a variety of cultures throughout the world.  The interactive video embedded in the text brings the concepts presented in the text to life to further expand student learning. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The unbiased information presented in the book is accurate and error free. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Culture can be a changing concept.  This text presents the concepts of racism, privilege, imperialism and cultural diversity in a way that each can be applied to various cultures regardless of the area's culture.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"By using both text and interactive video this book provides students with an easy to read reference option when preparing to study abroad.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent in terms of terminology and framework.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Very well organized and easy to navigate.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The three main concepts presented in the book are thoroughly presented and organized in an appropriate manner.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interactive video embedded in the text is seamless and easy to use.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors noted.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way.  ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"The reflection exercises at the end of each section provide an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned prior to the actual experience of being abroad.  ","created_at":"2019-10-14T09:10:57.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-10-14T09:10:57.000-05:00"},{"id":3183,"first_name":"Andrea","last_name":"Duffy","position":"Director of International Studies","institution_name":"Colorado State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book gives readers the necessary tools to critically assess their intercultural experiences, navigate different cultural settings, and be aware of their own perspectives and cultural biases. It does not dig particularly deeply into the realm of intercultural communication, specific cultural attributes, or cultural differences. Instead, it provides a short, introductory overview of multiple themes that inform cross-cultural interaction, and study abroad in particular: culture, imperialism, racism \u0026 privilege, and critical reflection. It is well suited as a concise guidebook for student travelers, but less appropriate as a textbook for intercultural learning.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The text represents critical and challenging subjects in a clear, straightforward, and appropriate way. While its treatment of these concepts is relatively superficial, it is accurate. The text is polished and error free.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Due to the broad, introductory nature of the text, together with enduring themes such as (unfortunately) racism, inequality, and neocolonialism, it will continue to be useful and relevant. The media resources - videos, etc. - are also carefully chosen to be relatively timeless and will have enduring significance and relevance. However, it may be difficult to update these resources because they are linked throughout the text.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is clearly written and understandable to an undergraduate audience unfamiliar with the subject. Although many of the video resources are narrated by Australian students and faculty, they are relatable and easy for American students to understand. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book holds together very nicely through well-organized structuring of content, consistent use of images and key terms, and media resources well-spaced throughout the modules. Although the book has multiple authors, the text impressively seems to represent a single voice. At the same time, the presence of multiple authors and perspectives in the linked video resources enhances the book's value and speaks to the theme of intercultural practice. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book is very clearly divided and well organized. The modules selected make sense for the content, are short and manageable, and nicely incorporate resources, reflection questions, and class activities.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book is clearly and logically organized. Each module builds on the previous one, beginning with the basic theme of culture and working toward intercultural practice. The progression between modules is smooth and rational.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is remarkably free of interface issues, particularly impressive for a pdf with lots of linked resources. One potential caveat is that, while the book is downloadable, it relies heavily on internet-based media. Students attempting to use it without regular access to high-speed internet would have significant limitations.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any grammatical errors. The book seems very polished, professional, and error-free. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"On the contrary, the book successfully addresses cultural insensitivity and promotes intercultural understanding. Concepts are presented primarily for a Western audience. Although certain examples remind the reader that the authors are Australian, the book is certainly appropriate and relevant for students from other Western contexts.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This is a great resource! It offers a concise but meaningful guide to intercultural engagement for students studying or traveling abroad. It seems particularly well adapted as a pre-travel assignment in faculty-led study abroad programs, which is how I intend to use it. The content is relatively cursory and introductory, so it is not a sufficient stand-alone textbook for intercultural learning or communication, but it could be successfully paired with other sources. At the same time, the brief, introductory nature of this text makes it a fine addition to a study abroad course, where time for such conceptual reading assignments is often short but also critical and foundational. In addition, the linked media learning resources are excellent, and they greatly enhance the value and engagement of this text.","created_at":"2019-10-14T11:50:07.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-10-14T11:50:07.000-05:00"},{"id":3453,"first_name":"Deanna","last_name":"Koepke","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"University of Providence","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"very thorough","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"information is presented well","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"While this subject matter can frequently change, this book presents material in a way that is relevant in a foundational way.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"very easy to understand","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"good work on terminology","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"easy to digest","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"very nicely done","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"no problems encountered","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"good work","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"culturally appropriate","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This book fills a need I didn't even realize I had!  I am taking a group of students to Egypt in December 2020 and this will be the perfect text to accompany the classwork we will do before getting on the plane.  Well done!","created_at":"2020-01-02T14:56:37.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-01-02T14:56:37.000-06:00"},{"id":3536,"first_name":"Dr. Ali-Sha","last_name":"Alleman","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Radford University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers all areas and ideas of the subject appropriately and provides an effective index and glossary. The text does a great job providing a comprehensive  definition of culture. There are multiple examinations of differences and similarities of defining culture.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content appears to be accurate, error free and unbiased.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content is up-to date and will not become obsolete within a short period of time. The text is written and arranged so that updates can be made easily.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in lucid, accessible prose, and provides context for any jargon/terminology used. It was an engaging read!","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent for the most part in terms of terminology and framework. The text indicates the use of a Critical theory framework which is consistent with all the supportive material. There are references to other frameworks, but only Critical theory seems evident.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Each module helps to examine intercultural learning through a critical lens. Students learn about themselves and other cultures through a reflective process. Pedagogical devices such as embedded videos help the reader understand the intent of the modules. The Key Point features highlight critical ideas the text is explaining which is underscored by an eye-catching graphic.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Each module uses a universal approach to learning by incorporating an introductory video, short discussion topic, key point, embedded videos, graphics and reflection tasks that help students process information. Topics are presented in a logical way that build upon each other. The Learning Resource page lists video links to Ted Talks related to module topics.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is free of significant interface issues. The presentation of the material was very clean and straight forward. This is a beautiful looking book!","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text was free of grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The authors have extensive international immersion experience. The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way.It makes use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races. The faculty in the videos were culturally diverse. The students featured in the embedded videos were all Australian there wasn't any representation from the United States.  Despite that fact, the text does a great job conducting a critical examination of cultural diversity and privilege. One of the strengths of the text is its application of concepts in terms of interaction with other cultures internationally and locally. The text goes in-depth with  examining plurality of cultures avoiding generalizations and challenging intercultural competence. The emphasis of this text is a deep dive self exploration prior to student international travel.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I enjoyed reading this textbook. I will use this book in preparation for taking social work students to Uganda. There are so many essential points made that are critical to preparing students for intercultural travel.","created_at":"2020-01-25T20:47:13.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-01-25T20:47:13.000-06:00"},{"id":4317,"first_name":"Karen","last_name":"Easterday","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Community College of Aurora","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The purpose of the text is to provide students who participate in international educational exchange programs with a framework to more critically examine and reflect on their preparation and experiences. The end goal is a deeper reflection on culture and cultural context. The manner in which this is accomplished is inclusive and engaging.\r\n\r\nWhile the target group for the course is students who plan to go on international educational exchange programs, the course content could be adapted for use with students at any institution to facilitate learning in any number of disciplines. Students could examine culture and cultural context and connect their knowledge and skills to classes in their fields of study and to their careers and jobs.\r\n\r\nThe content is comprehensive and includes Instructions for the Learner, Learning Strategies (Engage, Discuss, Revise/Reflect and Resources for Further Learning), Learning Goals and Learning Tools (Key Terms, Learning Resources, References). \r\nInformation about the academic team of professors and students who teach and participate in the course are described, making it appealing to other students and instructors. \r\n\r\nEach module defines the learning goal, has a video related to the topic, contains content including highlighted points and learning activities, and includes links to articles, videos, and other learning resources.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is inclusive and unbiased, and it considers a wide range of viewpoints. The content challenges learners to examine their own knowledge and beliefs. The learning activities support the learning goals. The authors bring their expertise to the course while using their knowledge and skills to engage students in active learning, self-reflection, and the practical application of concepts to students' studies, careers and lives.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content is relevant and presents historical information, research and a perspective of the topic as well as current information, views, and perspectives.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing and content are clear. There are clear explanations of terminology supported by examples of the terms used in different contexts and situations.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text has a consistent framework and explanation of key terms. Each module has the same \r\npresentation of content and inclusion of terms as well as learning activities, resources and references.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Each module has different sections of content related to the learning goals that include various learning activities that can be used separately during the course or that could be adapted to other courses.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text lists the welcome module and all modules with titles as well as key terms, learning resources and references across the top of all of the pages. The organization enhances the ability to easily move between modules, key terms, resources, and references horizontally as well as scrolling up and down vertically to access content. In each module, the page numbers can be clicked on for easy access of movement within each module.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Navigation within the course is smooth with no problems with displays features.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The course material is professionally presented and lacks errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The content is culturally relevant and inclusive with visually appealing images of people from various countries and cultures. The content is student-centered and focused on active learning. The content lends itself to differentiated learning and various learning styles.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"The learning tools focus on engagement, self-reflection and critical thinking, and those tools encourage deeper thinking and learning through further reading and exploration.\r\n\r\nAccessibility:\r\nThe video links within the text are not all active, but instructions are provided to go to the full link in the References section for access.\r\nNot all of the videos appear to have closed captions.\r\nFull features within the text work with Adobe Acrobat but not in Preview on a MacBook.","created_at":"2020-08-13T22:23:22.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-08-13T22:23:22.000-05:00"},{"id":4889,"first_name":"Mandy","last_name":"Reinig","position":"Director of Study Away","institution_name":"Virginia Wesleyan University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book did an excellent job of covering the topic of intercultural learning. Additionally, it included a resource section for each module as well as a section on key terms with definitions for each term. The integrated videos also assisted in clarifying the topics being discussed.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I was extremely pleased with the content of this book and am looking to incorporate it into my pre-departure class for my study abroad students. I liked how they incorporated topics I have been working toward but haven't been able to do and they did it in an interactive way. They were teaching the learner to look at culture from a different lens. It can never be complete unbiased, due to human nature, but it can be done without judgment.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Even though this book is not from the last couple of years, its materials are extremely relevant. If necessary it can be supplemented with current events or with specific host country events/information. However, it is presented in such a way that there is not country specific information that would  need to be updated. U.S. educators do  need to be aware that these are Australian educators but most of the information still remains valid and can be updated as needed to reflect a U.S. educational system.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I enjoyed that there is text mixed with videos. I think that my students will appreciate this as well as I find that they are not as fond of reading heavy journal articles. This provides them similar information but in a more student friendly manner. The key term index, at the end, also helps define any information that the student may not understand.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The authors do remain intentionally consistent with their terminology through the book and even refer back to the terms they mentioned earlier, later in the book to maintain this consistency. The book maintains its frame of reference from beginning to end.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is divided into 5 modules and each module into smaller units that are broken down and include videos and other information to make it easy to understand. The authors did a great job identifying key concepts and presenting them in an organized fashion.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The modules of the book flow well from one to the other and build upon each other in a logical manner.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Overall the interface was great and I loved the integrated videos. Sometimes the video links did not work within the module pages but they work in the resource page. What I would have liked is if there was a back button or a return button of some sort that would take me back to the module I was in after viewing the video and after viewing the resource section for each module rather than needing to scroll through all the pages to get to where I needed to be. Other than this, the graphics were clear and the videos worked great.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text appeared to be free of grammatical and spelling errors and was well-written.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As this book is about culture and talks about race, cultural sensitivity, cultural reflection and more, I would say this book is extremely inclusive and one of its purposes is to teach students to be more inclusive and open as they prepare to venture abroad. It takes on difficult subjects and finds a way to talk about them with openness and clarity so that students are able to have a more meaningful experience abroad.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This book is something I have been searching for for quite some time. It covers many of the topics I either cover or have wanting to cover in my study abroad pre-departure course. I am going to be working to incorporate this book, as well as some of my other materials, into the next semester's class. I love the videos and reflection activities and the student perspectives that are interspersed throughout the modules. This is an excellent book for teaching students about intercultural learning and cultural sensitivity.","created_at":"2021-05-05T14:23:34.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-05-05T14:23:34.000-05:00"},{"id":34325,"first_name":"Mary","last_name":"Gitau","position":"Associate Professor of Social Work","institution_name":"Clarke University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The textbook is authored by scholars with expertise and experience facilitating international student exchange programs. The book addresses key aspects that are critical when engaging with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Each of the five modules are well written and includes key terms, videos, and learning resources. It challenges those planning to engage in international travel to learn about themselves and examine their own privileges as well as the need to understand the history and continuing impact of imperialism on cultural diversity.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Even though the authors are looking at different aspects from Australian perspective, the content is applicable to different context given the way the authors present the information. Similar challenges are encountered by educators from North America whose students need to learn about other cultures they will engage with, examine their own self in terms of cultural competence and be prepared to learn from others.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content is up to date based on how the information is presented. The text is well written, and I believe it would be easy to update the information with ease. Faculty and students who participate in global/international short-term study will find this book as an invaluable resource.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is written in language that would keep students engaged and the videos were created with students who experienced intercultural field work or travel. This makes it relatable to those who are reading. The context is clearly written without complex aspects that are hard to comprehend.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book uses consistent formatting in each of the modules and provides a narration of the modules via video. Each of the modules has a distinct learning goal and take away at the end. Thus, it is easy for the reader to know what to expect from each of the modules and how it connects to the previous section. I would say there is international consistency.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller sections. The authors break the book into five modules starting from the importance of understanding culture and going all the way to intercultural practice.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book is well organized and each of the modules build onto the next. Each of the modules has a distinct learning goal, key terms, and learning resources.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The text has no interface issues or navigation problems. One thing I noted however was that in at least one of the videos, it was hard to hear the speakers (panelists). It would be good if the authors can go back and ensures all the video as clear.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Even though some words are spelt differently in Australian English when compared to American English, text contains for no grammatical or sentence structural errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This book is written from a cross-cultural competency perspective and would prepare students as they engage with different cultures and navigate different cultural context. The book is written in a way that would help students acquire insight on the knowledge, values, and skills required when working across cultures.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"As an educator who has led international short-term study travels for college students, I would consider using this book as I prepare student for the cross-cultural engagement.","created_at":"2022-12-22T15:17:43.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-12-22T15:17:43.000-06:00"},{"id":35578,"first_name":"Alisha","last_name":"Miller","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Anderson University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book does a great job of preparing students for international travel.  I am excited to be taking a group of Exercise Science students to South Africa and this book covers 5 central topics in a concise well layed out manner.  It goes beyond talking about superficial knowledege and will be used as a bridge for students as predeparture orientation reading.  I found the section on racism and priviledge espeacially important and relevant.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"For our group traveling to South Africa the module on imperialism is significantly relevant.  The content is well grounded and and appropriately framed. I also appreciated the authors addressing that traval alone does not produce cultural competence.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content in this book is up to date and although not specific for medical professionals it is highly relevant to students in the allied health fields. Cultural beliefs directly affect beliefs around health, the body, gender roles, exercise, and physical movement.  The reflection promots will help lead discussion before we leave about understanding differences in health, the body, and gender roles.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Across each section the sturcture of each section is consistent.  The objectives of each section are well stated and the reflection promots at the end of each section are helpful for leading and designing discussions and student interactions.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The clarity and consistency go hand in hand for this book.  The 50 pages are well laid out and easy for an undergraduate student to understand and follow.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text can be used as a whole or chapters can be used indivually depending on the design of the course and time frame of the course.  Other texts and or essasys can be incportated easily into the class design.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Each chapter us presented in a similar manner and layed out in a similar design.  The progression of chapters helps build critical depth and understanding.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Easy to navigate and integrate into Canvas.  The text also includes hyperlinks, eassys, and case studies which are great ways to promote disscusions in class.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Easy to understand for an undergraduate student who may not have a diverse background in history or cultural understanding.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"It moves beyond superficial understandings of culture.  It acknowledges and critiques colonialism, white privilege, and the often-unspoken power dynamics of student travel. It is especially relevant for trips like ours—to South Africa—where historical trauma, racial disparities, and global inequality continue to shape health and community life.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2025-07-22T14:30:47.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-07-22T14:30:47.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/intercultural-learning-critical-preparation-for-international-student-travel","updated_at":"2026-05-18T02:06:19.000-05:00"},{"id":136,"title":"Leading with Cultural Intelligence","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2012,"ISBN10":null,"ISBN13":"9781453332894","license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":"unknown","description":"Organizations in the 21st century are in need of culturally intelligent managers and leaders. The pressure to build authentic global networks and to cultivate an appreciation and respect for cultural differences and similarities has driven cultural intelligence to the forefront of diversity and inclusion work. Preparing today's students to be effective leaders in their professional lives requires that they hone their cultural intelligence as it is vital to working inter- and intra-culturally in today's global economy. This unique ability to identify, recognize, and acknowledge the differences and similarities that exist between and among cultural groups and systems will set their leadership skills apart from the masses. And when applied, cultural intelligence can bridge the gap in cultural misunderstanding by creating awareness, knowledge, and patience of cultural norms and behaviors. The purpose of Leading With Cultural Intelligence by Mia Moua is to outline the important ideas of cultural intelligence and the steps that must be considered and then practiced to become a culturally intelligent leader. The most important aspect covered within this book is that cultural intelligence is both a strategy and a tool towards cultural competency and proficiency. This book outlines the importance of understanding culture and its impact on organizations, the strategic value of cultural intelligence, and the significance of integrating and practicing cultural intelligence in everyday business life. When all these aspects are properly integrated and applied in the leadership and management process, organizations are more innovative and adaptable to respond to cultural changes.","contributors":[{"id":1956,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Mai","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Moua","location":"Leadership Paradigms, Inc","background_text":"Mai Moua is the founder and president of Leadership Paradigms, Inc., a consulting firm which specializes in leadership and organizational development and training. She is Hmong-American and came to the United States in 1979 as a refugee from Thailand."}],"subjects":[{"id":2,"name":"Business","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"HF5001","visible_textbooks_count":144,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/business"},{"id":20,"name":"Human Resources","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HF5549","visible_textbooks_count":13,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/human-resources"},{"id":46,"name":"Cultural \u0026 Ethnic Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM621","visible_textbooks_count":26,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies"},{"id":21,"name":"Management","parent_subject_id":2,"call_number":"HD30.4","visible_textbooks_count":60,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/management"}],"publishers":[{"id":31,"url":"http://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Leading%20with%20Cultural%20Intelligence.pdf","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:36.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:36.000-05:00","name":"Saylor Foundation"}],"formats":[{"id":278,"type":"PDF","url":"http://www.saylor.org/site/textbooks/Leading%20with%20Cultural%20Intelligence.pdf","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":279,"type":"Online","url":"https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_leading-with-cultural-intelligence/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4","textbook_reviews_count":24,"reviews":[{"id":126,"first_name":"Shelley","last_name":"Dubkin-Lee","position":"Instructor/Program Coordinator","institution_name":"Oregon State University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text seems to be too comprehensive tying in too many concepts and not tying them all together. Cultural intelligence is somewhat defined, but then emotional intelligence is brought in, self-efficacy is introduced,  and other concepts that aren't really tied together with the original concept of cultural intelligence. There is no index or glossary per se, New words and concepts are introduced throughout.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The book is mostly accurate in terms of the quoted experts in their respective fields (Bandura, Gardner, etc.) as far as I could tell. There were some minor editing errors, not enough to be distracting though). I thought the author presented an unbiased view.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Of course with the number of examples and case studies, there will have to be regular reviews to assure that they remain up-to-date and relevant, but they seemed up-to-date as of this reading.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The book is written in a very accessible language, easily understood by most readers. There isn't a lot of technical/jargon used for this subject matter, and when it is used, it is provided in a context that makes it easily understood.","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"My biggest concern about the book is that there are many loose ends. I'm not sure how this book will be used, but it seems to me that it needs quite a bit of \"shepherding\" by the trainer. Some of the activities and examples don't naturally lead to any outcome that I could see without the engagement of the trainer to help point the reader/participant to a conclusion. Some of the examples didn't seem to connect me to the material that preceded them.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I think the strength of this book is that there are many subsections that can be easily taken individually and used at different times during different classes/workshops. I think that it would be best used in this way, making sure to take the time to \"connect the dots\" from the examples to the material the author is trying to clarify for the participant/student.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The material is quite choppy with many, many ideas thrown together, but not really tied to cultural intelligence. With the right instructor/trainer, this could be tied together, but I'm not sure I'd use this in an Adult Ed class unless I took a section and used it to teach a particular part of cultural intelligence. As sections it could make more sense to use. I would say for a corporate training tool with lots of trainer involvement, it could be a useful tool.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There were no interface issues, the only images were some tables, but they were quite easy to navigate and created no confusion.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"Very few grammatical errors. Could use s bit of editing, but overall, it was quite good.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Since the book was about cultural intelligence, the author goes out of her way to make it culturally sensitive. I think that a few of the examples, however, actually could use some refining regarding their clarity of cultural sensitivity and cultural relevance.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I thought the author really worked hard to create \"real\" examples and case studies to make the material come to life. I think that some of these missed the mark, or even went the opposite direction. The stories/examples/case studies were all interesting and the book was easily read and engaging throughout.","created_at":"2014-07-15T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2014-07-15T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":278,"first_name":"Catherine","last_name":"Steele","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Colorado State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Because of the large number of topics the author attempts to cover, a glossary of terms is not only helpful but necessary. Highlighting key terms might make navigating the chapters more helpful for students. \r\n\r\nWhile overall good, some sections, like that which deals with non-verbal communication could use more barriers like proxemics, haptics, territoriality, etc. The text aptly takes on issues of bias in the introduction. This seems to be largely absent in the later chapters.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The text highlights important theories and concepts and properly cites the original work. No errors were found in accuracy of terminology or core concepts. At times though, expounding on how there are conflicting theories or definitions of terms would be useful for the reader.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The text is useful in the present however the reliance upon personal narrative and some of the case studies will require significant updates in the future. Particularly, little attention is given to the connectivity of a digital culture and the impact this has on global and sub-cultural ideas of cultural communication.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text is clear and easy to follow. It is written without much if any technical jagon. ","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"At times the chapters seem to try to incorporate too many ideas and broken into an unmanageable number of sections. In other chapters there is an emphasis on one topic which seems to be given perhaps more space and detail than would be ideal.\r\n\r\n\r\n","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The book's larger structure is intact and provides the ability to assign one chapter apart from others. This is useful in a classroom setting. However, the inner structure of each chapter is at times less clear and the emphasis on personal narrative at times would become awkward apart from the larger text.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"Some chapters have so many individual sections that it is difficult to follow the connections between them. There is not always a logical order to these sections and it would take a great deal of effort to make connections for students. In this way, the text seems better suited for a corporate facilitation within a consultation setting.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book has no interface issues. Charts and text are displayed appropriately.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No identifiable grammatical issues.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Like many other texts focusing on culture, this text substitutes the idea of cultural difference for country difference. This leaves a large gap in the information provided when considering subcultures within a given society. Namely, as a text marketed in the U.S.  the absence of discussions of race or socioeconomic status as markers of cultural differences is somewhat problematic. In this way key ideas about bias, racism and or discrimination are largely absent as well. ","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"In attempting to keep the prose light and “non-academic” the author appears to skirt some major concepts of importance. For example, while many of the examples provided point toward ideas of ethnocentrism in chapter two, the term is not named or defined for the reader. Providing a vocabulary for the reader would help to mentally organize the information and tips provided. The use of personal narrative to begin each chapter would work well as a text for business leaders in a management group/consulting situation but may be less useful in the classroom for students attempting to easily navigate key terms and concepts. \r\n\r\nThe text is engaging for an individual reader outside of a classroom setting and provides an accessible introduction to ideas of cultural intelligence.","created_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":292,"first_name":"Norma","last_name":"Friedman","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"University Without Walls, University of Massachusetts, Amherst","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"Text is comprehensive in its focus on leadership, but needs more literature on cultural intelligence.  If the author has created this term then it would be useful to see its theoretical history. If created by the author then add credibility to the concept with research or listing of organizations that these techniques were tried and or piloted.\r\n\r\nDefinitions were provided early in the text in a chapter.  However these do not nearly cover all the terms used in the text.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"All sources quoted and paraphrased seem to be accurate.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Text is extremely relevant for a variety of disciplines.  I would like to see more organizational diversity, more settings, and disciplines included in the examples.\r\n\r\nI would like to see more updates from authors included in the book, e.g. Goleman.\r\n","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Content is very clear.  It is a very readable book with little jargon or confusing  technical language.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"I would like to see the author carefully review the current framework.  I found myself confused with model creation and chapter logic.\r\n","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Excellent modularity.  I think this text could be used in parts along with primary texts in a course or in organizational training sessions.  ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"I struggled with the flow of the content.  I would like to see definitions and Cultural Intelligence model presented early in the text.  I would also encourage chapters to be logically and clearly connected to your model.  ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No problems with interface.  All visuals were easily understood and well presented.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"A few grammar errors. I would recommend another proofing of the text.  Nothing significant.\r\n\r\nI would like to see the book all written in the third person.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Since the focus of this book is on cultural sensitivity and practice it is absolutely culturally relevant.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"The author has worked very hard bringing together theory and personal experience.  The topic is a critically needed addition to many courses.  I think clarifying the concept, showing its practical validity, and using a diverse group of settings would make this text much better.","created_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":316,"first_name":"Barry","last_name":"Carroll","position":"Instructor and Program Director","institution_name":"Colorado State University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text seems to have been written based on the author's experience facilitating cultural intelligence seminars for industry and corporate leaders. In my opinion, it would make an effective supplemental text but is not comprehensive enough to stand alone. While many new terms and concepts are introduced and well-defined in the text, there is no glossary included. The table of contents is specific enough to allow for reference point, but the book does not include an index.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content seems to be accurate and unbiased. I did not notice any glaring errors. ","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The content mostly references experts and other texts from the 1990s and 2000s with most major references ending by 2007. It seems the text could use some updating on recent developments in cultural intelligence. Aligned with this update, it would be straightforward to implement more recent case studies involving examples from contemporary immigrant groups.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text is written in a very accessible style which I believe would be easily understood by most readers. When technical jargon is used, it is well defined and supported by the context and adequate examples. ","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent within it's own framework and terminology. At times, the author seems to reach beyond her topic to provide information on foundational concepts to cultural intelligence such as self-efficacy and emotional intelligence, but this seems to be done with an eye toward readers who are new to the topic. \r\n\r\nMany of the ideas given for activities and discussion topics are unclear in terms of the expected outcome and would require much facilitation by the instructor to draw readers to a successful conclusion.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text easily lends itself to being sub-divided into sections to be used as the instructor wishes. ","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The text is well organized, but the flow of the book is a bit stuttering. Many times I felt as if the examples or activities ended before the 'punchline' and left the reader confused as to their purpose. ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"In my experience, the book's interface is clear and free from any distracting issues.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"Any grammatical errors in the text were minor and did draw the readers attention away from the concepts presented.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"As the topic of the book is cultural intelligence, the author takes pains to be culturally sensitive. Updates to the examples presented in the book would make it more culturally relevant to contemporary issues.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Overall, the book is very readable. The many examples and case studies bring life to the topic. I feel the book would be useful as supplementary material in an academic course as long as it was well-facilitated and integrated with other material or activities.","created_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":333,"first_name":"Eric ","last_name":"Cave","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"University of Massachusetts","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book is comprehensive in the respect that it covers a very wide range of relevant material.  It does not treat much of the material that it covers comprehensively, though.  For instance, I found its treatment of the GLOBE study, for instance, fairly cursory.  It covers other topics, such as cultural intelligence, quite well.  I could see myself assigning sections of the book for use in a course on leadership, though not using it as the sole course text.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Descriptions of works that I am familiar with were faithful to the original works.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The book's content and case studies seem up-to-date at present, but as things change in the field of leadership studies fairly quickly; it will likely require periodic updating.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This is an engaging read, for a textbook on leadership.  The author does a great job providing context for ideas and concepts that might be unfamiliar to a typical reader, and the prose is in general easily to read and understand.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"I would characterize this book as internally consistent, but not very unified.  At various points, I found myself wondering how various discussions in the book were supposed to relate to one another.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This book is written in such a way that many of its chapters can stand well on their own.  Chapters 2 and 3 are particularly notable in this regard.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"When you read the book's preface, it presents like a unified text.  But reading the book itself yields a different impression, in part because the author tries to cover so much ground.  At points, the text seems to jump around, with insufficient attention being paid to how the various topics being discussed relate to one another and contribute to a broader understanding of culturally intelligent leadership.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book is very traditional in its \"interface;\" I had no difficulty navigating its prose, diagrams, and tables.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"This book is well-edited.  I noted only a few typographical errors, not enough to be distracting.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Given the book's topic, one would expect it to be sensitive to cultural differences.  It does not disappoint in this regard.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I think several chapters of this text can be quite useful in an undergraduate course on leadership, especially given the clarity and accessibility of the writing.  I will probably assign two or three of its chapters in my course next semester.","created_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-01-07T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":556,"first_name":"Soumia","last_name":"Bardhan","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Kansas State University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book presents a detailed and comprehensive account of the connection between leadership and cultural intelligence. It is a fair mix of anecdotes, leadership/culture-related concepts, reflection exercises, recommendations for practice, etc. This book is more like a handbook for professionals than a college undergraduate textbook in its present form; the content is appropriate for a handbook. The preface and introduction do a great job of presenting the rationale and need for this book. However, the definition of ‘culture’ is not nuanced; this book emphasizes primarily a social science approach to culture. Even as a handbook, approaching culture also from the interpretive and critical perspectives can enhance its effectiveness (see Martin and Nakayama's approach to culture and intercultural communication). For instance, discussions of ‘power,’ ‘hierarchy,’ ‘oppression,’ ‘agency,’ and so on, can be very useful in the global/cross-cultural/intercultural contexts as regards leadership. Page 8 has a list of definitions and terminologies, which helps, but a separate glossary and/or index can help (not included).","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content is unbiased and accurate. Numerous anecdotes and case studies present different value/culture-based perspectives on issues, thus tackling the problem of bias. Concepts, statements, descriptions included are error-free and accurate. There are a few editing errors.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The book is extremely relevant. The concept of cultural intelligence is fairly new, and the author does an excellent job of describing it. Moreover, by connecting this concept to ‘leadership’ in the global/cultural context, the author raises the efficacy and relevance of this book. A chapter on the future of cultural intelligence helps. However, the anecdotes and case studies might need to be updated from time to time.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in lucid, accessible prose, and there is minimal jargon/technical terminology used.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Terminologies/descriptions are consistent throughout the book. The framework too is consistent; the same headings and sections are used in every chapter throughout the book.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The author states that the book can be read in the following ways: 1) Begin at the beginning; 2) Read individual chapters; and 3) Read case studies and work on inventories. The author is correct in noting this. The text can be divided into smaller reading sections and/or can be used/read in different ways. This enhances its modularity.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The fact that this book can be read in different ways, can be broken down into sections, etc. affects its overall flow. In other words, the book has great modularity but suffers from a choppy organization. The instructor/trainer using this book must connect ideas and prominent themes for students. If not done, students will enjoy and find the individual sections useful and informative, but not grasp the overall context (leadership and cultural intelligence) to which these issues/concepts are tied to.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The text does not suffer from any significant interface issues.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Minimal grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"This book discusses culture and cultural intelligence in the context of leadership, as well as presents numerous anecdotes and personal reflections; in so doing, it does a fair job of remaining culturally sensitive. Yet, at some points, the anecdotes reinforce certain cultural stereotypes.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"This book focuses on an important and hugely relevant topic- leadership and cultural intelligence. It also presents personal reflections and anecdotes to explain ideas and concepts, as well as provides guidelines and recommendations for practice. Yet, the content does not always capture the nuances and complexities of human interaction in global/cross-cultural/intercultural contexts. This book can be useful as an introductory handbook for professionals; if used as a textbook, it must be complemented with other readings and texts.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":575,"first_name":"Iris","last_name":"Savich","position":"Instructor/Private Consultant","institution_name":"Portland Community College, Marylhurst University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text attempts to cover a wide range of culturally relevant material focusing on the author's model of Cultural Intelligence, yet the term and model is not fully defined until chapter 3. In addition, there are many culturally relevant terms such as: cultural competence, ethnocentrism, and diversity (page 25) to name a few, which are not fully articulated. An excellent diagram and definition of the layers of diversity the author could have used is one by Gardenswartz and Rowe (2003). A glossary of terms would be helpful. additionally, there were some leading intercultural experts omitted from this text who would have lent more credibility and context to the author's work.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The text references key theories and concepts while correctly citing the original works. I found only one citation missing for Mary Parker Follet on page 193. Otherwise, the content appeared to be accurate and unbiased.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The text, while currently relevant, will require some updates of the case studies. The author gives a website in her Preface (page 8) that is intended to provide training tools and a list of inventories along with updated case studies, but it appears to be no longer in operation.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in a very accessible style for most readers. It is written with very little use of technical jargon.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Some chapters attempt to incorporate too many ideas. I would have preferred that the author add a couple of chapters instead of incorporating so many sub-sections.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The text does lend itself to being sub-divided into sections that can easily fit into the design of different classes and workshops by an instructor.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"I would like to see definitions of the Cultural Intelligence Model presented earlier in the text since this is the heart of the text. I did, however, appreciate the integration of case studies in the text that help provide continuity and clear examples of the model.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I found no problems with interface. All visuals are easily understood and well presented.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"I spotted a few grammar errors. I would suggest another proofreading of the text.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The author demonstrated cultural sensitivity with each diverse case study she wrote, attempting to present a variety of cultures in an empathetic and unbiased way. What I would have liked included, however, was a discussion about race and socioeconomic status as they relate to cultural differences.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"The author's engaging prose draws the reader in. There are many case studies presented to help underscore the importance of key concepts as well as provide realistic examples of how the author's model of cultural intelligence can effectively help individuals work toward better workplace relationships, organizational change, and interpersonal understanding.","created_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2016-08-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1183,"first_name":"Constance","last_name":"Milbourne","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Rhode Island College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text covers a broad range of material examining the relationship between cultural intelligence and leadership.  The collection of topics seems comprehensive, but depth within each topic is at times cursory.  The author uses extensive scenarios to help introduce the concepts.  This provides an excellent launching point for classroom discussions. The definitions to terms at the beginning of the book are helpful to students unfamiliar with the topic.  Including terminology at the end of each chapter, along with the chapter review, would be helpful.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content and terminology in the text were accurate and unbiased.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"This text is very relevant, especially in light of Globalization.  Some of the references are a bit dated.  An update as to the impact of the Internet and social media would be useful.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This text is written in a clear and easy to understand manner.  Students should be able to easily read and understand the chapters.  The examples make the material engaging.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The format from chapter to chapter is consistent.  However, some chapters feel like there are too many disconnected concepts trying to be incorporated. You can see the amount of work put into creating these chapters; however, better connections between concepts would be helpful for the reader.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The modularity of this text is outstanding.  Not only can the chapters used separately, but the sub-sections in each chapter also can be assigned separately.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The organization and structure of the material appear disjointed primarily due to the modularity of the text.  If using this text in its entirety, linkages as to how the topics relate would be needed in order for students to understand the bigger picture beyond distinct concepts.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"This text is free from interface issues.  Tables were easy to understand.  One link in the introduction directing the reader to case studies did not work.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There were no grammatical errors in the text.  There were only a few typographic errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Since this text focuses on cultural intelligence, it is culturally sensitive.  In fact, a few examples help to  illustrate the cultural stereotypes.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Overall, this text has a lot of good content and launching off points for class discussion.  I teach Global Marketing, so I would use sections of the text as illustrations to help students understand the differences among global consumers, as well as how to work with global businesses.  The content, and associated scenarios, is very engaging and readable.  This text would be a great supplement to my class.","created_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1241,"first_name":"Tracy","last_name":"Tachiera","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Washington State University Vancouver","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book gives a thorough background of various elements of culture; an explanation of cultural intelligence; ways to increase self-awareness to improve your understanding of how you look at the world; and case studies. There may actually be too much information given; the focus is on breadth rather than depth. \nThere are real-life examples throughout the book that really bring the concepts to life, and are useful for application. Although I teach a Diversity course, even I learned some things, and haven’t seen a source that offers so many perspectives in once place. However, for someone who is unfamiliar with this topic, there will be important concepts missing. This text is better used to supplement materials. \nThe book could be improved by offering a more thorough table of contents. A brief description of each chapter is given, but each chapter is divided into sections. It would be helpful to have these all listed out for quick access.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content appears to be accurate.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"While some of the sources are 15+ years old, the content is still applicable today. Although the book uses many workplace examples and states it is meant for those in leadership positions, it could be used for general diversity education. Case studies will need to be reviewed in the future for relevance.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"This book is easy to read and understand, and is interesting. There is only a short vocabulary list. A more comprehensive glossary would be useful.","consistency_rating":1,"consistency_review":"The book is written in a consistent voice throughout. Each chapter contains real life examples to help illustrate concepts.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"While I think readers would most benefit from reading the introductory chapters, most chapters could be used on their own, especially if there was a need to highlight a particular concept. However, as mentioned above, the chapters would be better for supplemental material.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text starts with basic definitions and theories, and moves on to more complex ideas. Examples and applications are given throughout to help with understanding of the material. I liked the chapter of case studies at the end.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There is a link on pages 6 \u0026amp; 8 that does not work (http://www.cileadership.com) (disappointing since it states it has further examples and case studies, something I have been looking for!). There were no issues in navigation or viewing. A more complete table of contents and definitions would be useful.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The book is well written and is free of any major grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The author of the book is Hmong American (based on info from the introduction). Their experience and worldview likely influences the perspectives given in this book, however, that should actually be relevant for this topic. There does not seem to be an even distribution of stories, examples, etc. for various cultures. For example, a document search showed Hispanic \u0026amp; Latino appearing over 40 times, “Asian” appearing 23 times, while “Black” or “African American” only appeared 7 times, and “Native Americans” only appeared 4 times. Many other cultures are mentioned as well. Nothing appears offensive. However, the stories and case studies could be improved by consistently pointing out that even within cultures, these are just examples and actual people from these cultures may not fit into the scenarios to avoid students stereotyping.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I enjoyed this book and like the applied nature of it. It will be a good supplement to material I am already using. I think many of the chapters could be used in a variety of classes where there is a diversity component.","created_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-06-20T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1575,"first_name":"Daniel","last_name":"Bowan","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Colorado State University - Pueblo","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"I believe the book was comprehensive, it covered a variety of topics related to Cultural Intelligence and leadership.  I believe it would have benefited from more of an international perspective.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"I thought the book seemed accurate, however it relied on a lot personal perspectives and lacked scholarly support.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"I think the book's subject matter is very relevant as globalization and current trends point towards an increased emphasis on cultural intelligence.","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"I thought the book was clear, but a little to informal with the authors voice very present and a bit overbearing.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"I believe the book was consistent from chapter.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"I thought the book succeeded in the area of modularity.  Each chapter could be read individually.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"I thought the book had good organization and flow in the beginning, but this tailed off towards the end and seemed scattered.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"I think the book's interface was average.  It seemed very drab and lacked sufficient images and visual depictions.  ","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"I did not catch many grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Due the nature of the book subject's, it very much is culturally relevant.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I would have preferred the author keep their voice out of the text, it read more like a personal biography, rather than an academic textbook.","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1613,"first_name":"Mary","last_name":"Tucker","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Ohio University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"A wide variety of topics are covered in this text, along with case studies that can be used to further the learning. It would be helpful to expand the Table of Contents to also include the sub-sections in each chapter. For novices to the concept of cultural intelligence, this text might not provide the depth needed to fully enhance the learning. A glossary and index would also be helpful to the learner.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content appears to be accurate as well as unbiased with few typographical errors.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The content appears to be up-to-date.  Because the sources are quite old, the text should soon be reviewed for updates. The organization of the text will allow for expedient and straightforward updating.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text is engaging and easy to read. Examples add to the learning. Any jargon/technical terminology is explained as it is incorporated into the chapters.","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"The chapters are consistent in format. Some chapters reach into topics such as self-efficacy that may not be fully explained in the context of cultural intelligence sub-components.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This book does an excellent job of keeping individual chapters as self-contained modules that can be used independently from the book. As such, instructors can use as many or as few chapters as needed to round out a course on cultural intelligence. The cases at the end of the book are an added plus.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The organization/structure are logical and clear. The aspect that makes this text modular (and a plus) also inhibits the flow between chapters. A quid pro quo for those who wish to use only segments of the text.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The text is free of significant interface issues. However, the link to additional case studies is no longer a working link.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"The text was well written and is free of any major grammatical/typographical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"This book on cultural intelligence is culturally sensitive. ","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"This is an easy-to-read book; it has a story format that appeals to students. It could be used in its entirety or select chapters could be chosen to supplement course material. The topic lends itself to different classes across the curriculum.","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1623,"first_name":"Angie","last_name":"Carter","position":"Clinical Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Clemson University ","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book attempts to cover a large amount of information, and meets that goal for the most part. It is almost too comprehensive and could go a little more granular in some areas.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The book seems to provide accurate information. ","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"I see many older references. Although in this field of leadership and leadership development and human resource development, this comes standard, there are many works that build upon these ideas that should be included. Some of the theories (like situational leadership) have been debunked or at least called into question.  \n\nThis topic has a shelf life and should be frequently updated to reflect new innovation and scholarship.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The book is straightforward in its writing and intent. However, it does try to bridge too many ideas in one textbook. ","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"The text was inconsistent in its treatment of  vocabulary. Sometimes the author explains a word, and sometimes it is taken for granted that the reader knows a particular word or phrase. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book is modular in that it is paced appropriately and segmented into logical information chunks. ","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The topics presented were linear, much like a workshop would be presented, from macro to micro.  ","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"There are issues with missing or disconnected links within the textbook. In particular, the link to further exercises noted at cileadership.com did not work at the time of this review. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I saw no grammatical errors, but a few typographical errors in the text. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Since the book was about cultural and intercurtural intelligence and competency, this was more than adequately covered. ","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Pros: This book is a good primer on cultural intelligence and could be serve as a launch for deeper classroom or workshop conversations. \n\nCons: The author tried to bridge too many ideas in the book, and the examples offered, while well-meaning, sometimes missed their mark. ","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1824,"first_name":"Lindy-Anne","last_name":"Abawi","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"University of Southern Queensland","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers all aspects of the topic well drawing together classic references to related work. It was well set out with chapter headings listed in the introduction that are linked directly to each chapter for easy access. The chapter summaries of key points are particularly useful. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate and beautifully written. It is a truly readable text and the various case studies, scenarios and personal stories set the scene well for the discussion tat follows. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The references within the text are good solid links to often seminal researchers in the field. It would have been good to see more contemporary references as well. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is well written and very accessible to the reader. Quite complex concepts are explained simply and effectively illustrated with real world examples. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The layout, tone, flow, format and overall structure are consistent throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The smaller sub-sections throughout each chapter allow for small 'bites' of information to be easily accessed for discussion. The chapters themselves have quite distinct and yet inter-related themes which can be easily be used as separate lesson points or in  staged, self-paced study format.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"As mentioned earlier it is a very easy to read text. Each section flows smoothly, logically and connectedly into the next.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"There are few minor formatting discrepancies - like a sentence that jumps a line but these are few and far between. The text is easy to follow.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text contains no obvious grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book is very sensitive to cultural differences and in fact the text is entirely about cultural intelligence.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I commend the authors on the quality of this text. It was well written and easy to read. The use of stories to set the scene and illustrate points being made was a powerful and culturally appropriate way of engaging the reader. The references to seminal researchers and texts in the area were reassuring and resonated with what is generally agreed as fundamental to this topic. Academic rigour could be improved, however, with a more in depth study of contemporary researchers in this field. Challenging the sorts of unconscious labelling and stereotyping that often occurs in the workplace and in communities helps to promote the ongoing need for a cultural reframing agenda. \n","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1985,"first_name":"Sarah","last_name":"Dixon-Hackey","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"Minnesota State Community Technical College - Moorhead, MN","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text is fairly comprehensive in its coverage of a number of aspects relating to cultural intelligence.  It takes a largely vast and somewhat still-evolving subject and breaks it down effectively relatable units of learning. One thing that would be nice is to see the addition of a glossary that provides a point of reference for key terminology.  It would also anchor the chapters and offer more options for review to the students.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"The subject is largely told from the author’s point of view and utilizes both personal experiences and case studies to further illustrate concepts.  As a result, the text reads less like a traditional textbook and relies on scenarios versus vast amounts of terminology functional exercises.  Because of this, it lends itself to be somewhat biased toward the perspective of the author and his own professional experience relating to cultural intelligence.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"3Because the text is not anchored in a great deal of historical facts and figures, the text has the potential to withstand an extended period of time.  As a whole, the content is written in larger generalizations and from a high-level look at the role that cultural intelligence plays in the work environment.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The author does a nice job of writing in a tone that is accessible to a wide range of students. The language and level of comprehension needed to digest the material would be easily consumed by both students in a technical school and a liberal arts college.  ","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"The text sometimes veers from its use of personal narrative to implementing more traditional utilization of terms, tables, and professional examples.  These are generally implemented when appropriate, but a more consistent format throughout might be helpful for the use of teaching and lesson planning.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"To some extent the text creates modules that can be divided into separate sections. However, many of the subsections do rely on those preceding or following them in order to create a better context and understanding.  In most cases, chapters need to be consumed in their entirety to create a well-rounded lesson.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"Because the text is composed of a series of examples and cases, the flow of the text sometimes lacks a strong sense of continuity.  This does offer an instructor the opportunity to move around through the book as needed because it does not necessarily create a situation where one chapter automatically builds on the preceding chapter. For teachers looking to have more freedom to change the order of topical study, this may be a characteristic that is desirable.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"The book is fairly easy to read and has well identified headers. One area where it is lack is a strong Table of Contents that enables a student or instructor to quickly jump to specific topics of choice.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There are no significant grammar issues.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text does a nice job of being inclusive and approaching the subject with an attitude of inclusiveness.  The author includes a variety of examples that demonstrate scenarios from a variety of demographics.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2070,"first_name":"Paul","last_name":"Longenecker","position":"MSAH Program Director","institution_name":"Otterbein University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book provides a excellent array of topics related to concepts of organizational behavior and leadership focused around cultural intelligence. Does a great job of connecting diverse components around a common theme. Cultural intelligence is not a highly published topic in my experience.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The format of book is written in a conversational manner from a first person perspective. In writing through it, it gave me the feel of a self-help book but supported well by very relevant and evidence based sources.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content of the book is very relevant and timely and since it is build on strong theory, should have long shelf life. The concepts discussed are not black and white but intended to challenge the reader to think about the leadership practices to reframe them with new light shone on what they do. With the changing demographic of the work force and its many unique nuances, the book hits at the heart of leadership.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The book is laid out in a very logical format. She tells you what she is going to tell you, tells you than tell you again. Use of case studies is used very effectively to provide wxamples of concepts discussed.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Provides a framework for the book's layout and very clearly stays focused to the defined framework throughout the book.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The layout of the book is very easily attacked in smaller units and multiple units in a single reading period. I read the book in one or two chapter sessions and was always able to pick up on the concepts previously read. The writing style allows you to be actively engaged in the reading process as concepts are laid out as building blocks.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Laid in a logical flow with concepts building on previously discussed material.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"The key challenge of the book was the spacing between material as you were reading. In reading it online, it required the reader to need to jump ahead over large gaps in spacing between section within a single chapter.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No significant grammatical errors were noted in reading the book.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As the topic of the book is Cultural Intelligence, the book does a great job of offering a diverse array of examples covering the full spectrum of ways that culture can be frame. High point of book in it looks a diversity from a much broader lens that is frequently used today.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Although it is not defined as a textbook, it could be used very effectively utilized with other materials to discussed the topic of cultural intelligence.","created_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2081,"first_name":"Julie","last_name":"Swaringim-Griffin ","position":"Program Coordinator ","institution_name":"Oklahoma State University ","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book could be recommended for a low level leadership diversity course as an additional reading to other leadership materials. This book is not complex and is an easy read. The text is well organized in a manner that fosters learning without having highly intense vocabulary. The book contains several examples which contributes to the material that is being addressed. These examples would greatly benefit students who are primarily kinesthetic learners because it ties in real world scenarios that apply the concepts that are discussed. One great factor, is that professors can apply these examples in the classroom and create an interactive activity that goes along with the text. This book can easily be applied in the classroom beyond lecture format. ","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"This book is written in the author’s point of view in many of the chapter sections but not all. This provides students with another perspective of the world around them however, it is only the author’s perspective. The accuracy of the text is commendable especially if the text is read as a perspective rather than an absolute. The context is error free however, not completely unbiased. As mentioned, this book is written in the author’s perspective therefore there are several instances in which the text can be biased. The book includes information about the GLOBE studies which is useful for leadership lecturers to teach this material. The information provided in this section of the book was accurate and consistent with leadership topics.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Due to the subject matter at hand, leadership is adaptable and ever-changing. This book can be adapted as it ages. Overall, the text is relevant to present day and can easily be updated throughout the years. The various examples offered in the text will be relevant years to come. However, in a few of the examples, the information used is dated. Such as an MP3 player was mentioned in the text which is a device that Generation Z, who will more than likely be using this text, will know of an MP3 but that information could be perceived as outdated. Examples that date the text may need to be avoided in the future in order to reduce a negative perception of the book as it comes across as outdated in various chapter section examples. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is easy to follow. At the beginning of the book, the terminology that is often used is clearly defined. This allows the readers to understand the meanings of the terminology that is relevant to this book. This clear definition contributes to limiting confusion due to these terms often being used differently in other texts. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent in the use of the terminology that was defined at the beginning. The book also shows a theme of providing examples as previously discussed. This also remains consistent throughout the entirety of the book. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text can be easily divided into various sections.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics are clear and well defined throughout the text.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There were no major issues with the images included in this book. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The grammar is adequate. No grammar mistakes were detected. ","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"The cultural relevance is fair. Much of the book is written from the author’s own cultural perspective thus resulting in information bias in various areas of the book. The author writes in examples of how others may react but this assumption of reactions is within the author’s own bias. Readers must keep this in mind in order to form their own perspective rather than taking the author’s perspective as an absolute in many of the examples that were provided throughout the text. Overall, this book was relevant to the topic of cultural relevance due to the cultural intelligence nature of the text. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Overall, the book is clear, concise and to the point. However, in many aspects the book can be biased. A suggestion to combat this bias, would be to address students at the beginning of the course to read the text with in mind that the text can create a bias outlook on the subject matter being discussed. This book would be an excellent source for courses that are both lecture and interactive format.  As a leadership lecturer, I will more than likely incorporate pieces of this book into the current curriculum.","created_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2178,"first_name":"Susan","last_name":"Baim","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Miami University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text seems to be highly comprehensive, especially given the fact that it addresses leadership within the context of cultural intelligence – a field that 20-25 years ago would have been an afterthought and not a topic central to the discussion of leadership at the undergraduate level.  For the most part, theory is blended with appropriate anecdotes, stories and examples to help bring the main learnings into focus for the reader.  Terminology appears to be applied well to the various situations discussed, but fundamental definitions of terms, themselves could be improved for better clarity.  The structure of the text invites the reader to learn more about topics and appears well set up to work with contemporary business literature sources as may be desired.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Overall, the accuracy of the text seems to be very good.  The author interjects a lot of personal reflections and commentary, but also goes to significant lengths to relay information in a manner that avoids any semblance of personal bias.  The fact that the text is easy to digest for readers who may not be experts in the field provides additional credibility that the author is being straightforward with the material and not attempting to pursue any type of specialized agenda.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"This is a text that, for optimum accuracy and relevance, will need continual updating – perhaps every three to four years at the longest.  The material included in the edition under review is highly relevant an includes a strong blend of classic sources and contemporary research.  As societal norms and practices change, the text could become dated and in need of a refresh.  However, as it presently stands, the text is current, relevant and notably germane to the field of leadership.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text is generally clear and easy to follow with a noticeable absence of sophisticated jargon that could slow down and confused those new to the field of leadership.  This accentuates the value of the text as an introductory resource for undergraduates.  The author does overuse the first-person writing style in some portions of the text, thereby somewhat blurring the line between objective fact and personal opinion.  This prevented receiving a score of “5” for clarity.","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"This text shows good consistency in terms of the amount of material to digest in each chapter and that sets up a good pace or flow throughout the work.  Terms could be more consistently defined – some new terms are defined promptly while others “catch up later” or require the reader to go on a hunt through other chapters for a proper definition before continuing to read.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Good modularity is one of the features that set this text apart as a versatile resource on leadership topics.  There is enough of a unifying theme that one could use the text as a whole without problem, but as the author notes, it may also be applied successfully one section at a time.  This would allow use as a supplemental resource or case study source along with other texts if desired.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"It is difficult to produce a multi-purpose text that can be used as the main textbook in a course, but also function in a supporting role on specialized topics.  Organization and flow are likely to suffer since these uses are often counter to one another.  The author does a good job of walking the tightrope between the two extremes although instructors may wish to offer “patches” or connecting lectures to bridge gaps between some sections of the text.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There does not seem to be significant problems with interface-related issues in the text.  Graphics displayed well and navigation also was easy and quick.  A very few of eh Internet links seemed to go nowhere.  In fairness, maintaining every link within the text would be difficult to impossible as some are not within the author’s control.  This is a problem with Web linkages in printed texts as well.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Any grammatical errors present were very minor and did not detract from reading the text.  As mentioned above, I am not a big fan of first-person in academic texts, but this also did not detract significantly from delivering the message fluently.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The author demonstrates good and consistent sensitivity to cultural issues, norms and biases as one would expect in a text on cultural intelligence.  She writes from a position of trying to balance a variety of cultural viewpoints and strives to present arguments in a fair and nonjudgmental way.  It would have been helpful to pursue more of the cultural issues that come from social and/or economic status, but this is a relatively minor point in light of the positive approach taken throughout the text overall.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I was highly impressed with the overall quality of thought and the thoroughness of topic treatment in this text as a whole.  The author has covered an extensive array of material and done so in a flexible manner that can be adapted to a variety of educational uses.  Based on what I have learned from reviewing this text, I am strongly considering integrating it into an undergraduate leadership course that I currently teach.  Its up-to-date approach and focus on critical culture-driven leadership topics will add a new perspective for my students – one that is missing in most leadership texts today.","created_at":"2018-06-19T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-06-19T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2339,"first_name":"Brett","last_name":"Whitaker","position":"Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies","institution_name":"Fort Hays State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text offers a robust examination of the concept of Cultural Intelligence and its connection to cross-cultural leadership.  In particular, it covers in some depth the components of CQ, and the literature supporting those components.  It would be a good resource for those interested in using it to cover CQ in conjunction with other resources for supplementary areas.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This text appears to be accurate and relies on credible sources and information to support the material.  ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The text is up-to-date and relevant for current audiences.  There are a couple of specific examples used in the book that may not age well, but the utility of the information in general is highly relevant.  ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I consider this text to be very clear.  It is laid out in a logical manner and flows together in a way that is clear and accessible.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This text is internally consistent.  It utilized terminology that is consistent with other current scholarship in the field, and provides the concepts within an established framework.","modularity_rating":3,"modularity_review":"This is one area of relative weakness for the text.  Although the text is high quality, and internally consistent, it is somewhat less accessible for cutting into smaller components.  The cultural dimensions section could be utilized as a standalone, but I think some of the discussion would be difficult to parse out.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics in the book are presented in a logical manner.  The book has an obvious flow, from what CQ is, to the main components, and then into application.  Further, the components are presented in the sequence that is generally the same way that other texts present CQ.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There are no interface concerns with this text.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text appears to have had significant copyediting, and does not present any major grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"There are no insensitive examples that I saw in the text, but some items might be difficult for non-westerners to connect with.  However, there is not an overabundance of culturally specific examples that would make the text problematic in this regard.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I recommend this book for instructors that wish to incorporate elements of CQ into an existing area.  It could be helpful when discussing elements of culture, cross-cultural leadership, global leadership, and/or global management.","created_at":"2018-10-23T11:52:22.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-10-23T11:52:22.000-05:00"},{"id":2816,"first_name":"Kelly","last_name":"Reath","position":"Clinical Associate Professor","institution_name":"East Tennessee State University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text is not providing best practices attributed to evidence-based research.  Anecdotal experiences from the author's life are presented for reflection by the reader.  The author is very clear in noting the material is not presented as an academic textbook, but as a tool to be used in developing a level of proficiency.   Definitions and terminology used in the text are presented early, as is the rationale for writing the text.  Cultural Intelligence is presented a continuous learning process.  A References list for sources cited in the discussion is provided, but a glossary of terms is missing.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"Material is presented from an anecdotal perspective, but unbiased.  The text is not written as best practices based on evidenced-based research, but this does not diminish the value, relevancy or accuracy of the content.  Application of systems theory has room for improvement.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The text is very relevant, especially for courses with content focused on leadership behavior and practices.  Content is applicable to both public and private sectors.  Longevity is impacted by the changing political environment.  With Chapter 7 solely focused on case studies, updates would be easy to implement.   Some statistics presented can be revisited and updated simply because of the time frame.  ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"An easy read directly attributed to the author's style.  The author notes early in the text, her intent is not to write an academic text.  This approach is an invitation for the text to be used outside the academic environment.  Organizations providing continuous education associated with staff development would especially benefit from the text's clarity. ","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"Discussion of material in the chapters follow a consistent format.  With the exception of the final chapters, a chapter summary is consistently provided for Chapters 1 - 6.  For social sciences, the text would benefit from an American Psychological Association (APA) formatting style to cite resources (footnotes or endnotes are used).","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Chapters build on each other.  Progression of material flows well.  If the text is used as an ancillary reading, the material is easily adapted to individual modules.  Individual case studies (Chapter 7) can be used as needed.  ","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The Preface and Introduction end with a chapter summary, but are not considered Chapter 1.  References for the text are titled as Chapter 9.  The text itself is presented as having eight chapters.  The organization of material could be improved.   ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"No major interface issues.  Some confusion with chapter numbering which may be distracting for some.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No major grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The text is not culturally offensive.  Some examples presented can be interpreted as reinforcing stereotypical behaviors.  A more sensitive approach would be to focus on discussing how individuals react to differences from self, rather than using specific populations as examples for reinforcing patterns of behavior.  ","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"The text works well as supplement to required reading for courses in social sciences with content on leadership practices.  The content is very relevant, and definitely needed.  The title of this text, Leading with Cultural Intelligence, is very similar to another text - Livermore, D. (2009). Leading with cultural intelligence: The real secret to success.  I wish this author had been a little more creative with the title. ","created_at":"2019-04-21T17:24:18.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-04-21T17:24:18.000-05:00"},{"id":3686,"first_name":"Mindy","last_name":"Andino","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text would make a nice supplemental text, as it is based on the author's personal experiences. It would benefit from having a glossary or index, although the table of contents is good. Many different concepts are introduced, some well and others would benefit from further explanation.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I believe the author presented an unbiased lens of the topic.","relevance_rating":2,"relevance_review":"The information is good, but at the time of this review it is outdated. It would benefit from timely updates.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in a clear and concise way. The examples make the material engaging and applicable. It is accessible to students, using limited technical jargon.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The framework, language, headings, sections, and descriptions are consistent throughout the text.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I really appreciated the ease at which this text can be broken up either by chapter of sections within chapters. It will be a good supplemental text.  A chapter or case study can be pulled out easily.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The overall flow of the structure is choppy and does not flow seamlessly throughout the text. The strength of being able to use as a section or chapter, negatively impacts the overall context and content.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"This text is accessible digitally, with tables, graphs, and images that are easy to understand.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"The book contains some grammatical errors, but on the whole it well written.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"I appreciated the multiple examples and intentional cultural considerations woven throughout the text. The concept of cultural intelligence and leadership is very important in our global world.  The author is clearly well versed. The text would benefit from new and additional case studies as this topic is ever evolving.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I commend the author for creating this text. The real, engaging, and thought provoking examples and case studies work to enhance the text in a culturally appropriate way. The text is well written and easy to comprehend. The concept is an important that is changing and evolving. The text would benefit from a second edition.","created_at":"2020-03-27T15:36:52.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-03-27T15:36:52.000-05:00"},{"id":3974,"first_name":"Mario","last_name":"Flores","position":"Program Director","institution_name":"University of Colorado Boulder","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Text covers multiple areas of leadership through the lens of cultural intelligence. The author's personal narratives help connect the concepts to real world situations. Text provides various facets of cultural intelligence creating a well rounded explanation and use.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Text uses the author's personal narrative to introduce other research in a way that makes the main points easy to understand. Though there is purpose in the writing, it is not biased.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Text has general examples that will remain relevant for some time. However, examples should be updated to reflect a changing world and bring in evolving views of leadership. This text felt like a big picture view of cultural intelligence which keeps content up to date.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Text was an easy read. The author's personal stories make themes easier to understand and examples and case studies helped me reflect on the topics.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Text was consistent in voice and structure.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I can easily see this text being used as supplemental material in a leadership class. Text organization makes it easy to pull out specific themes for stand alone lessons. Each chapter has subsections which makes finding information easy.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Reading from cover to cover, the text can seem a little choppy. The author is a consultant who presents this information as workshops, this is reflected in the writing. However, the topics do follow a logical flow.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I did not have any interface issues.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not see any major grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Some of the examples were a bit stereotypical. Also, cultural difference is not always defined by being from different countries. An exploration of subcultures within a country would make the text more robust. Understandings of differences in race, gender, and socioeconomic status within the same country will add to a leader's cultural intelligence.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2020-06-11T16:42:15.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-06-11T16:42:15.000-05:00"},{"id":4433,"first_name":"Michelle","last_name":"Beavers","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"University of Virginia","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Cultural Intelligence continues to evolve as a topic of study and discussion, so I welcomed the opportunity to read this text.  I found the text provided a wealth of topical information on cultural intelligence; some supported by classic leadership theory and research and all included anecdotal evidence from personal experiences.  With such an easy read, students will enjoy the book as it provides a high-level overview of many topics relevant within this frame of reference.  It will speak to their need to \"know thyself\" as a leader with valuable case studies and self-assessment resources.  Professors will find the need to support the material with additional research-based evidence or supplemental readings, some areas seem to lack the depth of content necessary in higher-level classrooms.\r\nThe introduction and suggestions for reading the book, which included chapter summaries as well as terminology and definitions were helpful.  In addition, end of chapter summaries added to concluding summary remarks for each chapter. There was no glossary or index, but a website for additional resource materials.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Personal stories always lend themself to bias perceptions of events and situations; however, I believe the author effectively relayed the information in a manner that removed any bias to use the stories shared as teachable moments, supporting the research provided.  I found no errors in accuracy, but do wonder if the book could've been chunked into smaller segments to provide more depth into the topics.\r\nNo errors noted.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"As a professor of educational leadership, I found the text applicable across multiple settings with examples and cases that although varied in field, could easily be applied in a variety of programs.  Because of the style of writing, it is unlikely the material will be outdated within a short period of time.\r\n\r\nHowever, it should be noted, that some charts and citations, in my opinion, should already be reviewed for updating.  For example in the opening sections (p. 13), the author introduces facts about the global economy significant to our understanding, but this data is already 8-10 years old.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"First, the author explains how the material will be delivered, then each chapter provides an easy-to-read format.  The author introduces early-on any terminology the reader may be unfamiliar with and does a nice job of introducing new information throughout the resource.  Never did I feel additional jargon/technical terms were being introduced without explanation.  \r\nAs a reminder:  This book is written at an introductory level of understanding for Leading for Cultural Intelligence","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"Maybe because I felt the table of contents was lacking, or maybe because the chapters didn't each follow the same sequence or title headers, I feel this is an area of development for this source.  As a professor, I depend on my resources to offer consistency within each chapter that I can navigate easily.  For example, each chapter opens with an example, followed by the literature review or research and maybe some guiding questions.  All chapters might conclude with a case study and the reflection questions highlighted for use by students.  Although each chapter had most of these elements, often times I found myself digging within the paragraphs for the information I wanted my eyes to carry me easily to access.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This is definitely a bonus of the book.  It does not need to be read from cover to cover and individual chapters will support various course topics.\r\nThe book could easily be sub-divided into topics relevant to course topics.\r\nIf the author provided a more in-depth detailed outline of the chapters, it would help professors to identify sections of chapters as relevant to topics and discussions.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The ideas presented in the introduction lead the reader to believe the book will be presented in a cohesive manner, all flowing together...yet, as mentioned previously, the strength of this book is that each chapter can sit in isolation.  Although each chapter offers it's own unique relevance to Cultural Intelligence, it falls short on connecting one chapter to the next.  When a reader thinks about Cutlural Intelligence and tries to connect the cognitive, behavioral and affective domains, I would have expected the author to weave this through the chapter to create more coherence.  As a result, the book feels like chapters in isolation, rather than a logical book order.  Although the introduction, followed by Chapters 1 \u0026 2 do seem to follow a greater organizational focus and structure.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There were no evident issues of interface issues.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"Only a few minor \"typos\", I did not notice any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Cultural sensitivity and awareness stood out as I read this text and the author did not disappoint in the variety of personal examples to help the reader understand the topics being presented. I would be interested in an expansion of subgroup populations within the culture.  When we discuss culture in our school communities, we do not limit our discussions to African American, Asian, Hispanic, etc., within those communities there are cultures that could be further discussed such as socio-economic. There is much discussion on social class as a culture.  In addition, the author does reference the GLOBE studies and discussion on gender, which could also branch into further discussion on LGBQTIA communities and the culture they share?","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"This book was an easy read filled with great examples and case studies which will serve as excellent springboards for discussions in the university classroom.  Although there is a lack of depth in some of the topic areas, I believe the author succeeds in sparking the interest of the reader to want to learn more about cultural intelligence and to use the book as a tool in further developing proficiency in our interactions. If used for rich, transparent discussions, and honest communication, coupled with the resources provided, the author has succeeded in her efforts.","created_at":"2020-12-04T12:40:03.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-12-04T12:40:03.000-06:00"},{"id":5077,"first_name":"Elisa","last_name":"Maroney","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Western Oregon University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Moua offers examples, case studies, visuals, definitions, among other useful elements that I find relatable and help me to understand what I am reading.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This text seems to be accurate and error-free. Gender is presented as binary and disability is not discussed in depth.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This book is especially relevant in the current global climate. Having an administration focused on nationalism and having spent the last several months in a pandemic, we are engaged more often across state, region, and country borders addressing cultural conflict on a regular basis. Fostering cultural intelligence could not be more pertinent than it is right now.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Moua is a clear, accessible writer who offers many signposts to help us navigate our way through this text.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Moua's writing is consistent. Terminology is clear and theories are cited and clear.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This book is made up of an introduction and eight chapters. Each chapter is divided into smaller sections and each ends with a chapter summary consisting of salient points from the chapter.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization is clear and logical. One bonus is that it is possible to skip around in the book and read sections that may be relevant to a particular topic or situation.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I had no problem navigating this book. I did go back and forth between the online version and the PDF I downloaded. For example, when I was looking for a specific topic, theme, or concept, I used the \"Find\" mechanism in PDF. When I wanted to jump between and within chapters, I used the online version.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any mechanical issues that might interfere with flow and readability.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"This author seems to take a binary perspective on gender. In addition, disability has a very small presence in this book. If this book were to be updated, a new look at gender identity and intersectionality would be useful.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This is a comprehensive text on cultural intelligence. I will definitely use it in the graduate leadership course I teach.","created_at":"2021-06-11T16:10:17.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-06-11T16:10:17.000-05:00"},{"id":34025,"first_name":"Tahmina","last_name":"Alam Matubbar","position":"Adjunct Faculty","institution_name":"Bunker Hill Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Although there is no glossary or index at the end of the book, there are some concepts defined at the beginning.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Content accurately depicts some of the nuances of interactions between different cultures.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This anecdotal perspective approach is a relevant example that can be utilized in the classroom when asking students to model the same during class meetings.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The combination of case studies, cultural concepts and definitions this book offers, allows the reader to learn beyond theory and use a more practical approach to learning.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This text offers the reader an understanding of cultural intelligence that is necessary to navigate diverse organizations.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Design of topics and amount of information are presented in smaller sections.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Organization of topics are presented in a clear fashion.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is organized in a way that is easy to navigate.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"No major grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The author introduces the reading nicely by sharing influences from her Southeast Asian background and how this affected her own perception of the world, while assimilating to the United States.  This is a good book to begin with when tackling topics related to dominant narrative.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2022-09-02T15:21:14.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-09-02T15:21:14.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/leading-with-cultural-intelligence","updated_at":"2026-05-18T02:09:30.000-05:00"},{"id":464,"title":"Perspectives: An Open Invitation to Cultural Anthropology","edition_statement":"Second Edition","volume":null,"copyright_year":2020,"ISBN10":null,"ISBN13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":"unknown","description":"We are delighted to bring to you this novel textbook, a collection of chapters on the essential topics in cultural anthropology. Different from other introductory textbooks, this book is an edited volume with each chapter written by a different author. Each author has written from their experiences working as an anthropologist and that personal touch makes for an accessible introduction to cultural anthropology. Our approach to cultural anthropology is holistic. We see the interconnectedness of cultural practices and, in all of the chapters, we emphasize the comparison of cultures and the ways of life of different peoples. We start with Laura Nader’s observation that cultural differences need not be seen as a problem. In our complicated world of increasing migration, nationalism, and climate challenges, cultural diversity might actually be the source of conflict resolution and new approaches to ensuring a healthier world. Indeed, as Katie Nelson reminds us, anthropology exposes the familiarity in the ideas and practices of others that seem bizarre. Robert Borofsky advocates for anthropology’s ability to empower people and facilitate good. Borofsky calls on anthropologists to engage with a wider public to bring our incredible stories and important insights to helping resolve the most critical issues we face in the world today. This book brings Nader, Nelson, Borofsky, and many others together to demonstrate that our anthropological understandings can help all of us to improve the lives of people the world over. We need you, as students, to see the possibilities. As instructors, we want to help you easily share anthropological knowledge and understanding. We want all readers to be inspired by the intensely personal writings of the anthropologists who contribute to this volume.","contributors":[{"id":4245,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Nina","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Brown","location":"Community College of Baltimore County","background_text":""},{"id":4246,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Thomas","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Mcllwraith","location":"University of Guelph","background_text":""},{"id":6699,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Laura","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Tubelle de González","location":"San Diego Miramar College","background_text":""}],"subjects":[{"id":40,"name":"Anthropology","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"GN25","visible_textbooks_count":9,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/anthropology"},{"id":46,"name":"Cultural \u0026 Ethnic Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM621","visible_textbooks_count":26,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies"},{"id":47,"name":"Gender \u0026 Sexuality Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HQ1101","visible_textbooks_count":16,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/gender-sexuality-studies"},{"id":51,"name":"Religion","parent_subject_id":6,"call_number":"BL1","visible_textbooks_count":19,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/religion"},{"id":9,"name":"Social Sciences","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"H1","visible_textbooks_count":285,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/social-sciences"}],"publishers":[{"id":404,"url":"https://perspectives.americananthro.org/","year":2023,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:39.000-05:00","updated_at":"2023-11-29T13:28:37.000-06:00","name":"American Anthropological Association"}],"formats":[{"id":692,"type":"PDF","url":"https://perspectives.americananthro.org/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1710,"type":"eBook","url":"https://perspectives.americananthro.org/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":3884,"type":"Online","url":"https://pressbooks.pub/perspectives/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":3885,"type":"Hardcopy","url":"https://www.amazon.com/Perspectives-Open-Invitation-Cultural-Anthropology/dp/193130355X","price":{"cents":6900,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":19,"reviews":[{"id":1888,"first_name":"Alcira","last_name":"Forero-Pena","position":"Adjunct Assistant Professor","institution_name":"LaGuardia Community College of The City University of New York","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Very few times I have come across a more comprehensive textbook. The 18 chapters cover major topics in Cultural Anthropology ranging from a very critical introduction by Laura Nader on what this discipline has historically been about, its uniqueness within the social sciences to a thought provoking chapter on Public Anthropology by the distinguished scholar Robert Borofsky. Every chapter includes useful sections such as the Learning Objectives at the beginning and the Discussion Questions at the end. Besides, for every theme the students will find excellent material in the form of photography as well as links to websites with scholarly and other sources where both students and instructors would be able to expand or go deeper into a subject. The use of notes is also pertinent and to the point.\n\nOther key feature present in each chapter is a variety of case studies that would support the students' understanding of anthropological concepts, theories, the historical and social context, and the role of the ethnographer or anthropologist within and outside academia. Also, there is no scarcity of websites for students to get hold of documentaries, other audio-visual and written material to facilitate their grasp of the subject. The Glossary at the end of each chapter also contributes to make this textbook a very user friendly one.\n\nI would hardly find a more comprehensive presentation and discussion of all the subjects included in the textbook. Another illustration of my point is Chapter 10 on the complexity of sexuality and gender coordinated by Carol Mukhopadhyay, which in my opinion goes beyond undergraduate level so the instructor has plenty of possible entries to these subjects.\n\nI am adopting the textbook with no reservations whatsoever and I am glad that my students in the Community College I am teaching will not have to pay for it","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"From the chapters I read I found accurate presentation and discussion of themes backed by Notes and Bibliography to credit the sources.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"One of the qualities I found in the textbook is the treatment and inclusion of the \"classic\" works in Cultural Anthropology as well as a wide array of works by contemporary practitioners and authors. I can see how the textbook will stand the test of time. ","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"By and large, the language used by the authors is clear and they provide explanations and illustrations to make their point(s) clear.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Every chapter of the textbook is consistent with an overall pattern that I am sure the editors where very careful about.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Perhaps the second edition should work to achieve better modularity. Taken into account that each of the 18 chapters is written by different author(s), I can explain why some sections (blocks) could be better organized.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"There is a logic presentation of each chapter with a general introduction to the subject followed by the intricacies, both conceptual and ethnographic of the theme. I really appreciate the inclusion of case studies with very interesting and current perspective.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I did not find a particular problem related to interface issues. The images are clear and well chosen and the display of links to websites or other sources is correct.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not find any grammatical error in the several chapters that I reviewed.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"One of the main reasons that drew me to the textbook is the cultural relevance of the theoretical, methodological, and ethical aspects of the material presented. I will be very happy with the exposure my students will have to main tenets of Cultural Anthropology with careful and inclusive choices of language and illustrations of concepts and case studies that incorporate up to date material.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I am going to adopt the textbook and I would like to keep in touch because, after all, it is in the actual experience that we learn and appreciate a textbook.","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":2015,"first_name":"David","last_name":"Beriss","position":"Associate Professor of Anthropology","institution_name":"University of New Orleans","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"All basic cultural anthropology texts strive to be comprehensive. This is hard to do, given that our discipline aspires to be a science of humanity itself – to be comprehensive is to cover holistically nearly every aspect of human life (or at least, all aspects that relate to society and culture). That is hard to do in one book, especially if there is only one author. As a collection of individual essays, this book succeeds in ways other cannot. Each individual essay is the work of an anthropologist with expertise in that specific area, so that each chapter is mostly comprehensive in its own terms. The book covers all the areas that standard textbooks cover (culture, language, kinship, gender, economics, etc.). It goes beyond those areas, however, with chapters on sustainability, performance, media, medicine, and public anthropology. And it has some excellent interviews and resources that can liven up the readings for students. It is a remarkable resource that I will draw on in upcoming classes.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Each chapter has an individual author and each other seems to have done their best to provide an accurate set of insights into the history, theories, and methods of the particular part of anthropology they study. That said, there is always room for other anthropologists to disagree, to assert alternative ideas, or contradictory evidence. Within the usual framework of our discipline, this is a very accurate representation of cultural anthropology.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"This is a very up-to-date representation of cultural anthropology as of early 2018. Many of the chapters should remain relevant for quite some time. It might be helpful in the long run to add or change some of the interviews, as new anthropologists with interesting insights become available. Also, some of the links to videos in various chapters already appear to be broken. They may still be available with some searching, but that is a bit of an issue.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The chapters are mostly written in a style that should be easily accessible to undergraduates. Jargon and technical terms are explained and each chapter has a list of keywords and definitions, which is very helpful.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The format of each chapter is the same, with learning objectives, the text, highlighted terms and concepts, questions for study, a glossary, a an author bio, bibliography (often very helpful!), notes.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This book is designed so that an instructor can easily assign individual chapters without needing the entire book. This is a great feature for teaching.That said, I would not recommend breaking up the chapters into smaller sections.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The flow of the book replicates the style of most cultural anthropology textbooks, except for the extra material (interviews, etc.) at the end.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I used the Apple Ibook reader and it seems fine.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The grammar and editing were excellent.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This is a cultural anthropology introductory textbook. It covers quite a lot of ground in terms of different cultures, social structures, etc. People may be offended when confronted with the full range of human thinking, activity, etc. This is the kind of book people need to read if they want to learn about humanity and think critically about their own culture and society. If they are not prepared to be shaken out of their own insensitivity, they should not read this book. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I am quite happy to have read this and look forward to incorporating parts of it in my next intro cultural anthropology class.","created_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2058,"first_name":"Víctor M","last_name":"Torres-Vélez","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Hostos Community College, CUNY","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Content wise the book is comprehensive and it addresses each one of the major themes/topics that an introductory cultural anthropology course needs to cover. The order of the topics follows a logical progression, from the simple to the complex, that allows a proper introduction to anthropology’s key ideas.\n\nThe review was done on the PDF version of the book, which is my preferred reading format for students and myself. I prefer PDFs because they retain all the formatting layout of the original printed versions, which allows for proper page citations and referencing of passages when discussing it. The chapters layout on, Perspectives: An Open Invitation to Cultural Anthropology, indeed reproduces what you will expected in a printed version. However, the PDF version was lacking a Table of Content, and an effective index and or global glossary. In order to view the table of content you have to go the online version of the book, a rather unnecessary step. Although there is not a global glossary, individual chapters have, after the conclusion, useful chapter glossaries and discussion questions.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This book is meant as an introduction to cultural anthropology and as such is a survey of the key concepts and debates that makes up the discipline across time. The book is accurate on its representation of the multiplicity of approaches the discipline is known for.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Both the overall structure of the book as well as the organization of each individual chapter makes this book relevant, up-to-date and easily modifiable. This is particularly true of the well organized chapter structure. From the outset you have clearly stated learning objectives. Each chapter is highly modular, broken down in smaller sections with clear headings. Key concepts are in bold. Well placed images further expand on concepts discussed. At the end of each chapter succinct conclusions accompanied by discussion questions and a chapter glossary just make of this book a joy to read for the students. \n","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Even when the book is a collaboration of multiple authors, I found remarkably consistent the writing style. Particularly how clear and clean the prose was. The editors did a great job in keeping the writing consistent across the board.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Anthropology is a discipline with a multiplicity of approaches, theoretical and otherwise. Emphasis on what is relevant when addressing a topic vary greatly depending on the viewpoint. However, what makes this text interesting is how the editors made sure the structure of the chapters remained consistent regardless of the disciplinary approach.\n","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"While some of the chapters could have use a little more modularity, the majority of the chapter are modular, well structure and clear.\n","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Both the overall structure of the book as well as the organization of each individual chapter makes this book relevant, up-to-date and easily modifiable. This is particularly true of the well organized chapter structure. Content wise the book is comprehensive and it addresses each one of the major themes/topics that an introductory cultural anthropology course needs to cover. The order of the topics follows a logical progression, from the simple to the complex, that allows a proper introduction to anthropology’s key ideas.\n","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"On the PDF version, other than lacking a table of content and a global glossary, the book is flawless in its typesetting, layout, and overall organizational structure.\n","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Superbly written. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I cannot wait to use parts of this book in many of my classes.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This book was a pleasure to review.","created_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2194,"first_name":"Jason","last_name":"James","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"University of Mary Washington","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text as a whole is very comprehensive, as are the individual chapters.  With one exception the text covers all of the topics I include in my introductory course in cultural anthropology.  The one topic missing in my view is social class and the cultural dimensions of inequality, particularly the concepts of cultural and social capital as well as resistance.  Anthropological approaches influenced my Marx and Marxist thinking could receive more attention.   Chapters on language, politics, and economics do address the issue to some extent, but my ideal text would include a more extensive treatment of this topic.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I find the text to be quite accurate on the whole.  I found very few mischaracterizations of ideas or situations.  In a couple of instances very brief reference was made to an interpretation that is highly speculative.  This is a bit dangerous in my view given that many students in introductory courses may be skeptical of anthropology's validity.  In a case like this it is better to leave a very questionable point out, or to provide more information about the issue to allow students and instructors to discuss the matter in more detail.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The text does a nice job overall of using both \"classic\" anthropological ideas and examples/case studies as well as very recent examples.  The inclusion of examples with which students will likely be familiar is very important to demonstrating the relevance of cultural anthropology to issues students are likely to see as close to \"home.\"  At the same time, such examples can easily become less relevant in a fairly short time.  Although it is a decidedly important area of interest and one most students would be aware of, Donald Trump's presidency received a bit too much attention.  And although Islamic State is a very important example for political anthropology, the extent of that treatment is a bit out of proportion in comparison to other chapters' case studies.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"By and large the chapters are very clearly written and seem to be \"pitched\" at the right level.  Some parts of the first three introductory chapters (anthropology, culture, research methods) struck me as a bit too elementary, but all of the topical chapters were clearly written.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The text is reasonably consistent, especially considering that each chapter was written by different authors, often multiple ones.  The use of multiple authors makes it unavoidable that as a whole it is not as consistent as a book by a single author would be, but again, the consistency is very good given that fact.  The consistent format is helpful.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"I could imagine assigning individual chapters of the text, so I would rate the modularity as good.  With some exceptions, individual chapters and sections are of reasonable length.  The chapter on gender in particular struck me as quite long — perhaps finding a way to create two chapters would have been helpful.  Given that the text lends itself to possibly assigning individual chapters, it would be helpful if it were offered not just with the entire text as a pdf file, but also as individual chapters, or on a site where students could select individual chapters to read.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The overall organization works well.  The one thing that struck me as less than ideal was the degree of overlap between the first three chapters.  This is understandably challenging: the discipline, its central concept, and its methods are all very closely intertwined, so it is challenging to separate those topics from one another and discuss them effectively in distinct chapters without too much overlap.  That said, I could imagine my students finding some of the material/chapters repetitive.  Repetition is not always bad, and the editors note that the overlap can be used to highlight the centrality of holism, but I think some additional editing to reduce some of the overlap in the early chapters would be welcome.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The interface is generally user-friendly.  I appreciate the inclusion of live links to videos and other materials.  As noted above, the single pdf file that I used is a bit cumbersome if one is doing anything other than reading all of the chapters in order.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not identify any significant problems with grammar.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The variety of examples is impressive.  This is no doubt one advantage of having many authors.  The nature of the examples and commentary in some cases make the chapters less than ideal in my view.  This may depend on the student population with which one works.  In my view cultural anthropology meshes closely with what broadly counts as a \"liberal\" perspective, and it certainly does so in my case.  In many parts of this text that connection is also evident.  That said, I work to balance that with the awareness that many students find it easy to dismiss the findings and perspectives of the discipline as simply \"liberal opinion.\"  Here too the number and nature of references to Donald Trump certainly make the text timely, and I welcome that, in part because I support engaged anthropology.  At the same time, in my particular case the need to be strategic in order to not alienate too many students is also important.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I appreciate the work of the editors and authors to make a strong open source introductory text in cultural anthropology available.","created_at":"2018-06-19T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-06-19T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2739,"first_name":"Jessica","last_name":"Park","position":"Professor ","institution_name":"College of Marin","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Overall the content is quite comprehensive. Introductory courses like cultural anthropology are taught as a survey course, covering a lot of material at a basic level. As such, these classes are quite broad. Perspectives does an excellent job of covering the content offered in most cultural anthropology courses. Many of the chapters present the standard topics found in most cultural anthropology textbooks, however Perspectives adds content not often found in many cultural anthropology texts (culture/sustainability, seeing like an anthropologist, media and public anthropology). This makes Perspectives more comprehensive than most cultural anthropology textbooks out there today and provides great flexibility in what chapters, topics and content the instructor wants to use. This is an excellent textbook.\r\n","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Perspectives provides very accurate content within the topics/institutions presented in each chapter as well as the overall methods and perspectives used to study humans through an \"anthropological\" lens. \r\n","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Perspectives presents a very current outlook of cultural anthropology, especially with the recent nature of the additional interactive links/material. Though this text provides many formative and historical examples, I think the contemporary examples of anthropological work are valuable to the students as it exemplifies how anthropological concepts can be used to study our world today. And, as most of the academic content in each chapter is similar to other cultural anthropology textbooks, I think the basic content of this textbook will remain relevant for many years. However, some of the current examples and interactive material could loose relevance over time. Maybe newer culturally relevant examples could replace the older examples when the authors update the textbook. Overall, this is a very strong text and I can see using it in my courses for many years.\r\n","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I found Perspectives to be a very clear and approachable text. The language style use by the authors is appropriate to students at an undergraduate level. The discipline/topical terms are all clearly identified (bolded) and defined, followed by a chapter glossary at the end of each chapter. I also think that the additional interactive content, links to maps, videos etc., not only enhances the experience of this text but helps to provide clarification and concrete examples of material discussed in each chapter. \r\n","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I found the each chapter to be quite consistent. Even though a different individual authors each chapter, the language style and approach to the material are very similar to each other. It reads like a text that has a single author, but benefits from the perspectives and knowledge of several different academics', each who have relevant experience in the topic they author. Also, the consistency in the layout and organization makes this a very accessible text to read and navigate.\r\n","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I found the modularity of the text to be quite good. I found a copy of this text at http://perspectives.americananthro.org. This site allowed me to access and download each chapter individually.  This creates a lot of flexibility in which chapters can be assigned to students. Moreover it increases the usefulness of the text for me because it can easily be incorporated into course management systems like Canvas (or others) which is a great feature for anyone who teaches online. I LOVE this aspect. As for the chapters, each is well divided into readable sections of content via headings. As a text, I believe that Perspectives is flexible enough to allow instructors to tailor the book to their courses and content.\r\n","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book has excellent organization, structure and flow. The first thing I noticed is that the chapter content is similar to o other cultural anthropology textbooks I have used and is organized in a similar fashion. Each chapter starts with a set of learning objectives followed by clear subject headings throughout the text making the material very easy to follow. Like most texts, the important terms for each topic are bolded and defined throughout the chapter. Finally the chapters wrap up with an overall conclusion, discussion and chapter glossary of all of the important terms from the chapter. Mimicking the traditional structure of a book chapter makes the transition to reading this in an online format much easier. As I have stated the content is similar to that of most introductory cultural anthropology books. As such it allows for a lot of flexibility in coverage of topics. Also I was able to find a version of the text at http://perspectives.americananthro.org that allowed me to access each chapter individually. This would increase the flexibility of use for this textbook and again, is great for the modularity aspect of this text.\r\n","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I reviewed the PDF version of Perspectives. I prefer the PDF because it retains an original textbook style formatting and seems more stable across multiple devices (like computers and mobile devices) than other online formats. I did not encounter any navigational issues. The text and each chapter is very well organized and extremely consistent in its layout. The regularity in the lay out makes it very easy for the reader to navigate each chapter. The photos were clear and well placed. I REALLY loved interactive links interspersed throughout the text. These links make for a much more interactive and dynamic experience that I think students will love.\r\n","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The book is very well edited.  I found no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Cultural anthropology is a comprehensive discipline that covers many aspects of humans and our life-ways. Some topics such as race and gender may push some individuals out of their comfort zones, but I believe this is an important aspect of college and learning about the diversity in what it means to be human. Anthropologists aim to be both culturally relativistic and holistic in their approach to studying humans.  I think perspectives does an excellent job of applying these concepts.  No aspect of this text is insensitive or offensive. The authors were comprehensive and inclusive in their use of cultural examples and language.\r\n","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This is an excellent textbook. I had a lot of fun exploring each chapter and I am very excited to use this text in my classes!\r\n","created_at":"2019-04-06T16:33:28.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-04-06T16:33:28.000-05:00"},{"id":3334,"first_name":" Nikki","last_name":" Manning","position":"Instructor of Anthropology/Archaeology","institution_name":"TRAILS","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"I particularly appreciate the highlighted terms within the text and the glossary associated with each chapter. This is a useful tool for those with a verbal/linguistic style of learning and I have found for newcomers to a particular subject. While I am not a big fan of traditional testing that employs the use of defining terms or multiple choice, it does make the student creation of a study guide more simplistic. I would like to see the discussion questions at the end of chapters be a bit broader in scope in order to help students form a more comprehensive understanding of the chapter. \r\n\r\nI appreciate that the introductory chapter brings forward many of the original thinkers and practitioners of Anthropology right in the very beginning. It provides a foundation of early/classic anthropological readings for any student so inclined to delve a bit deeper than the textbook. I particularly appreciate that anthropology, as described in the introduction, is a discipline that transcends the science/humanities divide.\r\n\r\nThere are two topics that I would like to see included that I cover a great deal in my class discussions – Human Migration and Cultural Heritage and its Conservation. Not only is migration not a new human behavior but it is a complex human behavior in terms of motivation, patterns, politics, economics, and cultural diversity. It is also a current topic of anthropological concern and relevance. Chapter 14 on “Performance” (not a fan of the title) touches on intangible heritage without necessarily calling it that but teaching anthropology students early about the concept of cultural heritage – a very difficult term to truly and completely define – and getting them to start thinking in that direction is imperative. Why discuss culture if we don’t think of it in terms of heritage that should be understood, respected, and protected?\r\n\r\nWhile the introduction does explain that in most academic settings the field of Anthropology has a four subfield approach and even touches on some specialization within Anthropology, it is very heavily reliant on ethnographic research and methods as examples, leaving out physical anthropology and forensics, and archaeology. I realize this is a book about cultural anthropology specifically but would like to see a little more about the other subfields at least in the Introduction. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"While I am not an expert of details in terms of all examples used in the text, I do not find any glaring inaccuracies or errors in the general anthropological text. I have a few bias concerns. For example, the section in Chapter 7 (Political Anthropology) on the U.S. Prison System pushes the boundary between presenting information and promoting opinion. While I do not disagree with the argument presented, this seems to be more appropriate for a journal article or a type of “text box” call-out (as I refer to in the “Relevance Longevity” review section below). ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"On a positive note, Chapter 5 (Subsistence) is one of the chapters (along with the chapters on Culture and Sustainability and Media Anthropology) that provides content that can be most relevant to current times and events while still reaching back in time to explain the different modes of subsistence and how those have evolved over time and how globalization has impacted subsistence. \r\n\r\nUnfortunately, some sections throughout the text (for example: some references to Donald Trump) read more like current events articles than academic textbook, especially an introductory text. Other language usage hinders the texts longevity as well. “Over the past [two] years” and “recently” are two examples. The discussion in the political anthropology chapter about ISIS and the formation of state is fascinating. It is not often that a current generation has the ability to see something like this taking shape before their very eyes but perhaps restructuring the format a bit would be helpful. For example, the reference to Abu Bakral-Baghdadi is extremely relevant to the topic but he has been killed since the text was written. The suggestion is to make it less “current events” and more “just the facts.”\r\n\r\nI like the “Text Boxes” in the Gender \u0026 Sexuality chapter (Chapter 10) because it employs a means of incorporating very current information as examples but they are easily interchangeable and updatable without having to affect the main body of the text other than to perhaps change the Text Box number in the text. As an aside, the “Text Boxes” are more reader-friendly and break up the main body of the text to keep it from being to monotonous.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The language and tone of the text is academic without overuse of technical jargon. The necessary anthropological terms that would be unfamiliar to beginner students are highlighted within the text and the glossary associated with each chapter. Learning objectives are a plus.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Understandably, the byproduct of an edited volume, there are some framework inconsistencies that could be addressed. The learning objectives, glossaries, discussion questions, video and hyperlink call-outs, and special text boxes, all contribute to a smooth consistency throughout. However, two of the chapters have activities which give students the opportunity to “hit the ground running” as young anthropologists by not just reading about anthropology but by doing it. Chapter 4 (Language) incorporates the “Try This” activities and Chapter 10 (Gender \u0026 Sexuality) has a list of Activities to choose from at the end of the chapter. It would be interesting to see more of this in other chapters.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"As an open and dissected text, the modularity is great. I would definitely use many of these chapters in a course of mine.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"While some repetition in terms and glossary are a good way to reinforce concepts, there is a little bit of disjointedness from having multiple authors cover some of the same topics within the text that makes it less reinforcement and more overly repetitious. For example, Chapters 2 and 3 discuss “armchair” and “off the veranda” ethnographic methods when it is really only needed in Chapter 3 about field methods in Anthropology. Chapter 1 also uses the same example from Chapter 2 to discuss the four field approach and holism. ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The incorporation of links to videos and other readings is very useful.\r\n\r\nThere are a few errors in chapter organization between the Table of Contents, the digital chapter sections, and the PDF version of the text. This involves the chapters Health and Medicine, Anthropology in Practice, Media Anthropology, and Public Anthropology.\r\n\r\nI had a very difficult time reading the Public Anthropology chapter. The plethora of bold type-face is extremely distracting although it is meant to help make some points clearer. I also take issue with the author encouraging the students to skip and skim using the bold type. While this is an invaluable skill later in college and particularly graduate school, I would not encourage my freshman or sophomore students to engage in this practice with an introductory textbook.\r\n\r\nInterview sections in the teaching resources appendix are awesome! More of these would be welcome. Students in an introductory Anthropology course are often in the process of deciding if Anthropology is for them and being able to make life and career applications are important. Maybe there could be one of these for each chapter, an interview with someone who specializes in that chapter’s topic.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any glaring grammatical issues.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The chapter of Anthropology in Practice encourages students to check their bias at the door by at least acknowledging that it exists and affects the research. This is very important – perhaps include a brief discussion on this in the introductory chapters, as well. I appreciate that ethics conversations are important and present along with subjectivity and objectivity, cultural relativism, and activism presented as a debate for students to think about.\r\n\r\nIn the first chapter, there is a section on plasticity that has a few references that are questionable. First, “After all, Navajo means people and many groups think they are superior to others” and second, a reference to the “Islamic scarf.”  I am not entirely sure what is attempting to be conveyed there but it could be misconstrued as offensive when I suspect it is much more a sentence structure issue. (That section on plasticity has multiple sentence structure issues.)\r\n\r\nIn Chapter 2, in trying to explain the pitfalls of ethnocentrism, talking about “going native” as an actual anthropological term and not part of our anthropological dark past basically perpetuates the concept of “Other” and could be avoided.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I would definitely use this book, especially certain chapters of it, in my classes and would recommend it to others. I am actually looking forward to using it and appreciated the opportunity to review it.","created_at":"2019-11-29T18:34:37.000-06:00","updated_at":"2019-11-29T18:34:37.000-06:00"},{"id":4309,"first_name":"Hilary","last_name":"Morland","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Community College of Aurora","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text is an edited volume of chapters written by different authors.  It covers the history, theoretical framework, and methodology of anthropology and includes individual chapters on important topics and concepts in contemporary cultural anthropology.\r\n\r\nThere is a Table of Contents for the entire book. Each chapter includes its own glossary and bibliography. However, there is no index or search function and it might be difficult to locate a particular topic by chapter or page number. \r\n\r\nThe range of topics within cultural anthropology is immense and it would be nearly impossible to produce a textbook that covers EVERYTHING. \r\n\r\nI would like to see a chapter about human evolution; while this subject falls within the purview of biological anthropology,  one could argue that students must understand the evolutionary history of humans as a species in order to fully understand the significance of contemporary human cultural variation.  I also would like to see one or more chapters explore classic ethnographies about indigenous cultures that no longer exist as they did when they were documented by anthropologists. Often, these peoples are mentioned to illustrate a concept but I believe there would be value to students at the introductory level in studying lost and changing cultures in depth.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not notice any errors in content or obvious sources of bias.  Anthropologists by definition attempt to be unbiased in their presentations.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Perspectives is in its second edition, updated in 2020. The textbook is designed to be a living document that can be used in part or in whole and easily updated. The editors have included a Teaching \u0026 Learning Resources section, and invite instructors to contribute to the collection.  \r\n\r\nPerspectives includes chapters on contemporary topics such as Globalization, Media Anthropology, Public Anthropology, and Environmental Anthropology and the Anthropocene. Presumably, the events of 2020 will merit revision and updating of some chapters (e.g., race and ethnicity, medical anthropology, globalization) and/or the addition of brand new chapters discussing the anthropological perspective on these events.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Accessibility is one of the most attractive features of Perspectives. This is not a typical anthropology textbook, crammed with dense text, sidebars, boxes, diagrams, and charts. One of the major strengths of this textbook is the writing style.  Although each chapter has a different author, the style is remarkably consistent across chapters.  Each chapter is written in a highly engaging style. Each author weaves their own personal and professional experiences into their academic treatment of the topic. Terms are explained well in the text and also defined in a glossary at the end of each chapter.  Photos, occasional diagrams, links to external content, and mini-bios of the author are used to enhance the presentation of the material. There is so much here for students to relate to in the material and in the authors' experiences of being anthropologists. Each chapter is enjoyable and easy to read.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"There is consistency across chapters. The focus of each chapter is to discuss cultural variation among contemporary human groups using examples and case studies from the anthropological literature. Each author discusses the history of anthropological studies on the main topic, defines important terminology, and explains relevant concepts. Each chapter includes a set of Learning Objectives at the start and a list of Discussion Questions, glossary of terms, and bibliography at the end. There is some overlap of discussion about basic concepts across chapters, particularly in the opening section, and this repetition should reinforce important concepts for students.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The list of chapters and content should align well with any syllabus for a typical introductory cultural anthropology class. It would be equally effective to use the entire book or to pick and choose individual chapters according to the particular emphasis of the syllabus. \r\n\r\nThe textbook landing page is well organized with a list of chapter titles and authors clearly presented. Chapters are numbered once downloaded, and page numbers and/or subheadings would allow parts of chapters to be assigned for reading. \r\n\r\nThere are a variety of options for accessing the material. Students can download individual chapters or the entire book or read the material directly online through a browser. There are options for pdf format or for print format. \r\n\r\nThere is an excellent set of teaching and learning resources available for download, including an instructor’s manual with questions, activities, reading, films, and other resources, powerpoint presentations, and test bank (available only to instructors).","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics in the text are presented in a logical, clear fashion.  There are chapters on the history, methodology, and theoretical framework of anthropology and chapters on various topics of interest within the field.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text contains a variety of photos, diagrams, and links to external content.  I did not experience any interface issues.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any grammatical errors in any of the chapters.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"N/A.  Anthropology is by definition the study of different races, ethnicities, identities, cultures, and backgrounds and the concept of cultural relativism  (defined in the text as “the idea that we should seek to understand another person’s beliefs and behaviors from the perspective of their own culture and not our own”) is the cornerstone of our field.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I would highly recommend Perspectives: An Open Invitation to Cultural Anthropology for any introductory course on any college campus.  Perspectives is designed to facilitate effective teaching of introductory cultural anthropology, whether remote or face to face.  The material is well organized and accessible, and presented in an engaging, interesting, easy to read manner. Helpful instructor resources are provided on the website. Adopting Perspectives in an introductory cultural anthropology class would surely enrich the experience of both student and instructor.","created_at":"2020-08-12T14:56:55.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-08-12T14:56:55.000-05:00"},{"id":4535,"first_name":"Jennifer","last_name":"Haynes-Clark","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"Rogue Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The textbook offer a holistic approach to the broad field of cultural anthropology which includes an overview of special topics that should be included in any introductory course, as well as a focus on issues that are especially relevant to contemporary anthropological study such as globalization, sustainability, climate change, the role of media, the influence of culture on identity and applied anthropology.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not notice any inaccuracies or errors in the chapters that I reviewed. Because this text is an edited volume, a collection of chapters written by different authors, a wide variety of perspectives contributes to an approach that is as unbiased as possible.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Unique as an introductory textbook, many chapters present topics are particularly cutting edge in the field of cultural anthropology and would be of great interest to today's student searching for relevancy in the subject matter. One such topic would include the section on applied anthropology and the use of media in anthropology to advocate for young people's interests in hip hop in Peru. The use of such methodology as photovoice and other participant-driven methods demonstrates to students that anthropology offers a fresh, dynamic, and even empowering approach to understanding cultural diversity.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Each chapter included highlighted key terms, a glossary, and fascinating case studies and photographs that illustrate the concepts using examples from practicing anthropologists.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"There is consistency in the way the chapters are organized, each chapter beginning with a list of Learning Objectives which are included as subtitles of sections throughout the chapter. Each section contains relevant key terms that highlighted and defined in a glossary at the end of each chapter. Main concepts are illustrated through case studies describing the work of practicing anthropologists.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text can be easily divided into smaller sections that could be rearranged by an instructor based on individual curriculum. For example, there are many examples of applied anthropology throughout the text that illustrate the relevance of anthropological study in addressing social issues that stem from climate change, health issues, and the global impacts of neoliberalism.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The textbook is organized in a logical way, beginning with foundational concepts, methodology, and theory, and then moving on to areas of special study within the larger field of cultural anthropology.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I did not notice any significant interface or navigation issues. All images headings, links, images and text seem clear and formatted correctly.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any grammatical issues in the chapters that I reviewed.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As this is a cultural anthropology textbook, the aim of this book is to present cultural diversity with exceptional sensitivity to inclusion in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, belief, ability, and other backgrounds. I feel this text provides a wide variety of examples of diversity, acknowledging the importance of broad representation in pursuit of an unbiased approach to cross-cultural understanding.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I would recommend this textbook for all students who are interested in social science and its growing relevance in understanding a rapidly changing world. This book highlights the relevance of the anthropological perspective in resolving many of the complications that we are experiencing in our complex social lives. A greater understanding of cultural diversity and giving voice to a multitude of perspectives is a source of empowerment that I believe students will especially appreciate. This textbook is useful in its flexible organization, its variety of perspectives and its helpful resources for instructors.","created_at":"2021-01-07T13:59:41.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-01-07T13:59:41.000-06:00"},{"id":4851,"first_name":"Toni","last_name":"Tileva","position":"Professorial Lecturer","institution_name":"American University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The chapters are written in a sophisticated way and cover a wide variety of topics. Because the authors are different, students are exposed to a variety of approaches. Each chapter includes a glossary and bibliography. The chapter on language is especially well-written, as is the globalization one. Good coverage of methods in anthropology as well.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not notice any inaccuracies or biases.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Perspectives is in its second edition, updated in 2020. Contemporary topics such as Globalization, Media Anthropology, Public Anthropology, and Environmental Anthropology are especially salient.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Terms are explained well in the text and also defined in a glossary at the end of each chapter. This text manages to cover so much in a very succinct and accessible way.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The chapters meet the learning objectives outlined.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I assign chapters along with other articles, so it works perfectly not only assigned in whole but also broken down. I even assign parts of certain chapters--it has worked so well.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The trajectory/story arc makes logical sense, so I would say this is well designed.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text contains a variety of photos, diagrams, and links to external content.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not notice any grammatical errors in any of the chapters.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This text really does offer a variety of perspectives. It is written in a non-didactic way and encourages critical thinking quite naturally and seamlessly.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I have looked at a number of anthro textbooks (open source and not) and this is by far the best one I have encountered. Really well-done, AAA and authors.  In fact, I am using in my class!","created_at":"2021-04-26T14:00:52.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-30T12:09:42.000-05:00"},{"id":5120,"first_name":"Luis F. B.","last_name":"Plascencia","position":"Adjunct Instructor","institution_name":"University of Texas at Arlington","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text does a good job of introducing the field of cultural anthropology, though not the four-fields of anthropology. Chapter one does introduce the four fields, but the presentation is limited. This is understandable, due to the fact that it would take more than one chapter to present each of the three remaining fields (i.e., archaeology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology) and the methodologies and conceptual frameworks in each one. Although the individual glossaries in the individual chapters in Part One allow for the chapters to be used independently, this leads to much duplication. The citation of sources in individual chapters also duplicates the listing of sources across chapters.\r\n\r\nThere is no Index in the book. But since it appears that the anthology is constructed to be read as independent chapters, then an index would not have the value that it would have if it was a single book.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"There are some minor issues that can be easily corrected. One issue is the listing of the editors as authors. Perspectives is an anthology not a co-authored book, but the title page does not include the terms “Editors,” as is the normal practice in the publishing of academic books. Related to this, the listing of editors did not include “and” after the second editor—the standard form in academic books.\r\n\r\nOverall, the copy-editing of the text is good. However, there are some issues that the editors overlooked such as some references not cited correctly; some important terms are presented, but they are not defined/explained, and others. There is significant repetition within Part I. Basic ideas/concepts are repeated in the first twelve chapters. Again, if the chapters are supposed to stand-alone, then this would be expected. But if the editors intend for the text to be read as a whole, the reader is confronted with much repetition. If the latter is the aim, then it would make sense to combine the chapter glossaries into a single glossary at the end of the book, as well as combine all of the references into a single Works Cited section at the end of the work.\r\n\r\nThere are also some concepts that are not accurately defined. One example is the concept of “intersex” that is introduced in Ch. 9. The text defines the concept as “individuals with ambiguous genitals” (p. 247). This is an incomplete definition. First, like the construct of “race,” “intersex” is a social construct, and reflects multiple elements. Intersex is a general term for multiple biological variations that appear in humans, some appear at birth, others can surface at puberty. An intersex person may or may not have ambiguous genitals, they may possess variation in the presence of “sex” chromosomes (i.e., XX-female, XY-male, XX-male, XY-female, XXY, XYY, XXX, etc.), or persons can have different levels of androgen and/or testosterone production, and degrees of insensitivity to these. This means that a new-born human can be categorized as having ‘normal’ genitalia, be categorized as a “girl” or a “boy,” but have a complex chromosome or hormone make-up that is not apparent to the parents or medical staff. There is also the relatively-rare condition where a human, for example, is born with “normal” female genitalia, but at puberty may develop male characteristics. Such persons are also commonly categorized as intersex.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The content of some of the chapters can be framed as “up-to-date,” however, a good number of the chapters in Part I contain terminology and concepts that are not current within the field of social anthropology, or at least not commonly deployed today such as: “informants,” “traditional,” “emic” v. “etic,” and others. There is also some presentation of “cultural” groups as homogeneous, unvaried communities. Much of social anthropology has moved to recognizing that labels such as “the Navajo” (or the Diné), “Americans,” “traditional Chinese,” “undocumented,” etc., represent incomplete and somewhat misleading statements. \r\nThe presence of some of these issues complicate easy revisions of the entire book.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The prose of most of the chapters is accessible to undergraduate students. Most concepts introduced are highlighted, and presented in the individual chapter glossaries. However, as noted in the other answers, structural and conceptual issues need more careful discussion.","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"Since the textbook is an anthology, the text represents the multiple views of authors. There are some areas that the editors could have discussed with the contributors and presented more consistently in the anthology, or more directly addressed in the Introduction. The most important of these is the central concept of “culture.” \r\nFor example: Ch. 1 defines “culture” as “a set of beliefs, practices, and symbols that are learned and shared. Together, they form an all-encompassing, integrated whole that binds people together and shapes their worldview and lifeways” (p.17). And in Ch. 4, the reader is informed that “culture” is “An integrated system of mental elements (beliefs, values, worldview, attitudes, norms), the behavior motivated by those mental elements, and the material items created by those behaviors” (p. 71). Students that are asked to read several of the chapters in Part One may struggle to understand the concept of \"culture,\" given multiple definitions encountered.\r\nSome of the concepts in both definitions have been under debate among anthropologists for a good number of years. The assertion that “culture” is an “all-encompassing, integrated whole” or “an integrated system of mental elements” are not constructs that I have heard at the annual meetings of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) for a good number of years. They are constructs I would not use in an Introduction to Cultural/Social Anthropology courses.\r\n\r\nThe editors also could have standardized the presentation of endnotes and references/citations. Some chapter have both, and the endnotes contain full citations. Full citations should have been integrated into the References/Works Cited, rather than duplicate the same information. And more than one style is used in the chapter bibliographies. Within The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS), in social science books, the endnotes are used to present an idea/observation that would distract the reader if included in the text; or the place where the author wishes to guide the reader to other important works. Generally the form used is the CMS author-date format (e.g., See Foucault 1982; Bourdieu 1988). The Works Cited would have the full citation of each.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"There are a small number of chapters that I could integrate in my Introduction to Anthropology course. The course has a four-field focus. The notable chapters are Chapter Four on Language, and Chapter 13 on the History of Anthropological Ideas.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"The organization follows a common pattern among introductory books. The limit of this, however, is that by segmenting social actions in a particular community, as “family and marriage,” “religion,” “economics,” etcetera, it inadvertently argues against the proposition that cultural anthropology is “holistic.” The presentation reinforces the view that one can easily segment the lives of individuals and communities. In our lives, for example, we know that how we view political actors or statements may be shaped by our religious background, our racio-ethnic position, our economic class, our sexual orientation, etc. The areas of our daily lives are not easily segmented into clean categories, and most individuals have multiple identifications. An individual can be a parent, a spouse, a university professor, a brother, a Sunday school teacher, a volunteer in a political campaign, a feminist, etc.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"With the use of Adobe Acrobat Pro, the chapters can be easily selected into individual chapters.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The only grammatical error I encountered is found on p. 355: “are are”.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"Something that stood out for me was the absence of citations of the important work of established Chicano/Mexican/Latina/o anthropologist. Carlos Vélez-Ibáñes, Martha Menchaca, Robert Álvarez, Diego Vigil, and others were overlooked. Thought the text did mention Leo Chávez in two pages, Patricia Zavella was noted in three endnotes, but not in the text; Renato Rosaldo was mentioned in two pages; Lynn Stephen was noted in one page; and Arturo Escobar appeared in one endnote. The very limited inclusion of established Latina/o anthropologist suggests that the contributors may not have been aware of their substantial contributions.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"At the University of Texas at Arlington, the anthropology program does not have an Introduction to Cultural/Social anthropology, but it does have the Introduction to Anthropology course aimed at non-anthropology majors, and the focus of the course is the four fields in anthropology. This limits the integration of the anthology reviewed.\r\nSecondly, the anthology contains only two contributions from established anthropologists: Laura Nader (Ch. 13) and Robert Borofsky (Ch. 19). The inclusion of other prominent anthropologist in current discussions, such as Achille Mbembe, Didier Fassin, and others, would aid in drawing interest in the anthology.","created_at":"2021-06-18T15:20:04.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-06-18T15:20:04.000-05:00"},{"id":33520,"first_name":"Laura","last_name":"Elder","position":"Associate Professor \u0026 Chair of Global Studies","institution_name":"Saint Mary's College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers all areas appropriately and in depth.  My only quibble is that I hope in future iterations the authors will include more interviews with practitioners (as they did in section on \"why anthropology is important\" pp. 18-24 and in the \"practicing anthropology\" interview on pp. 417-418.  Another text that I have used (Race: Are we so different? Goodman, Moses \u0026 Jones) includes interviews throughout and students found them very engaging.  I expect that students will appreciate similar interview sections in the various topical areas such as language, gender, health, etc. of this text.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate and unbiased.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Some of the case studies dealing with current issues (such as Globalization in Application: The Syrian Situation Today (courtesy of Laurie King) pg. 325-326 need to be updated.  In addition, some of the hyperlinks (such as http://www.pbs.org/thelinguists/Endangered-Languages/Hear-Them-Spoken.html) are either broken or link to material which is no longer accessible (such as the McDonald's menu items hyperlinked on pg. 308).  Of course in future iterations the authors can easily update these links.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Despite the multiple authorial voices, the text is lucid and accessible.  One drawback is that there is repetition between sections (as for example between \"the culture concept\" and \"doing fieldwork\").  However, as noted below, because of the ease in \"remixing\" these sections to suite individual course needs this does not pose a problem.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I particularly appreciate the text's modularity which provides flexibility in mixing and blending between sections in the interests of providing most effective coverage of topics with a limited time frame.  For example, I tend to cover subsistence and ecology together in order to disrupt students' biases in favor of technological approaches to sustainability.  Blending the \"culture \u0026 sustainability\" and \"subsistence\" sections and subsections was quickly accomplished and provides excellent coverage.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization of the text is clear and logical.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"In the PDF version of the text some of the pages have large gaps between text and images but this problem does not occur when reading online. Graphics and images are clear and legible.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not find any grammatical errors in the text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book is highly relevant and culturally inclusive (including case studies and perspectives from many marginalized groups globally).","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I look forward to using this and future updated editions.","created_at":"2021-12-10T16:30:21.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-12-10T16:30:21.000-06:00"},{"id":33880,"first_name":"Erin","last_name":"Gould","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Johnson County Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"In terms of comprehensiveness, I think the book does a great job of covering a lot of the areas that I want covered in an introductory text. Some of the ideas are covered in multiple chapters (including things like culture, kinship and family), which can help reinforce topics but can also become slightly repetitive. The only topic that I discuss while consulting other textbooks is the topic of economic class and inequality. While there is an Economic Anthropology section, the way that contemporary understandings of class are discussed is not as robust as I want for my students. Class is inherently one of the topics that is overlooked in the United States (with the exception of political rhetoric during election times), and due to this, the topic is something I want to make sure that students engage with on a deeper level. The glossaries for each chapter are great resources for students, and I like the fact that all the words in the glossaries are bolded in the actual text.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I think the accuracy is high due to the great diversity of authors that write each individual chapter in the text. For each topic, there is a scholar or multiple, whose expertise lies within the area, that describe the history and development of different concepts, which really brings out the best information to give students. It is clear through stories and scholar highlights in each chapter that those interviewed, writing, and editing the chapters of the textbook care about giving up to date information to our students.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"I think that the textbook does a great job of including people's scholarly journeys and other highlights that the text will stay relevant for a longer period of time, but I also think these are things that can be updated more easily than the bulk of the text itself. The chapters are organized in a way that the beginning highlights some of the development and foundation of each concept before diving deeper into case studies that are supposed to speak more to students. These case studies could be kept for a long period of time, but this is the area that it may be important for editors and authors to update with new case studies to keep up with student interests and contemporary times.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"To provide context to my answer in this section, I'd like to note that I've taught with this text for three years at this point. I think the text does a great job of outlining material that needs to be covered in a way that is appropriate and clear. The only comment I usually get from students is that the textbook chapters are long, but this comment is also made about my shorter readings that I assign in complement to the longer textbook chapters. With clarity never being an issue with any comments I receive from students, I have to assume that all parties are able to understand the content given in the textbook!","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I think the text is consistent in that the chapters are organized in the same way, with the history/foundation content or introductory stories, followed by deeper dives into content, followed by case studies and samples from scholarly research, and ends with the glossary of highlighted terms. There are also always questions for students to go through to keep thinking about the content/review their comprehension. Due to the fact that each chapter is written by a different author or authors, there is some overlap or explanations of frameworks that occur to make sure students understand the author(s)'s perspectives on content.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The modularity of the text is great, as they make an effort to have many headings and subheadings within each chapter that can be used to delineate what sections students should pay closer attention to. The text itself has some repetitive chapters (Chapters 1 \u0026 2--Introduction to Anthropology AND What is Culture?; Chapters 8 \u0026 10--Family and Marriage AND Gender and Sexuality), but I keep one chapter assigned and one for optional reading in case students are more interested in the topic. Also, due to the way the information is displayed on the website, the textbook can be used for individual chapters as you see fit as an instructor. There are 19 chapters, so it covers a lot of content that you are free to assign as you see necessary for your class's content, and each chapter can be downloaded or read online (and a link can be given for each chapter you assign).","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The content of the book looks like it is organized so that if you needed to use only Part 1 chapters for your introductory Cultural Anthropology class, everything would be there for you, including introduction to anthropology (generally), what is culture, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, globalization, etc. So Part 2 chapters focus on more content that may or may not be usually included in an introductory class, including things like sustainability, performance, history of anthropological ideas, public anthropology, health and medicine, and so on. I find that, due to the extra benefits of a test bank and lecture slides, this could be a good approach for an instructor who does not have a lot of time to organize the class content before starting the semester. However, I do actually use many chapters from Part 2 instead of some chapters from Part 1 because I feel that they fit better with my idea of what content I want to expose my students to.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface for the text is pretty basic, but that also means that there are not many glitches/issues with accessing material or with formatting of charts and images. They do a good job of including different images and charts, as is pertinent, and there are times where they also embed links to different videos. From other reviews on the book (on this website), people noted that some of these video links don't work. However, I may not be using all the videos included in the book, but the ones that I do use have been working for the last three years of using the book. But, if another reviewer mentioned this, I would also make sure to try links within the chapters that you assign to make sure that students will have access to those if you assign those elements within the text.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"No texts are ever perfect, but my experience with this text has been pretty good. I find that sometimes the extra content or some random sentences in the text need to be updated with their editing, but nothing egregious or anything that students would have trouble understanding due to grammatical structures.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As a textbook for Cultural Anthropology, if this text received less than a 5, it would be quite surprising. Due to the many different authors of each chapter/content area, there are a lot of different case studies brought up from around the world. In my classes, students have commented that even though I don't cover all of them in class, they get a good picture of a lot of different ideas of what anthropology can be from the case studies from around the world. I also like that the examples in the text are not just from places that people would call \"exotic,\" as this would just deepen the erroneous understanding that most people have about anthropology already. For instance, in the chapter on Gender and Sexuality, the authors actually bring in an example about gendered language and stereotypes brought up during the 2016 United States Presidential Election, demonstrating how our biases/understandings of gender and use of gendered language can be seen in our everyday interactions and EVEN within politics--while many of us may be able to acknowledge that, many of my students have been surprised to see how these everyday situations can show enculturated understandings of the concepts we learn about in class.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I thoroughly enjoy using this text in the classroom, and I enjoy being able to support other anthropologists who have put together great scholars to provide open access information for students. My students are always happy to use this textbook. While the text provides a basic foundation for learning, it is placed on the instructor to create activities and classroom discussions of the content, but do note that each chapter provides further discussion questions/review questions near to the end of each chapter. The test banks and the instructor slide bonus materials have been invaluable to the continued use of this textbook, even if at this point, my lecture slides diverge significantly from those provided. I find that the text gives a good foundation for students that instructors can easily supplement with other materials to get main points across.","created_at":"2022-05-26T15:15:43.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-05-26T15:15:43.000-05:00"},{"id":33961,"first_name":"Sharon","last_name":"Methvin","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Mt. Hood Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"A key strength of this source is its comprehensive coverage of the key concepts found in Cultural Anthropology. And, each concept is highlighted in the text for ease of finding it by the students as well as listed in the Glossary at the end of each Chapter.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Sources are listed and material is well supported. I would like to have seen additional direct quotes of the movers and shakers that students might know of.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Content coverage is mostly our basic content found in all anthropology texts. I would like to have seen more current examples that students could better relate to.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Clearly written and readable. There is some evidence of different writing approaches between the chapters and authors.","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"There is some evidence of different writing approaches between the chapters and authors. I love the coffee shop framework of the first two chapters and then it is gone. Others begin with a story while others a basic introduction. I would also like to see the integration of media be consistent in all chapters.","modularity_rating":3,"modularity_review":"The third section seems to be a hodgepodge of areas that lack internal coherence. And, there are far too many sections for a quarter into course.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"See comment above. The first two sections have better organization in my opinion, especially the first section. I like the inclusion of the discussion questions and glossary for each chapter.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I like the inclusion of the discussion questions and glossary for each chapter. Some of the photos lack clarity and interest.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Readable and I did not see any errors that jumped out at me.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I would like to see more global examples and more current ones that grab the student's attention.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"The strength of this text is its comprehensive coverage of the major anthropological concepts in a clear and concise manner and a in a readable style that the students can easily understand.","created_at":"2022-07-27T15:27:04.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-07-27T15:27:04.000-05:00"},{"id":34032,"first_name":"Sanaa","last_name":"Riaz","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Metropolitan State University of Denver","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book provides a clear introduction to the field of anthropology and the essential aspects of culture that inform anthropological inquiry. Each chapter ends with some discussion questions and a list of important key terms/glossary. \r\nIt has long been debated whether non-Anthropology students taking an introductory class in cultural anthropology need to learn about the history of theoretical paradigms in the field. This book is divided into two parts. Part 1 introduces the different sub-fields of anthropology, concepts integral to anthropological inquiry of human behavior and anthropological fieldwork methods. It covers these topics to move on to a chapter exclusively dedicated to the conceptualization of culture, which includes a brief discussion of the important figures and schools of thought in anthropology. The rest of the chapters in Part 1 are focused on what we conventionally expect an introductory text in cultural anthropology to cover, that is, aspects of kinship and marriage, religion, political organization, and gender lives. Part 2 of the book essentially explores the new arenas of cultural representation and change that represent newer sub-disciplines within cultural anthropology or that point to new avenues of anthropological inquiry in a global world. If an instructor was interested in the more conventional anthropology textbook format, they can use Part 1 of the book with the option of including the theoretical development and thematic specializations in the field from Part 2 or replacing the Part 1 first chapter with it. Alternatively, if an instructor wished to provide an overview of the fast-growing specializations within cultural anthropology, such as anthropology of performance, media anthropology, environmental anthropology and public anthropology, they could include Part 2 of the book.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate from classic definitions of culture to cutting-edge discussions on anthropocene. It is typically in the images of non-white smaller subsistence communities, laborers in commodity chain and or informal economy, and gender plurality and religious rituals related illustrations that anthropological textbooks reek of ethnocentric, unethical and exotic white portrayals of other cultural lifeways. This textbook is free of all such problematic and exotifying images of \"other\" cultures, which really helps students see the universality of the discussions on spiritual well-being, non-industrial food production, non-Christian beliefs and gendered subjectivities, to name a few.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Part 2 of the book uses anthropocene as a point of departure to discuss ethnographic studies in environmental anthropology, applying political economy approach to sustainable development in First World countries, the importance of public anthropology, and also provides teasers into new avenues of anthropological inquiry, such as media anthropology and multi-species ethnography. While these features make the content up-to-date, they do not make the text obsolete. Rather, they create a model for incorporating updates in a straightforward process by adding ethnographic examples to the burgeoning fields of cultural anthropology discussed.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The most attractive aspect of the book is that it is written with introductory readers in mind. My students have never had a problem understanding information in the assigned chapters, nor do they find reading burdensome because of the textbook's accessible prose. All chapters begin with clearly stated learning objectives. The text opens with teaser questions on the topic followed by personal anecdotes and experiences from the field, such as the author's reflection on people's perceptions of their racial and ethnic heritage in school based on appearance in the chapter, Race and Ethnicity, to begin a discussion on the social construction of race, which ease the reader into deconstructing the concepts that will be covered. Section headings are also in line with the conversational pattern of the prose and key terms are dispersed at adequate intervals to allow for easy cognitive processing.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This being an Open Educational Resource, the chapters and sections within are parsable. The terminology in each chapter, however, is kept consistent with the basic premise of analyzing each aspect of culture holistically. This can be seen in the discussion on syncretism in the chapter, Globalization. The textbook framework moving between key terms in bold to section headings containing ethnographic examples and conceptual discussions allows instructors to create definition-based objective questions as well as subjective discussion questions from each chapter.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This Open Educational Resource can be edited within chapters or as a selection of chapters. I found it very easy to mix and match chapters in Parts 1 and 2 of the book based on my Introduction to Cultural Anthropology course weekly themes. The textbook does not assume that the reader will have arrived at a chapter after reviewing a previous one and eases readers with overlapping but not replicative content, such as on theoretical approaches between chapter, The Culture Concept and chapter, The History of Anthropological Ideas, on subsistence covered in the chapter, Economics, in the chapter, Culture and Sustainability: Environmental Anthropology in the Anthropocene from a sustainability angle, on a discussion of \"Ritual as Performance\" in the chapter, Performance with a focus on performance in ritual, rather than the types of rituals, as enumerated in the chapter, Religion, etc.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"As an Open Educational Resource, it is an advantage for instructors that there is not much self-referencing in the textbook and the chapters can be modified and rearranged. That said, the textbook moves in a logical manner with Part 1 beginning with an introduction to the field and sub-fields of the discipline and the concept of culture to verbal, non-verbal communication to economic behavior and political institutions to forms of social identity (family, gender, race, ethnicity) with a discussion on globalization providing a closing statement on the changing nature of culture and setting a logical framework to move from the classically small-group case studies that anthropology is famous for towards the macro-level, global issues that can be deconstructed from an anthropological lens, such as development, environmental disasters and medical pluralism, the focus of chapters in Part 2. Part 2 also elaborates on themes in Part 1 in a clear fashion with a focus on introduction to and case studies from the growing sub-fields in cultural anthropology, such as media anthropology, public anthropology and environmental anthropology.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I adopted this textbook on the Blackboard Learning Management System and then again on Canvas. I have had students access it outside United States with erratic internet and they have not encountered any issues with the display. I have used the textbook with large classes where students on the autism spectrum and those receiving learning and physical disabilities assistance have used it without noting any distracting features or images. The textbook was also cleared by the instructional design team and online course quality standards review team at my University.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text contains no grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Typically, an inherent bias in textbook discussions on non-American and non-Western cultural ways, be it in the domain of marriage, subsistence, religious expression or other is that they insensitively include National Geographic style glossy, colored images of non-white faces and bodies. There is not a single instance of insensitive or offensive photography in this textbook. Moreover, pictures like a diverse group working at Starbucks in the discussion on coffee commodity chain in the chapter, Subsistence and of a Trump impersonator at a pro-Trump Rally in the discussion on how transnational identities and religion impact perceptions of American politics in the chapter, Religion make the cultural content more inclusive and relatable.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Power is a concept that has been officially defined in the chapter, Political Anthropology, but used in every chapter to highlight its relevance in economic relations, matriarchal/patriarchal systems, and other aspects of cultural life. In future revisions of the textbook, I would like to see a more formal undertaking of the concept of power and representation in defining culture and in cultural continuity. It would be great to see power established as a point of departure for understanding all aspects of culture early on in the textbook (the chapter, The Culture Concept would be a good place) and revisited in relation to each chapter topic. Thus, power can be a keyword repeated in individual chapter glossary, but with an emphasis on labor relations in one chapter and on racism in another. Also, the chapter on Health and Medicine can be moved to Part 1, as it has been discussed holistically in relation to faith, communal healing, culture bound syndromes and other cultural behaviors.","created_at":"2022-09-07T01:46:41.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-09-07T01:46:41.000-05:00"},{"id":34195,"first_name":"Miriam","last_name":"Kilimo","position":"Visiting Assistant Professor","institution_name":"James Madison University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Overall, the textbook covers the main topics that are in many other introductory cultural anthropology texts. The 2nd edition of the book is organized into two main parts. The first part provides an overview of the main topics, whereas the second part provides information about more specific subfields in cultural anthropology such as health, media, and performance. The textbook encourages instructors to ‘build their own book’ by adapting chapters as needed. A key difference between this textbook and other textbooks is that the chapters are written by different authors. The use of multiple authors helps to provide different perspectives on anthropology. However, it also leads to a bit of repetition, as definitions and materials that have been covered in previous chapters can be repeated in other chapters.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate and error-free. I did not identify instances of bias.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"This book functions as a good textbook that provides a lot of background for the main topics in an introductory cultural anthropology class. Since the textbook is written by multiple authors, I’m not sure to what extent updates can be easily made, save for including new chapters in the text. Additionally, while the textbook provides good background information, I found that some chapters did not always provide enough context about the racist and colonial roots of anthropology. This information is mostly only included in one chapter that describes the History of Anthropological ideas. I would have appreciated it if this information was included in the chapters, for example, describing how the colonial roots of political anthropology. However, the fact that the chapters are written by multiple authors means that there may be competing priorities.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is written in an accessible way. The authors describe any concepts they introduce. Each chapter also includes a glossary that provides definitions of key terms used in the chapter.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent in framework and terminology. The main difference is that because it is written by multiple authors, some concepts are repeated with authors providing their own definitions.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Each chapter has various subsections. Several of the chapters open with a vignette about the author’s experience, which they revisit at various points in the chapter. Therefore, it’s not very easy to simply use one section of a chapter in case it refers to an example that was discussed earlier in the text.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics are organized well. The textbook has two parts: the first part includes main topics in cultural anthropology that are in common anthropology textbooks. The second part includes more specific topics and begins with a chapter that provides an overview of various specializations in anthropology.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text can be downloaded as a PDF. The PDF includes a navigation pane that one can use to link to various chapters. The subsections are not available on the navigation pane, so one needs to go through a chapter to identify the main subsections.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not observe any glaring grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I did not observe any cultural insensitivity. The book draws from examples across the world, focusing on examples of different races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I found the textbook useful as an open-access resource that provides background for introductory classes in cultural anthropology. Given that the textbook provides lots of information on general and specific topics, the editors encourage instructors to adapt the book according to their needs, such as only using various chapters or sections. I assigned chapters of the textbook alongside other film and ethnographic essays. The chapters were intended to provide a background for key concepts in anthropology. One downside is that because the textbook is written by multiple authors, there is no “central thesis” about cultural anthropology that brings all the chapters together. The emphasis is on the diversity of voices provided by the perspectives of different anthropologists. I also found that some chapters did not always provide critiques of various aspects of anthropology, for example, a perspective that describes the colonial roots of political anthropology. The textbook also comes with three other resources that I found incredibly useful: an instructor’s guide, a test bank, and slide decks. These three resources are very useful during lecture prep, and one can easily look at additional texts when sourcing for information that may not be included in the chapters. The instructor’s guide also includes discussion questions, homework assignments, and suggestions for films based on the topics in the textbook.","created_at":"2022-11-27T17:24:58.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-11-27T17:24:58.000-06:00"},{"id":34251,"first_name":"Jennifer","last_name":"Bauder","position":"Adjunct Instructor","institution_name":"Massachusetts Bay Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"I was impressed by the degree to which this textbook covered both topics/areas of interest/ideas that have historically been considered essential to cultural anthropology (language, subsistence, political anthropology, marriage and family, economics, sex and gender, etc) AND those that have gained attention and traction more recently (globalization, environmental anthropology, media, etc).  Not only does this text do a good job of covering the historical and current breadth of the field but there is significant depth to each of these areas.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"In a field as broad and varied as anthropology, I have no doubt that professionals reviewing this text may quibble with some of the choices made by authors- arguing perhaps that a definition left out a relevant feature or that a classification scheme would be best presented another way, etc.  That said, the text does well presenting material in a way in which I think most anthropologists would broadly consent is accurate and holistic.  Debates within the field are presented as such. It is acknowledged where there is difficulty in arriving at definitions that are fully agreed upon- for example, in Chapter 2: Culture Concept, the authors explictly write that there is no one agreed upon definition of culture and discuss how anthropologists have come to understand culture over the course of the discipline's history as well as discuss how this may articulate with the broader public's understanding of culture.  By centering the very difficulty in definition the authors created a useful framing which accurately reflects the development of thought.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"As discussed above, I was impressed by this book's coverage of more recent topics/areas of interest to cultural anthropology as well as coverage of those that have been more well established.  Topics like environmental anthropology and anthropology and the media are essential to understanding the ways the field continues to develop apace with broader social and environmental changes in our world.  These topics are especially relevant to introductory classes so students can see anthropology as a vibrant and dynamic field with opportunities for growth and not a hide-bound dusty discipline that only looks backward to long established arenas.\r\nI particularly appreciated the section in Chapter 1 which asked three current anthropologists to discuss what drew them to the field and to describe their work.  This worked well to highlight diversity in the work of contemporary anthropology and allows students to hear from anthropologists directly in their own voices.  The structure of this section would allow for easy future updates to highlight other anthropologists if desired.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This book seemed very appropriate to an introductory level class in terms of clarity.  Authors did not avoid use of relevant vocabulary and discipline specific terminology but these were always well defined or explained in context.  Formatting helped significantly in this regard- key terms were highlighted in various ways including being pulled out into individual text boxes or placed in bold within the text. Students should have no trouble identifying key terms and phrases within the chapter and are additionally aided by a separate glossary section at the end of each chapter.\r\nAdding to clarity- I felt the choices of images and graphics was well curated for each chapter to highlight particular ideas, people, etc.  Placement of these as well as captions made their connection to the text easy to discern.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"There is good structural consistency to this volume of the type you would expect from any quality textbook- a section at the beginning of each chapter to list learning objections, a section at the end for discussion questions and a glossary, etc.\r\nThere is a fair degree of redundancy to presentation of certain terminology and historical context of the field.  This is not necessarily a negative- students may not be asked to read/engage with the entirety of the text so the repetition may serve to introduce them to relevant ideas, vocabulary, etc in one area of the book without requiring them to read others.  And if a student is reading chapters that have a redundancy in presentation this can serve to reinforce those ideas, vocabulary, etc as important.  In those cases it is important that there is a consistency to the presentation of materials and I do see that in this text.  Content is not repeated verbatim but there is coherence to the presentation of terminology and ideas.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Chapters vary to some degree in their modularity- some have larger blocks of text than others.  But, this is to be expected as different topics within chapters lend themselves to parsing in different ways.  All chapters worked to have some level of modularity and headings and subheadings were easy to identify and would allow for instructor to make clear which sections within a chapter they wish students to focus on.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"I found individual chapters well organized.  I could easily follow each chapter through the material.  \r\nIn terms of overall book organization I struggled to fully understand the division of the book into two main parts.  The preface indicated that Part 1 contained more fundamental topics that would be found in most other textbooks on the subject while Part 2 contained in-depth discussions of more specialized topics.\r\nI did not necessarily find this division useful in understanding how chapters were ordered or in thinking about how I would use different chapters in a class.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I did not encounter any negative issues with the interface.  I had no issues navigating the text, viewing images or connecting to embedded links.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Well written with no noted grammatical issues.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"As this is a book designed to instruct in areas of culture I felt the authors were all acutely aware of being relativistic, inclusive and presenting examples in a way which is illustrative and instructive without being sensationalistic.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I appreciated the thought and time that had clearly gone into the production of this text.  I was impressed by the quality in terms of breadth and depth.","created_at":"2022-12-08T09:44:50.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-12-08T09:44:50.000-06:00"},{"id":34311,"first_name":"Lawrence","last_name":"Ramirez","position":"Adjunct Instructor","institution_name":"California State University, Dominguez Hills","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This textbook gives a solid overview of key concepts, disciplinary concerns, and methodological approaches for an introductory course in cultural anthropology. Within each chapter, the authors offer a basic primer for the selected topic as approached through anthropological disciplinary perspectives, dipping into theoretical engagement at a level appropriate for an introductory class. The glossaries at the end of each chapter, taken together, provide a strong listing of key disciplinary terminology. Likewise, chapter bibliographies can lead interested students into a deeper understanding of the discipline. Thus, this textbook is a good starting point for students to learn about cultural anthropology.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The information provided is accurate, specifically for an introductory textbook. There might be issues of being a bit out of date in some areas, or using older disciplinary terms, such as “informant,” or failing to address in greater detail contested concepts within the discipline. Although these critiques would be valid, they do not point to anything truly problematic for a beginner’s overview. Likewise, there are drifts in nuanced concepts from chapter to chapter, because of the different authors involved, but these drifting definitions, for example in discussing the concept of culture, are not significant impediments for introductory students learning the concepts. Overall, the information is clear, accurate, and consistent.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Overall, this textbook grounds itself in the ethnographic experiences of the writers to illustrate a concept or concern. This is an effective method by which ideas are exemplified and contributes to the textbook’s longevity. Certainly, some examples could be updated, but they still work as intended. A more complicated concern relates to privileging “canonical” anthropologists and their studies, crowding out work by more recent researchers, specifically BIPOC and decolonial scholars. This is a valid concern, but the use of the “canon” fits the needs of many introductory courses. Instructors simply need to be aware of this issue and introduce alternative approaches within their lectures. As decolonial and alternative paradigms come into greater prominence in the discipline, this may become a more pressing issue.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Clarity is the strong point of this textbook. It is written in clear language, with a robust glossary included in each chapter. Concepts are explored with rich ethnographic experiences. Subchapters break down complicated ideas and theoretical paradigms. In short, the textbook is written with a beginning student reader as the intended audience and is designed to render the materials in as accessible a manner as possible. Overall, the writers succeed in this task.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"In terms of design and layout, the textbook is very consistent. Given the number of contributors, the textbook is amazingly consistent in the degree of information conveyed in each chapter. Because each author draws upon their own ethnographic experiences, the wide array of fieldsites can feel a bit overwhelming, chapter from chapter, but, as illustrations for the specific concepts under discussion, they serve an important role. Overall, the consistency is excellent.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Although the chapters can vary in length, the modularity of this textbook is good. The strength comes from the consistent layout that each chapter utilizes. Additionally, the chapters can “stand alone” or be remixed to suit course design. For example, I have used the chapter on environmental anthropology as a short primer reading in upper division courses. In identity-focused courses, the chapters can be rearranged to flow from performance to gender to race/ethnicity to religion to political power in a smooth reconfiguration of the materials. This works well specifically because the modularity facilitates the remixing of information to fit pedagogical needs.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"This textbook is structured into two parts. In Part 1, the chapters deal with the standard materials of an introductory cultural anthropology course, like methodology, language, subsistence, race/ethnicity, religion, and kinship. In Part 2, the chapters contain more specialized topics, like environmental anthropology, medicine and wellness, and public anthropology. Thus, the basics that constitute an introduction to the discipline are all covered in Part 1, but the materials of Part 2 are available to remix the course to suit pedagogical focus. This results in a very flexible and adaptable textbook.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The interface is good. The ability to easily use a text reader, either online or by downloading the text, makes this a very accessible textbook. Likewise, the links that I have used have reliably connected to the intended materials. However, it is likely that link maintenance needs to be regularly and comprehensively reviewed. Overall, the ability to easily access this textbook online has never been a problem for me or my students.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The textbook is well written, well edited, and free from grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text draws upon many examples grounded in real world experiences and diverse situations from a variety of backgrounds. Examples like social dancing, sexist discourse in politics, and holiday gift giving situate the course concepts in a manner to which a diverse readership can easily relate. They help students think about complex issues, like global commodity chains, hegemonic bio-medical models of health, and performative configurations of subjectivity, through everyday experiences of these issues. Therefore, the textbook does an excellent job of illustrating the relevance of anthropological concepts through examples from a variety of backgrounds and positionalities.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This textbook provides a strong foundation for an introductory course in cultural anthropology. For an instructor who likes tailoring courses to their pedagogical focus, this book is easily remixable. For instructors who like supplementing with additional readings, the bibliographies in each chapter offer excellent suggestions. Finally, the support materials available, like the slides and text bank, can be a great assistance to novice instructors, as well as being viable timesavers for more experienced instructors. I have used this textbook a few times and have been greatly satisfied with it.","created_at":"2022-12-19T12:59:33.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-12-19T12:59:33.000-06:00"},{"id":35526,"first_name":"Erin","last_name":"Ferris","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"Springfield Technical Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book covers a vast array of information related to cultural anthropology from the foundational knowledge needed such as language, politics, and family structures, followed by the inner workings of practicing cultural anthropology through media, performance, and public works. The table of contents is easily understood and provides proper navigation.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This text is accurate and provides the foundational knowledge needed to study and learn about cultural anthropology. The key thinkers within the discipline are highlighted and provide solid information on the key concepts a student will need to successfully complete an introductory cultural anthropology course.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The content of this book will need to be updated within a few years, but that is the nature of cultural anthropology. When discussing terms such as sex and gender, cultures can change rapidly. However, this would be true of most cultural anthropology books so it does not denote the significance of this OER.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"One of the predominate reasons I would use this text in the classroom is due to its readability. Although the topics can be dense, the authors have used common language that allows an introductory student to read with ease rather than becoming frustrated with discipline specific language that may not be easily comprehended.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The format and layout of each chapter is consistent, which permits readers to know what to expect from each chapter. Topics are easily located within the chapter and key words are bold faced allowing for quick retrieval.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"There are not enormous blocks of text that can be daunting for readers. The sections are manageable, which will not hinder the student from reading through the sections. Using this text for an introductory course will promote readership from students due to the ease of navigating the chapters and the content.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization of this text is in a logical order and builds upon concepts as the reader continues through each chapter. This is beneficial for professors using this book because it follows a very similar flow as a typical intro to cultural anthropology course would follow.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"When reviewing this text, there were no navigation concerns. This is a great benefit of this book because technical issues can cause students to forego the reading.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Little to none grammatical errors were found while reading this text. Sentence structure is at college level while providing all the necessary information needed for this topic.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Given the nature of the text, this book is culturally sensitive. Many different races, ethnicities and backgrounds are highlighted and celebrated. The pictures related to the context are diverse and represent many different types of people, which is representative of our diverse world.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I will be adopting this book for my upcoming anthropology course. When I first started teaching cultural anthropology over a decade ago there were no OER options. I am glad there is finally a suitable book for my students that is easily read, interesting, and provides all the information they need to succeed in my course!","created_at":"2025-06-15T10:40:48.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-06-15T10:40:48.000-05:00"},{"id":35755,"first_name":"Joyce","last_name":"Bennett","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Bates College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text covers an extensive list of traditional areas of anthropological inquiry in Part I. Part II covers more theoretical and recent developments in anthropology. Both sections of the text integrate historical and more current content. It achieves its goal of a holistic representation of cultural anthropology. The text does not have an index or glossary, but the table of contents breaks down each chapter into sub-sections so that key terms and ideas are easy to find.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"This text is accurate and represents debates in the field well and in up-to-date ways.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The text holds good relevance and connects the ideas and concepts to real life in compelling ways. The text is up to date, and its structure is such that integrating updated examples should be straight-forward.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This text is clearly written and explains anthropological concepts in accessible language.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This text is consistent in terminology and framework across chapters and parts of the book.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"It is easy to use chapters or sections of chapters of this book in the order the instructor chooses. I have used portions of chapter and whole chapters in small and large amounts in different courses with no problems for students.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The topics are presented logically, but as noted, instructors can easily pull chapters at the appropriate moment in a course.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"The table of contents is not easily accessible on-line but is clear and easiest to access in the downloaded PDF version. Otherwise, the book’s interface is easy to use.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The book's grammar is accurate.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"This text addresses works by anthropologists across time, space, and identities. It also addresses some of the central controversies in anthropology about inclusivity.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2026-01-27T11:26:07.000-06:00","updated_at":"2026-01-27T11:26:07.000-06:00"}],"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/perspectives-an-open-invitation-to-cultural-anthropology","updated_at":"2026-05-18T02:10:51.000-05:00"},{"id":335,"title":"World Regional Geography","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2016,"ISBN10":null,"ISBN13":"1077115032","license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":"unknown","description":"Rather than present students with a broad, novice-level introduction to geography, emphasizing places and vocabulary terms, this text approaches geography as experts understand the discipline, focusing on connections and an in-depth understanding of core themes. This thematic approach, informed by pedagogical research, provides students with an introduction to thinking geographically. Instead of repeating the same several themes each chapter, this text emphasizes depth over breadth by arranging each chapter around a central theme and then exploring that theme in detail as it applies to the particular region. In addition, while chapters are designed to stand alone and be rearranged or eliminated at the instructor's discretion, the theme of globalization and inequality unites all of the regions discussed. This core focus enables students to draw connections between regions and to better understand the interconnectedness of our world. Furthermore, the focus on both globalization and inequality helps demonstrate the real-world application of the concepts discussed. Colonialism, for instance, rather than a historical relict, becomes a force that has shaped geography and informs social justice. This thematic approach is also intended to facilitate active learning and would be suitable for a flipped or team-based learning-style course since it more easily integrates case studies and higher-order thinking than the traditional model. Each chapter begins with a list of learning objectives. This text was written with the backward course design model in mind and the content of each chapter was structured around these learning objectives. Because of this backward design focus, the length of each chapter is considerably shorter than most traditional textbooks. The intention is for the instructor to supplement the text with problems, case studies, and news articles and to use the text as a springboard for discussing deeper issues. The chapters are written in an accessible style, often addressing the student directly, and the author's voice has intentionally tried to remain present in the text. Following the Washington Post's gender-inclusive style guide, the singular they is intentionally used throughout the text. Rhetorical questions are also used to help students reflect on concepts and to encourage them to dig deeper and consider concepts from different perspectives.","contributors":[{"id":3587,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Caitlin","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Finlayson","location":"University of Mary Washington","background_text":"Caitlin Finlayson earned a Ph.D. in Geography from Florida State University in 2012 and a B.A. in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Winthrop University in 2007. She is a broadly trained Human Geographer specializing in Cultural Geography. Her specific research areas include the Geography of Religion, nature/societal interactions, and explorations of geographic theory and methodology. She has co-organized a session on sacred space at the Association of American Geographer’s annual meeting and her work has appeared in the journal Environment and Planning A as well as in The Professional Geographer. She is a member of the Association of American Geographers. She is an assistant professor at the University of Mary Washington and has taught a variety of courses in geography including World Regional Geography, Introduction to Human Geography, Sacred Spaces, and Environmental Studies."}],"subjects":[{"id":44,"name":"Earth Sciences","parent_subject_id":8,"call_number":"QE1","visible_textbooks_count":54,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/geology"},{"id":46,"name":"Cultural \u0026 Ethnic Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM621","visible_textbooks_count":26,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies"},{"id":41,"name":"Geography","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"G128","visible_textbooks_count":20,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/geography"},{"id":45,"name":"Political Science","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"JA71","visible_textbooks_count":41,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/political-science"}],"publishers":[{"id":245,"url":"http://caitiefinlayson.com/worldregional/","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:38.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-08-22T09:38:40.000-05:00","name":"Caitlin Finlayson"}],"formats":[{"id":398,"type":"PDF","url":"http://caitiefinlayson.com/WRGTextbook.pdf","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":399,"type":"Online","url":"https://worldgeo.pressbooks.com/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1296,"type":"Hardcopy","url":"https://www.amazon.com/dp/1077115032","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4","textbook_reviews_count":14,"reviews":[{"id":837,"first_name":"Evan","last_name":"Renfro","position":"Assistant Professor ","institution_name":"University of Northern Iowa","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text presents a solid foundation suitable for introductory Geography courses. Unfortunately it does not provide an index, but it does include a useful glossary. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The book's content is accurate, error-free and unbiased. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"While updating any maps will have to be attended to as states change, they are currently accurate, with, for example, South Sudan shown appropriately. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is written is a lucid style, providing adequate context for any specialized terms used. It avoids getting into terminology more appropriate for upper division geography courses. For instance, it mentions and defines geomorphology, but not aeolian geomorphogy. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent in terms of terminology and framework. ","modularity_rating":3,"modularity_review":"The author uses a, \"thematic approach... Instead of repeating the same several themes each chapter, this text emphasizes\ndepth over breadth by arranging each chapter around a central theme and then exploring that theme in detail as it applies to the particular region.\" That is fine, but would seem to make stand alone chapters difficult. As noted, \"In a traditional World Regional Geography textbook, chapters are arranged around the various regions of the world with each chapter focusing on the geographic features of the particular region.\" The are pros and cons with either approach, but the benefit of the \"traditional\" here may be precisely its modularity. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"In keeping with contemporary pedagogical fashions, the author organized the text, \"with the backward course design model in mind and the content of each chapter was structured around these learning objectives. Because of this backward design focus, the length of each chapter is considerably shorter than most traditional textbooks. The intention is for the instructor to supplement the text with problems, case studies, and news articles and to use the text as a springboard for discussing deeper issues.\" ","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"Several of the maps include details that are, quite frankly, impossible to decipher. Page 99, for example, shows something about population, but...? This is okay, as long as the on-line zoom function is available and doesn't distort, but many of the maps would be useless if printed out. It would also be helpful to include the names of countries on many of the maps rather than just their shaded-in shapes. Most students will not know, for example, that Eritrea is being referenced on pg. 104. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I didn't see any grammatical errors. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text is quite culturally sensitive and inoffensive. Here, the author goes out of her way to err on what some readers may feel is an overly \"political correct\" way. For example, rather than discussing the Middle East, the author opts for North Africa and Southwest Asia. The author feels that the Middle East is an \"awkward\" lexical choice as it is \"privileges the European perspective,\" which it certainly does. The challenge here, though, then involves a series of other discursive gymnastics to get to \"North Africa and Southwest Asia,\" which, paradoxically, carry their own Eurocentric baggage. Is it really necessary to spend 400 words to get there? This is an issue that geographers go back and forth on, but the point is that the author certainly takes care to be sensitive. ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Overall, this is a solid text suitable for introductory World Regional Geography courses. ","created_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2016-12-05T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":2358,"first_name":"Mark","last_name":"Sciuchetti","position":"Graduate Student","institution_name":"Florida State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Caitlin Finlayson’s World Regional Geography provides a comprehensive introduction to help instructors and students understand the thematic approach to geography that she as provided in the text. The introduction offers an exploration of the role and importance of the spatial perspective as well as a guide to the different themes that will be explored in the text. The book is outlined like a traditional world geography textbook including chapters on Europe, Russia, North America, Middle and South America, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Southwest Asia, South Asia, East and Southeast Asia, and Oceania. In the text, Finlayson goes beyond the traditional approach in world geography and not only includes descriptions of geographic features of regions such as climate, physical features, culture, economics, etc., but also emphasizes depth over breadth by arranging each chapter around different themes with those of globalization and inequality being two uniting forces.\r\nThe learning objectives presented at the beginning of each chapter offer the instructor and reader a way to navigate the text. Thought the chapters are shorter than a traditional regional geography textbook, they provide depth in context of the themes discussed and offer a way for instructors to utilize supplemental material to make the course more present and relatable to the students. The figures that are provided in each chapter are up-to-date and relevant to students, making it easier to relate to the text. The author also includes current trends in the discipline of geography, such as in chapter five with her discussion of income inequality in South America and the current research on urban development. The text is also a living text, in that it is updated. Finally, the text does provide an in-depth glossary of terms bolded throughout the text, but there is no index provided from the book. \r\n","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Having used three other world regional textbooks before I found Finlayson’s, I would say the text is quite accurate and the information contained within is well research from the physical geography of a region to the current political and cultural climate of each region discussed.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The book is written up-to-date and provides an instructor opportunity to add supplemental material to help include more current themes and case studies in their course. Using globalization as a major theme of the text makes it quite easy for an instructor to keep the text current with their own content with the text as a springboard. The chapters often use case studies of different places within a region, which can seem like an over generalization or a region, but it must be remembered that this text should act as a guide and more detailed examples and case studies should be brought into the classroom to interact with the students. A beneficial element in using this textbook is the requirement to from each based on the students and the time when the class is being taught. The book is also being updated and I have seen the 2018 edition, which shows that the author has written a text that facilitates updates, which only enhance the book.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is well-written, and the prose are quite clear. The language used in the book makes the text approachable by the instructor and their students. The author provides an important introduction to the text to be upfront and clear about her approach in her writing, which is important to the clarity of the entire book. The use of figures, images, and maps helps to clarify many of her points and therefore appeals to the visual learner. ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The textbook presents an interesting view to the study of world regional geography at the undergraduate level, one which is not often take, that of a thematic approach. In traditional undergraduate textbooks on world regional geography, each chapter represents a world region, often not all of them. Then within each chapter physical features and generalized cultural aspects of a country are discussed. Finlayson’s texts move away from that traditional approach to focus on important themes to geography and the regions at hand. To structure her text, she does rely on the traditional approach of regions as chapters, but I believe it helps provide consistency not only in the text itself, but for how we have taught geography in the past. This approach along with her framework of subdivisions between physical and human geography makes the text easier for students to read and follow along.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The structure and flow of the text along with its regional organizational schema makes it a great text to model to any world regional geography course. There are ten chapters, which is perfect for a fifteen-week course allowing for some chapters to be divided into multiple weeks. The objectives that are presented at the beginning of each chapter also allow the instructor to use different strategies when exploring each chapter with their students. The book provides a good overview of the physical and human settings for each region before jumping into the theme that will be discussed in the chapter. For example, in chapter two the author provides a description of the physical geography of Europe and the development of the human setting (a focus on the Industrial revolution), before exploring the theme of migration and identity. This type of structure allows for the instructor to begin where they like and add material to the course as they see fit.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization of the book is very clear, well thought out, and easy to follow. The author divides the book into regional chapters. Within each chapter, there are subsections which explore the physical geography, human geography, and historical setting of the region. Then each chapter includes a thematic discussion of the region focusing, for example, on globalization or inequality. The prose is clear and easy to read and would make any reader comfortable to learn about this detailed and important subject matter. Finally, the bolded key terms make for an easy way to find the important points from each chapter as well as providing concepts that will return throughout the text.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The pdf format for this textbook is great both for the instructor and students. Having the material in this format facilitates easy of reading, note-taking, and intext searches. The students also enjoy reading online as they are used to using screens, so the text is perfect for the students of this age. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"In my reading of the text through multiple times I did not find any grammatical errors that were obvious. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This textbook is culturally sensitive and providing material that is understood and appreciative of all cultures. In chapter eight, her discussion of cultural groups in South Asia takes care to explore the migratory patterns and development of culture and ethnicity in the region. As a geography of religion scholar, she provides detail on the various religious groups in the region. The maps and photos are beautiful color images that bring to life the text to highlight the cultural identity of the individuals discussed.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This textbook provides an innovative way to teach students the spatial perspective and the importance of studying geography not for memorization of place names and physical features, but to understand how to study the world through the discipline of geography.  The clear and conscience writing style of the book proves attractive to instructors and students who can easily open to any chapter and clearly understand the approach, theoretical foundations, and regional diversity. I would not look at this textbook as a separate alternative to costly textbooks just because it is an open access text, but rather, I see this book as holding equal ground with any textbook on world regional geography. It is engaging, thought provoking, and relevant to our modern world and the society in which our students are learning. I would highly recommend this textbook to any instructor or student of geography as a foundation to their study of the world’s regions and cultures.","created_at":"2018-11-05T11:13:52.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-11-05T11:13:52.000-06:00"},{"id":2850,"first_name":"Dayna","last_name":"Quick","position":"Full Time Faculty, Department Co-Chair","institution_name":"College of Marin","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers the regions and realms well and includes basic coverage for lower division courses. It focuses mainly on Core/Periphery and Globalization. This text has a glossary that is helpful, but there is no index. Some important issues for specific regions are missing, such as traditional agricultural methods, and explaining issues with tropical soils and deforestation, in the chapter on South America. ","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The information appears to be accurate. However, since it is a few years old populations have changed by several million.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Tables for statistics that change would make updates easy to implement. It would also be helpful to have dates for statistics (e.g. population as of 2015 is/was...)","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Excellent. The text is well-written, easy to read, and does a great job of defining terms as it goes.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Chapters cover similar basics per region (physical geography and settlement, for example) and then vary slightly, with some having a section on natural hazards, and others on biogeography, or religious conflict, for example.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Though the textbook lacks an index, it does have a detailed table of contents that should make it easy to assign specific sections to students.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The textbook is well organized by region, and with sub-sections, headings and helpful figures.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"Easy to navigate to sections via the table of contents. For some reason I had a difficult time using the search or find function in my PDF viewer and web browser for this textbook. If this problem is duplicated for others, this is a major downside for the instructor and students.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no grammatical errors. It is written in a clear, easy to read manner.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"I did not find the text to be culturally insensitive. That said, I do think the textbook could do more to look at indigenous practices prior to and since colonization in different regions.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Overall, this is a good textbook for covering many basics of regional geography, with room to supplement. The text is only available in pdf format or online, and in both cases, the text stays on a particular page, rather than adjusting based on size. The online format simply looks like a pdf online, but with a table of contents/menu on side bar. The addition of ePub and other formats would be helpful (compare with another World Regional Geography textbook, where there are multiple formats).","created_at":"2019-04-26T18:43:26.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-04-26T18:43:26.000-05:00"},{"id":3112,"first_name":"Mark","last_name":"Moody","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Aims Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The textbook has an outline for the chapters and sections. Each section has the respective page numbers labeled in the table of contents. The first chapter goes over geographic basics and terminology that is utilized throughout the semester. The remaining nine chapters explain the physical and cultural aspects for each realm through introducing new terminology. A couple of important geo-political topics are missing from the book. This includes: the European Union, Problems in Iran, and changing North Korea-US diplomatic relations. There are others but these are the current topics that should be within the book. Overall, it does contain the necessary information and terminology utilized within a typical World Regional Geography class.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content is mostly accurate and contains the correct information for specific terms. The climates are accurate in each chapter giving a brief description as to why each realm contains these specific zones. The historical events and cultural phenomena for each realm are explained in detail.  The book can be a little bias over some topics. The first chapter goes over inequality/poverty towards the end, but does not go into differing aspects why poverty is rampant in specific realms. For globalization, the book only mentions Western cultural influences; nothing is present over Eastern cultural influences, with the growth of China.  The chapter over Latin America contains liberation theology, this is not geography term and can give the perception this is the authors personal beliefs. The topic over Israel and Palestine focuses more on the Palestinians than the Israelis, not giving both perspectives equally. Information on the topic is very short when compared to other books.  There are other instances of bias but these topics stuck out.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The book has up-to-date information including recent occurrences within the world, especially over the Ukraine, Arab Spring, and the Refugee Crisis. The book is set-up so future impactful global events can be added. Every chapter(except for the first) contains information over current events and problems within each realm. In the future, information over the current crisis in Iran could be added at a later date. Another example would be potential changes with the diplomatic relations between the United States and North Korea.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is very well written for an introductory course. Easy to follow and has a nice flow. The terminology is explained thoroughly using specific examples.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is laid out in an easy to follow fashion. Besides the introduction chapter, each chapter has a specific order. Every chapter starts on the physical landscape, going over physical features and climate.  Historical information is presented for every realm, this allows the reader to connect how historical events were shaped by the geographic landscapes. Every chapter explains the culture and settlement patterns, ending with current events/problems.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"All of the sections within each chapter allows an instructor to assign specific pages to cover important topics from the table of contents. The glossary contains all the terms described throughout the book. As stated before there should be an index to aid students in looking up specific information.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book follows the order of most World Regional Geography textbooks. It starts with an introduction to what geography entails, explaining basic human and physical geographic terms. The rest of the book goes by realm as follows: Europe, Russia, North America, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa \u0026 Southwest Asia, South Asia, East \u0026 Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Overall, the order is effective. However, Latin America should have been split between two chapters: Central America and South America. East and Southeast Asia should be separate chapters because of their economic and cultural differences. Though it is understandable the author is trying to condense the information","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Having the book in a PDF format to download is helpful for students; especially if they have slow or minimal internet access. However, there should be an index to reference specific topics and terms. Some map legends are hard to read. The legends in figures 6.7 and 6.13 from the Sub-Saharan Africa chapter are hard to see unless the maps are downloaded separately. If the student has eyesight problems this can be problematic. However, the majority of maps within the book are easy read and have effective color usage to show differences among various countries/regions.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The book does not contain any grammar errors after reading it several times. Overall it is very well written.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"There are no instances I situated in which the author used insensitive or offensive terms for various cultural groups within our globalized world. However, Aboriginal should have been utilized for the First People of the Western Hemisphere in-lieu of Indigenous. Attention was given to the Mayans and Aztecs within Latin America, though there should have been information over the Incas. The author effectively explained the beliefs of the three Western religions and extremists within each religious group while utilizing sensitive language.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This is an effective textbook and recommend for any World Regional Geography course. Though it is somewhat bias, it is important students are exposed to all perspectives. Having students read these perspectives shows other viewpoints, allowing for greater discussions on various topics.","created_at":"2019-07-24T19:41:43.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-07-24T19:41:43.000-05:00"},{"id":3115,"first_name":"Sylvia","last_name":"Brady","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"Metropolitan State University of Denver","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The regional approach follows the typical organization and topics of a world regional text. There are fewer maps, tables, and pictures than you typically see since the author is reliant on open sources and Creative Commons licenses. The topics covered in the text are comprehensive, but some chapters are light on economic activities and focus more on globalization. The text addresses different specialties in geography, such as biogeography, population geography, and economic geography, in the different regions and uses each region to address certain aspects of human geography throughout the text rather than examining and illustrating them in the introductory chapter. This is helpful to not get bogged down in the beginning and introduction, but can be a drawback. For example, the population pyramids are not explained or introduced until you get to South Asia, so the first pyramid you see is in chapter 8. Some regions are that are separated out in other texts are combined, such as the Caribbean, Central America, and South America into Latin America, as well as East and Southeast Asia, so this inherently means it goes into less detail about some of these combined regions and individual countries in the regions. I like some texts that include tables or statistics to compare countries within the region, and I think this easily be added to the text or the instructor would supplement.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I found no mistakes or errors.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Very up-to-date with relevant issues in the past 5 years. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Great writing style that is easy to read and follow.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Unlike some texts that repeat a topic in each region, the chapter subheadings are somewhat different, so it is not as easy to assign the “population section” or \"culture sections\" for each region. The physical geography section is usually the first section, but other topics do not follow the same format. This is a matter of personal preference, but it does take more time to find a particular topic. ","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"There are different headings and topics for each chapter, which can be good to avoid repetition and the need to cover every topic in every region, but a little more difficult for modularity. The text makes it easy to assign shorter readings for topics not covered in class or to supplement lecture.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Organized by region with about 5-6 subheadings, typical of other world regional texts. Some regions are that are separated out in other texts are combined, such as the Caribbean, Central America, and South America into Latin America, as well as East and Southeast Asia. This is personal preference, but it does make it easier to cover all content, rather than what seems like skipping whole chapters or regions to students. I would like a list of each section at the beginning of the chapter, not just in the table of contents. ","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"Currently the text is only available in a pdf, with few imbedded functions other than the chapter bookmarks.The pdf is quite large, 81 mb, so can be difficult to download, open, or save on some hardware. Some images are too small to be readable or properly analyzed because of lack of detail. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no grammatical issues.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I found no issues with culturally insensitive content and addresses ethnic groups and diversity in each region.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I really enjoyed reading the text myself, and I used it in my summer class. I found it easy to assign just a section or two to reinforce lecture or address a topic I could not cover in class. It is more of a resource and reference for the class, and there are no supplemental materials that correspond to it. Likely useful for an instructor that already pulls material from multiple sources and is looking for a complementary and supplementary text. ","created_at":"2019-07-25T13:58:06.000-05:00","updated_at":"2019-07-25T13:58:06.000-05:00"},{"id":3365,"first_name":"Ivan","last_name":"Ramirez","position":"Visiting Assistant Professor","institution_name":"University of Colorado","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book uses a regional approach and is concise for an introductory textbook, which could be appealing to many undergraduates. It covers basic concepts and topics in geography and introduces students to primary branches (human and physical) and the many sub-discipline perspectives in geography, such as economic, political, and climatology, for example. Throughout the book, the sub-discipline perspectives are integrated into the descriptions of the regions, highlighting human and physical geography dimensions of the discipline. The author however consistently falls short when it comes to human-environment interactions, namely global environmental change, disasters and hazards geography. Examples include simple descriptions of El Nino, causes of climate, and root causes of deforestation in the Amazon, for example. There are also some concepts that I would expect (for example, global south, imperialism) given the author application of core and periphery concepts. There is a glossary but no index provided, although given this is a web-based document, one could simply search the document for terms. ","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The book appears accurate, but in some instances the descriptions are too concise and miss some information. For example, the description of the stage two of the demographic transition needs careful review. There should be a mention that industrialization begins.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The book content needs updates and needs to be consistent about updates. For example, there are one or two references about Donald Trump in 2017 and 2018 (e.g. about NAFTA), but fails to update other sections or topics (e.g., Brexit, current immigration issues, Yemen, etc.).","clarity_rating":3,"clarity_review":"The text is accessible, but does not always provide adequate context or explanation of terms, for example, the human development index and European Union. ","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"The regional framework is consistent. There is also a consistent application of core and periphery concepts, suggesting a critical view. With regards to physical geography, the author introduces the Koppen classification early as a way to describe ecosystems and climate in regions, which is useful; this however was not always applied (for example, North America). ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is easily and readily divisible into smaller reading sections.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text is organized in a clear fashion.","interface_rating":2,"interface_review":"The text has many significant interface issues, inconsistent size of fonts and images, which may distract the reader. For example, Figure 4.8 and Figure 4.10. In some cases, the text within maps is too small to read even when you zoom in (for example, Figures 1.15 or 2.5). This is largely due however to the nature of the project, which relies on open source information. \r\nSome text or phrases are not consistently bolded (for example when discussing Figures).","grammatical_rating":2,"grammatical_review":"I found many misspelled words and lack of spaces in between words, particularly in the first chapter. There are also some instances where the sentence is incomplete or incorrect (see Section 1.7). ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Cultural context seems appropriate.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"The book clearly needs a copy editor to proofread and make suggestions about consistency. Basically, the author could use assistance. There is also a need for more images, in some cases - fewer maps (provide table of data instead particularly where the maps do not provide much detail), and Boxes which could highlight a case study or example for a region (for example, El Nino and Disasters in Latin America; Migration Challenges).","created_at":"2019-12-09T23:30:10.000-06:00","updated_at":"2019-12-09T23:30:10.000-06:00"},{"id":3584,"first_name":"James","last_name":"Leonard","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Marshall University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book covers all major world regions.  I dislike that East and Southeast Asia is lumped into a single region.  Most world regional geography textbooks split that part of Asia into at two regions for better depth of coverage of this high population, diverse region.  \r\n\r\nBecause she only chooses a few topics per region, which topics differ from chapter to chapter, she can't present an overall comprehensive picture of WRG.  For the Russia region, I felt like I was reading a history textbook.  I suppose this is because \"in emphasizing depth over breadth, some content was sacrificed.\"","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Finlayson typically spouts general knowledge found in other similar textbooks.  This means she is fairly vague and makes some statements that are inaccurate because it appears she hasn't fully researched the issues. Because she relies on open source maps, several times her maps don't correspond closely with what she describes in the text and sometimes the maps are poorly designed without a sufficient legend or description of mapped items.\r\n","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"Finlayson published in 2016.  I'm not sure how often she updates her materials.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Finlayson writes in a student friendly fashion.  I almost feel like I'm in her classroom as she lectures.","consistency_rating":2,"consistency_review":"Because she relies on open source mapping, her chapters vary widely in the quality of graphics and even similar topics use maps that don't match.  For example, she presents a climate map of Europe, but no other chapter contains one.  How is a student supposed to compare features among regions?  I could name many more subjects discussed for one region, but not for any other--population density, economic development, etc.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"You could easily slice out one chapter and it could stand alone.  However, see my comment about consistency.","organization_rating":2,"organization_review":"Chapter order is fine.  Within chapters, however, she seems to have \"stream of consciousness\" arrangement, i.e., whatever interests Finlayson gets printed in whatever order brings her joy.","interface_rating":2,"interface_review":"You can't click from the table of contents to forward to a chapter or sub-chapter.  Within a chapter, I saw no problems with distortion or confusing display features.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Finlayson writes at a professional English level.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Covering a world full of different cultures, Finlayson presents the barest surface so doesn't have a chance to become offensive.  When she does address a sensitive topic of culture, she is inclusive and not offensive.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"For free, it's acceptable albeit inconsistent and sloppy.  Save students a few bucks and fill in the gaps with your own material.  I've used it for a couple of semesters.  However, Finlayson's World Regional Geography is nowhere near the quality of the traditional world regional geography textbooks that students must pay for.  ","created_at":"2020-02-17T12:03:59.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-02-17T12:03:59.000-06:00"},{"id":3694,"first_name":"Stanley","last_name":"Toops","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Miami University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Text provides a useful glossary. There is no index, although one can search for items easily.\r\nChap 1 provides a basic introduction to geography. Other chapters provide more geographical information about the world regions.\r\nEast and South East Asia are merged into one chapter, they should be separate.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"There are no biases. Fairly accurate discussion.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The book provides a snapshot of global issues and regional analysis in 2019. It should be updated every two years.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"very clear, terminology is adequately explained","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"good consistency","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Each chapter is organized with subheadings. The reader can easily find different sections \r\nfor example\r\nEurope\r\n2.1 European Physical Geography and Boundaries 27\r\n2.2 Cooperation and Control in Europe 30\r\n2.3 The Industrial Revolution 35\r\n2.4 European Migration 39\r\n2.5 Shifting National Identities 40\r\n2.6 Current Migration Patterns and Debates 44","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"good organization","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"easy to read and follow the text. maps and graphics are useful.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"well-written, no major grammar/ syntax problems","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"The material is written form a US perspective rather than form a global perspective. it is difficult to see the local cultures in each of the world regions. More analysis is given to physical, political and economic geographies of the regions.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"The chapters are short. While the text provides basic geography of the regions, the reader whether instructor or student would need to do more digging. \r\nperhaps some references or additional readings would be useful.","created_at":"2020-03-30T09:54:07.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-03-30T09:54:07.000-05:00"},{"id":4071,"first_name":"Kirk","last_name":"Scott","position":"Senior Visiting Instructor","institution_name":"Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Finlayson covers the regions of the world covered by most standard world regional geography. While the first chapter does cover in a single chapter the basic concepts of geography that often take 2-3 chapters in other more comprehensive texts, the coverage is certainly adequate and gives a good foundation off of which to build lectures.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I have not found any glaring errors.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The most impressive addition to Finlayson, one that I haven't seen elsewhere, is the section on the Arctic and The Law of the Seas included in the standard chapter on Oceania and Antarctica (section 10.2). With current conflicts over maritime resources, maritime shipping routes, and access to the Arctic in the face of melting Arctic sea ice, this section supports exploration of these important current events.  This also well-supports my project assignment on the Belt and Road Initiative.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Very clear, and the addition of highlighted vocabulary terms that can be clicked on for definition is a real plus when dealing with the issue of the lack of common vocabulary among students.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Very consistent throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Chapter broken into logical sections.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Well-organized in a standard \"regional\" approach to regional geography.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Everything looks good, but the term search function seems a bit clunky and doesn't always give the desired outcome.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors I have seen. The reading level is accessible but not simplistic.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Finlayson takes great pains to approach issues of exploitation and equity throughout.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"The book is certainly brief, but gives a more than adequate foundation for my course. It is easy to navigate as well. One of the most outstanding aspects of this book is the author: She is accessible and is building a community of users who share ideas and resources. When considering this book on the recommendation of a colleague, I emailed the author. She responded the next day with encouragement, real interest, and recommendations for resources. She is great!\r\n\r\nYou may not see me in your list of participants because my spouse and I participated in your event jointly, registered under the email, diane.scott@mcla.edu. I am kirk.scott@mcla.edu.","created_at":"2020-06-24T14:29:35.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-06-24T14:29:35.000-05:00"},{"id":4745,"first_name":"Brian","last_name":"Grabbatin","position":"Geography Faculty","institution_name":"Midlands Technical College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Chapter 1 provides a concise overview of the discipline and a solid overview of core concepts that allow students to get acclimated to thinking geographically. \r\nI like that bolded concepts can be clicked and defined without navigating away from the main text. However, the glossary itself is problematic.  First, you cannot search or browse by term or letter. Second, the definitions are awfully brief and not particularly helpful on their own.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Each chapter provides sufficient detail and generalized perspectives that are not overtly biased.  While I have not read every word, overall it looks well edited.  Some of the tables are linked to Our World Data, a source I trust and which is updated regularly. Some of the maps and images are linked to Wikipedia, which I know has come a long way since it's founding, but it not a source I would point students to or rely upon for accurate information. I typically point my students to Britannica, the CIA World Factbook, NASA, and Gap Minder, which are not perfect sources, but are far more scholarly.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Some of the figures are linked to Our World Data and are done in such a way that they will automatically provide the most up to date information. Other figures are linked to sources that are more static or out of date.  This is a difficult problem to overcome because online sources are constantly redesigned and addressed. Some of the maps and images are linked to Wikipedia, which provides a link with a source that will be updated and use the same address, but it is not necessarily a source that improves over time.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book does an excellent job of succinctly providing background and introducing complex concepts. The writing is clear and well organized.  Sometimes the succinct writing does do at the expense of complexity, but that is a limitation of any textbook.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent without being overly routinized.  Each chapter presents the world region with an emphasis on its distinctiveness and diversity, while using concepts and tropes that are familiar from previous chapters and the introduction.  Each chapter is well organized and easy to navigate because of the consist organization and structure.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The chapters are well organized. The sub-sections are well chosen and easy to navigate between in the online version.  The PDF version does have bookmarks by chapter, but could be improved by adding bookmarks to the sub-sections as well. \r\n\r\nSome chapters have a section with a key words like \"Current, Modern, or Future\" that suggests that section would be a natural place for updates on contemporary issues. However, other sub-sections also have topics that will require updating or adding new themes.  I'm not sure exactly how to make that process easy in the future, but I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The chapters are well organized and ordered. Chapter 1 does exactly what a chapter in a World Regions book should: introduces the discipline, geographic themes, and overarching concepts. The regions are well grouped and ordered to present a post-colonial narrative by starting with Europe, moving to the Global South, and moving on to the Pacific World. \r\nThe sub-sections are well chosen and easy to navigate between in the online version.  The PDF version does have bookmarks by chapter, but could be improved by adding bookmarks to the sub-sections as well.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I like that bolded concepts can be clicked and defined without navigating away from the main text. However, the glossary itself is problematic.  First, you cannot search or browse by term or letter. Second, the definitions are awfully brief and not particularly helpful on their own. \r\n\r\nThe tables and maps look good both online and in the PDF. I wish there was a way to click on them and make them full screen (particularly the maps) so it is easy to take a closer look at the trends and distributions. I also like that the tables and maps are linked to websites where students can learn more. Although I do think that Wikipedia is used far too often as a general source of information.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"While I have not read every page carefully, it appears to be well edited and written.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text offers diverse perspectives and celebrates multiculturalism. World Geography deals with politically charged issues. So, I'm sure that someone with a \"bone to pick\" would take issue with the way some geopolitical themes are framed. However, the text is accurate and written in a way that allows the reader and the instructor to learn more about how different groups of people or nations might view the topics presented.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Very nice online textbook and the best open-source book I've found for World Geography.  I can tell that the author put a lot of time and effort into developing this resource and I am grateful. \r\n\r\nI am very tempted to ditch my expensive textbook from the publisher for this book.  It's particularly tempting because students can purchase a printed copy, download the PDF, or visit the book online.  The only thing that's holding me back is that I rely heavily on publisher online resources. In particular I like the interactive mapping software my publisher offers. I'm not sure how we can overcome that in the open-access format, but I'm open to suggestions and searching for answers.","created_at":"2021-04-06T12:55:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-06T12:55:00.000-05:00"},{"id":33577,"first_name":"TUBA","last_name":"KAYAARASI","position":"INSTRUCTOR","institution_name":"Portland Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The content of the Middle and South America chapter covers basic topics I consider to teach in the Geography of Latin America course. The context is appropriate for the approach to the subject matter.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurate, clear, well-written, and easy to read. It is accurate, free of biases. However, it was published in 2016.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The textbook was published in 2016. There is data presented in the chapter. The numbers must have changed since 2016. It probably needs to be updated. However, the content is still meaningful and relevant for the geography of the Latin America course.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The language is appropriate and inclusive to most lower-level students. It is easy to read. It does not include much technical terminology that is not clear to non-majoring students. The chapter speaks to a general audience.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Each chapter in the book follows the same format. It is consistent. Each chapter is divided into a world region. And each region is divided into themes of human geography.  It is easy to follow the topics within the chapters.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapter (Middle and South America) is divided into several sections. It is well organized. Balanced amount of text and images. It is easy to follow.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The chapter starts with presenting learning outcomes. Each section within the chapter has subtitles. Each topic is presented in a logical and clear fashion.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Images could be smaller. There are half-empty pages that can be easily fixed by making images smaller.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"No major grammatical errors were found.","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"The textbook is culturally sensitive. It is inclusive to all races and ethnicities within various regions of the world. The chapter on Middle and Central America, the one that can be used in the geography of Latin America course, can cover more cultural diversity of Latin America today. The chapter does not go into detail about the diverse cultural characteristics of Latin America.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"The Middle and South America chapter can be used in the geography of Latin America course. But it lacks major themes of the human geography of Latin America that is central to the course learning outcomes. It needs to be supported with other OER resources.","created_at":"2021-12-26T15:25:11.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-12-26T15:25:11.000-06:00"},{"id":33965,"first_name":"Anne","last_name":"Santiago","position":"Associate Professor and Chair","institution_name":"University of Portland","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"It is comprehensive in that it covers all areas of the world. There is a helpful glossary.  On a critical note, the material presented is very basic. I would suggest the content is appropriate for high school use, but not at the university level. While many concepts are covered, there is almost no theoretical explanation for the material (for example, there are no references anywhere in the book). As such, it answers the what questions rather than the why questions. As just one example, there is no theoretical attention paid to causes of conflicts in the Sub-Saharan Africa or North Africa/West Asia chapters. It is similar to a comprehensive encyclopedia like those published by Europa World. I'm not sure if this is the intent of the Creative Commons texts, but it struck me as a major limitation for university level courses with this particular book.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"It appears accurate with most information. I did find a couple of errors that are minor (e.g. naming the General Sherman tree as a Redwood in Redwood National Park when it is a Giant Sequoia in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park).","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"A lot of the data (e.g. economic figures) will quickly be outdated. For example, the author listed Russia as the 6th largest economy in the world, when most sources today do not put it in the top ten.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"It is free of jargon, and concepts are well explained.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"It is consistent in much of what is reported. However, I would suggest that it needs a better explanation as to why certain concepts are emphasized more in some regions than others (e.g.g religious conflict in North Africa/West Asia chapter).","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Subheadings are helpful. Since it is organized by global region, instructors do not have to utilize it as organized.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"It needs a concluding chapter!","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I believe the online version works very well. I downloaded the text as a pdf and a few of the figures did not download properly. This is a minor issue.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"It is well written and comprehensible to all reading levels.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Certainly the author was writing in a way that was culturally sensitive. But, again, my basic critique of the text is that it is much too simplistic when it comes to explanations about government processes, economics, conflict, etc. There are broad generalizations about regions without digging deep into historical explanations. This is true even when the author introduced the idea that one problem with geography texts is that they favor breadth over depth. This book tried to cover the globe, which is a monumental task, so depth and complexity are sacrificed.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I was excited when I read the teaser about the book and hoped that it would be more interesting than it turned out to be. I would not use the book for any course I teach at the undergraduate level (though I had been thinking I might prior to reading it). My students would be bored with this text. While it does give a lot of basic information in a single place, it does not ask the second order questions that I believe university level students need to grapple with.","created_at":"2022-07-29T13:19:25.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-07-29T13:19:25.000-05:00"},{"id":34470,"first_name":"Ali","last_name":"Alsaffar","position":"Ph.D","institution_name":"Minnesota State Community and Technical College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The textbook has an outline for the chapters and sections. It is easy for the reader and the students to follow and comprehend.  I liked it.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not feel like I need to spend extra time or effort to read. I believe this textbook is very good for the students at introductory level.","relevance_rating":2,"relevance_review":"The textbook may need some updates in next version.  I have noticed that we need to focus on few important topics like the geo-political topics are missing from the book. The textbook need to discuss more the European Union, Problems in Iran, problem in Ukraine and Russia and the changing North Korea-US diplomatic relations. \nAlso the textbook need to provide more information in how the paleoenvironment and current environment impacted people at different geographical regions.  Add more information about the natural resources and energy.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is clear.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"No issues","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The textbook is easy to read and navigate.  I don't see students will struggle to comprehend,  instead, the students will be challenged in discussions about each region.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Well organized and easy to navigate","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No issues","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No issues","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Maybe the textbook need to add more information about immigration and it changed specific geographical regions positively by having a spectrum of diverse people with different backgrounds, experiences and skills","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2023-03-23T09:36:28.000-05:00","updated_at":"2023-03-23T09:36:28.000-05:00"},{"id":34859,"first_name":"Linda","last_name":"McCarthy","position":"Professor","institution_name":"University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"As described in the Preface, compared to traditional world regional geography textbooks, this book’s short chapters sacrifice content for depth over breadth. As a free resource for students, it is a very useful textbook for use with supplementary materials added by each instructor. There is the typical introductory chapter, and then 9 world regions covered in 9 chapters. These 9 chapters start with the physical geography and then address the human side. The depth over breadth means that the topics in each chapter are not consistent, with different themes offered in different chapters related to the book’s two overarching themes of globalization and inequality. The short chapters with themes result in some topics not being covered (for example, populism, global climate agreements including the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement, ecotourism, Yemen Civil War, China’s Belt and Road initiative, China’s One Child Policy, Tibet, Europe’s aging population with its social and policy implications) and other important topics only getting a couple of paragraphs (for example, the European Union, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict). The bolded terms and the glossary are very helpful for the student reader.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content is largely accurate if too brief at times, for example, the core-periphery model is used but neglects any discussion of its third category, the semi-periphery, which includes China, India, and Brazil (which are most of the BRICs which could also be covered as a group of important semi-peripheral countries). The content needs to be updated in places to address some inaccuracies, e.g., the EU now has 27 members, not 28, and although the book mentions the 2016 referendum and why a country might consider leaving the EU, it needs to address Brexit more completely. The titles of some chapters could be revisited, e.g., “Russia” is a country, not a world region; many traditional world regional geography textbooks use “US and Canada” instead of “North America” because Mexico is covered in a different chapter and in this book too.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Some of the material/coverage and data is up to 10 years out of date and would benefit from being updated if possible.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The book is clearly written and very appropriate for undergraduate students.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Some instructors might prefer the approach in traditional world regional geography textbooks to address the same human geography topics (after the physical geography section) systematically across all the world regions covered (instead of different selected topics) to allow greater comparison among world regions/chapters. The necessary use of open source maps/figures means that there is a lot of variation in the maps/figures in different world regional chapters (for example, there are no comparable physiographic region maps or climatic region maps in every chapter).","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Like traditional world regional geography textbooks, the chapters on the different world regions can be covered in whatever order an instructor prefers. In contrast, the content/topics covered in each chapter are not consistent across chapters. An index would be helpful.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Although the chapters do not address the same topics systematically, or in as much depth as is possible in traditional world regional geography textbooks, the short chapters in the book are well organized. Some instructors might prefer that East and Southeast Asia are not combined into a single chapter in this book.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Having the book available online to be read by students is great. I downloaded the pdf without issue. It would be nice if the figures could be clicked on to be enlarged because the text in some of the figures is too small to read at 100% size on the pdf on my laptop or desktop computer screen.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"There are some minor typos.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"No issues, although the level of detail is limited by the short length of the chapters.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"Compared to expensive traditional world regional geography textbooks, this free textbook is great in terms of being no cost for students. The book is definitely worth considering adopting for an introductory world regional geography course by instructors who can do without the publisher provided online instructor supplemental resources and add their own supplementary material to the brief chapters.","created_at":"2024-01-10T12:11:31.000-06:00","updated_at":"2024-01-10T12:11:31.000-06:00"}],"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/world-regional-geography","updated_at":"2026-05-18T02:10:10.000-05:00"},{"id":863,"title":"Slavery to Liberation: The African American Experience","edition_statement":"2nd Edition","volume":null,"copyright_year":2019,"ISBN10":null,"ISBN13":"9781734328905","license":"Attribution","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":"unknown","description":"Slavery to Liberation: The African American Experience gives instructors, students, and general readers a comprehensive and up-to-date account of African Americans’ cultural and political history, economic development, artistic expressiveness, and religious and philosophical worldviews in a critical framework. It offers sound interdisciplinary analysis of selected historical and contemporary issues surrounding the origins and manifestations of White supremacy in the United States. By placing race at the center of the work, the book offers significant lessons for understanding the institutional marginalization of Blacks in contemporary America and their historical resistance and perseverance.","contributors":[{"id":5201,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Joshua","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Farrington","location":"Eastern Kentucky University","background_text":"Joshua Farrington, Eastern Kentucky University"},{"id":5202,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Norman","middle_name":"W.","last_name":"Powell","location":"Eastern Kentucky University","background_text":"Norman W. Powell, Eastern Kentucky University"},{"id":5203,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Gwendolyn","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Graham","location":"Eastern Kentucky University","background_text":"Gwendolyn Graham, Eastern Kentucky University"},{"id":6229,"contribution":"Author","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Ogechi","middle_name":"E.","last_name":"Anyanwu","location":"Eastern Kentucky University","background_text":"Ogechi E. Anyanwu, Eastern Kentucky University"}],"subjects":[{"id":30,"name":"History","parent_subject_id":6,"call_number":"D20","visible_textbooks_count":52,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/history"},{"id":46,"name":"Cultural \u0026 Ethnic Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM621","visible_textbooks_count":26,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies"},{"id":45,"name":"Political Science","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"JA71","visible_textbooks_count":41,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/political-science"},{"id":43,"name":"Sociology","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM586","visible_textbooks_count":35,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/sociology"}],"publishers":[{"id":842,"url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/ekuopen/1/","year":2019,"created_at":"2020-07-02T22:23:34.000-05:00","updated_at":"2020-07-02T22:23:59.000-05:00","name":"Encompass Digital Archive"}],"formats":[{"id":1513,"type":"PDF","url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002\u0026context=ekuopen","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":"9781734328905"}],"rating":"4","textbook_reviews_count":6,"reviews":[{"id":4603,"first_name":"Nemata","last_name":"Blyden","position":"Professor","institution_name":"The George Washington University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book is very comprehensive in its breadth and depth, fulfilling its aim to expose students to African American experiences.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"As far as I can tell, not being a specialist in all the disciplines represented, the book's content, from the perspectives they take, is accurate.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Themes covered by the book are relevant. While some of the. material addressing contemporary issues (e.g Chapter on African American incumbents) may become dated, their relevance is not diminished.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"While some chapters are stronger than others in this respect, for the most part, they are accessible.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"This is a difficult question to answer for this book because it is an edited volume and the chapters are written by scholars from various disciplines and fields. Having said that, because of the focus on African American experiences consistency is maintained.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Yes. Because it is a book that discusses many aspects of African American experiences, and is one that was designed for a specific course in mind, it succeeds as far as modularity is concerned.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book flows well. I like the way it presents historical material earlier in the book giving a context for later chapters.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I found no problems.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"All the chapters were well written.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Because this text focuses on a historically underrepresented population it is culturally sensitive.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"The book, with its single authored chapters representing different disciplines, allowed the reader to examine many elements of African American experiences from different perspectives. I particularly appreciated that many of the chapters were based on original research done by the authors themselves. The chapters addressed topics not often found in general books focusing on black experiences. From Powell's examination on notions of beauty to Andrew Smith's look at the \"cultural diplomacy of sport,\" to Riley's look at Black political incumbents, this book gives us a glimpse into the multidimensional lives of African Americans.","created_at":"2021-01-31T16:46:58.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-01-31T16:46:58.000-06:00"},{"id":4876,"first_name":"Tom","last_name":"Reifer","position":"Professor","institution_name":"University of San Diego","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"A book that ranges so far as this cannot really ever be said to be comprehensive, but that being said, this text\r\ngives a fairly wide range of coverage, with generally good or impressive use of sources, despite occasional areas\r\nthat one might want to emphasize more.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"Not sure what unbiased means in this context, but generally speaking, the sources seem useful, citing outstanding scholars in their respective fields.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"Given the historical nature of the overview, the book manages to be current, while at the same time incorporating information that will likely stand the test of time.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"Overall, the book seem to me to be clear for students at many levels to understand.","consistency_rating":3,"consistency_review":"Appeared consistent to me.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Books modularity seemed fairly strong to me.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"I thought the topics were arranged in a useful fashion for introductory students.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I found the interface quite easy.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"From my reading, grammar seemed on target.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The book was useful in looking at the intersections of racial, and the social construction of race and ethnicity, for example among African Americans and Native Americans.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"There are a few areas that I thought might be expanded on, for example Aldon Morris's work on the Black Church as an agency-laden institution, as well as the possible incorporation of recently published posthumous works by Claude McKay, Romance in Marseille (Penguin 2020), that expands our understanding of the Harlem Renaissance, and has relevance for questions of Disability Studies, alternately called People With Disabilities (PwD), or those who are differently abled.","created_at":"2021-05-03T15:40:58.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-05-03T15:40:58.000-05:00"},{"id":5125,"first_name":"William","last_name":"Devine","position":"Adjunct  Art Dept.","institution_name":"Holyoke Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"From the 15th century to the 21st Century African American history is American history. The text is gives numerous examples throughout history what transpired  to precipitate the color black as a negative image be it the color of someones skin to hats, horses, evil demons, the night in general and even our souls.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Historical facts starting in the first chapter to the last gives us a wonderful view of what actually happened. Dealing with \"the colored line\",NAACP, Brown vs Topeka Board of Education,Black Power, Gumboot dancing,Underground Railroad,Emancipation Proclamation,Tulsa's Greenwood district, Jim Crow Laws and The Civil Rights Act of 1964 then accuracy stood tall.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"If there ever was a time and place for this textbook, it is now.  This text could stand alone or beside books like, Notes of a Native Son-Baldwin,The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B DuBois, James McBride- The Color of Water, Colson Whitehead's Underground Railroad and Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"\"GUMBOOT DANCING AND STEPPIN’ AS A TOOL FOR DEVELOPING CULTURALLY SENSITIVE LISTENERS South African gumboot dancing and African American Steppin’ are both current, authentic vehicles for teaching students of all ages about the historical, societal, and 45 aesthetic values of their relevant countries.\" The text keeps things in perspective.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The terminology and framework are consistent throughout the textbook. It brings language to the emotional structures that make discussions about racial attitudes a social engagement.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text is divisible with good discussion questions at the end of each chapter.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text is a give-a-way to the organizations parts- \"Slavery to Liberation\"","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I think each chapter could lead to healthy discussions that may lead a class to further investigate  some chapter further.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"I couldn't fine any grammatical errors in the text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text is not culturally insensitive or offensive in any way. It  makes use of examples that are inclusive of a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Frederick Douglass described the practice of forced separation of enslaved children from their parents as “a marked feature of the cruelty and barbarity of the slave system.” The culture of complicity can be seen throughout American history. As Voltair once said \"Every man is guilty of all the good he did not do.\"","created_at":"2021-06-20T21:13:24.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-06-20T21:13:24.000-05:00"},{"id":34028,"first_name":"Grace","last_name":"Gipson","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Virginia Commonwealth University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is a text that offers a wide-reaching approach to the field African American Studies and the overall Black experience. This is useful so that multiple perspectives are brought to the forefront. It is also a very readable text that can be used on multiple grade levels. The stories that are being shared are ones that in the past have been given a cursory discussion or minimal engagement.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The text is accurate and introduces and array of less discussed topics (i.e. Black women experiences during the Civil Rights era, race and new media, race and beauty)in a very inviting manner.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This text is a very necessary and needed collection. Students and teachers will find the material engaging and thought-provoking. As an edited collection, it provides a clear and relevant interdisciplinary analysis of curated historical and contemporary issues that discuss the early interpretations and origins of anti-Blackness and white supremacy in the United States. It also covers topics such as health and religion, which are discussed in specialized books, but less in overall/general texts such as this one.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text provides various disciplinary viewpoints (ex. political, cultural, artistic, religious) that speak to the African American experience. Therefore, allowing  multiple readers (students, teachers, scholars, activists) access to the content. Due the language not being heavy, all readers will be able to see and understand the multiple stories that are being told.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The text provides a consistent flow as it relates to content, language, and chapter framework.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"There is a nice balance between the chapters being in chronological order and topical information. While each chapter offers new and different content, there is still a common thread throughout each one which serves as a connective tissue.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Each chapter has a clear flow into the next. The introduction does a great job of setting the scene of the entire text. Having the background of the importance of diverse pedagogy and storytelling, discussions on the impact and legacy of enslavement and ultimate liberation  offer the reader a gateway into what is to come with each chapter.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"No issues with the interface, great quality of the images, and no problems with the embedded links.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There were no issues with grammar.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"This is a very inclusive text and speaks to the many experiences of African Americans. It could be strengthened with additional images that speak/connect to the content discussed in each chapter.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"In addition to being a comprehensive and rich text, I was also quite enamored with the texts covers. It introduces and showcases a joyful spirit, which is followed by a complex and informative topic.","created_at":"2022-09-05T22:27:57.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-09-05T22:27:57.000-05:00"},{"id":34519,"first_name":"Leah","last_name":"Hagedorn","position":"Professor of History","institution_name":"Tidewater Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":1,"comprehensiveness_review":"(See full review below)","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"(See full review below)","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"(See full review below)","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"(See full review below)","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"(See full review below)","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"(See full review below)","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"(See full review below)","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"(See full review below)","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"(See full review below)","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"(See full review below)","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"African American history courses urgently need OER resources. While the 2022 edition of this anthology cannot replace a textbook for introductory courses, a number of chapters work as supplementary readings. Umeme Sababu’s engaging analysis of the Black Panther Party and Kevin G. McQueeney’s persuasive piece on the “deep connection between the field of medicine and the overall treatment and perception of African Americans” offer thought-provoking resources for students. Leroy Myers’ chapter on freedmen who became full members of American Indian tribes offers useful insights to help students consider the meanings of emancipation and definitions of freedom.\n        On the subject of migrations, Thomas Keefe’s chapter on Liberia and the American Colonization Society, Oran Kennedy’s chapter, “Enslaved African American Families and Escape to the U.S. North and Canada, 1800-1861,” and Jonathan S. Lower’s work on Blues legend Blind Lemon Jefferson offer important perspectives. \n\tChapters by Jayne R. Beilke, Sekhmet Ra Em Kht Maat, and Shelby Pumphrey may be of special interest to education students. All chapters offer useful discussion questions and thoughtful writing prompts.","created_at":"2023-04-17T16:38:30.000-05:00","updated_at":"2023-04-17T16:38:30.000-05:00"},{"id":34616,"first_name":"Mamadou","last_name":"Seck","position":"ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR","institution_name":"Cleveland State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book covers severals topics relevant to the course content. Many articles can be offered to students for reading to illustrate the course content and be used in discussion assignments. It covers relevant articles on slavery and race relations in the United States.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The book content is accurate and reflects the current state of knowledge in the areas of slavery, race relations, African American education, American Institutions, and African American youth, critical issues in African American health.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content is up-to-date and covers several areas including Slavery, race relations, the current health concerns related to the status of African Americans in the US.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"In sum, the text is written in lucid accessible prose. Only two articles did I assess that could be a little confusing for some students: \nChapter 3....................................................................................................... 27\nGumboot Dancing and Steppin’: Origins, Parallels, and Uses in the Classroom\nNicola Mason\nChapter 5.................................................................................................... 74\nSome Notes on the History of Black Sexuality in the United States\nJohn P. Elia","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I found the terms used relevant and appropriate to the topic, significant in the context of race relations during and after slavery. \nRegarding the framework, I find a lot of similarity on the articles' framework as concepts are illustrated with examples such as in Aaron Thompson's article \"Introduction to the African American Experience,\" when the author talked about the experience of Phillis Wheatley as an exemple.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Thi book entitled \"Slavery to Liberation\" includes 20 chapters. Each chapter reflects some aspects of the Afrian American life in the United States between Slavery period to the current state of our country.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book framework shows a logical progression from slavery to the present time. The titles of the 20 chapters show a progression from the arrival of slaves, life in slavery, identity issues within the American population, race relations, educational issues in the US, and the consequences of slavery.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The framework shows a consistency in the included themes; therefore there is an easy navigation from one article to another.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text are well written and I did not find grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I did not see any insensitive remark.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Almost all the articles in this book can be used in my class. I have had the opportunity to use some of them in replacement assignments I offer to students who missed some scheduled assignments. These assignments required them to summarize the chapter content first and then to indicate their reactions to the content. There reflections reflected shared feelings and significant adhesion to the themes.","created_at":"2023-06-22T12:08:14.000-05:00","updated_at":"2023-06-22T12:08:14.000-05:00"}],"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/slavery-to-liberation-the-african-american-experience-farrington","updated_at":"2024-03-25T08:15:22.000-05:00"},{"id":392,"title":"Immigrant and Refugee Families","edition_statement":"2nd Ed.","volume":null,"copyright_year":2016,"ISBN10":null,"ISBN13":"9781946135018","license":"Attribution-NonCommercial","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":"unknown","description":"Immigrant and Refugee Families: Global Perspectives on Displacement and Resettlement Experiences offers an interdisciplinary perspective on immigrant and refugee families' challenges and resilience across multiple domains, including economic, political, health, and human rights. This new edition has been revised and updated from the original 2016 edition. Co-edited with equal contribution by Jaime Ballard, Elizabeth Wieling, Catherine Solheim, and Lekie Dwanyen","contributors":[{"id":3946,"contribution":"Editor","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Jaime","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Ballard","location":"University of Minnesota","background_text":"Jaime Ballard is a research contractor in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on supporting families and parents affected by traumatic stress. Jaime has developed community-engaged interventions to support families, including culturally appropriate, trauma-informed interventions with Karen refugees in St. Paul."},{"id":3947,"contribution":"Editor","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Elizabeth","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Wieling","location":"University of Minnesota","background_text":"Elizabeth Wieling is a Professor and Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Doctoral Program at the University of Georgia. She is a family therapist and a prevention and intervention scholar working to develop parenting and family level evidence-based interventions for populations affected by traumatic stress. Wieling collaborates with interdisciplinary colleagues in post-conflict settings outside of the United States and with immigrant and refugee communities locally. Her teaching includes courses on clinical treatments for families affected by post-traumatic stress and topics related to social justice and mental health."},{"id":3948,"contribution":"Editor","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Catherine","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Solheim","location":"University of Minnesota","background_text":"Catherine Solheim is an associate professor in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. She teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on family finances, family theory, and global and diverse families. She has co-led six learning abroad courses to Thailand, focusing on how globalization impacts family, culture, and the natural environment. Solheim’s scholarship focuses on ways that culture, socio-economic status, and relationships impact the diverse ways families make decisions about their resources."},{"id":5020,"contribution":"Editor","primary":false,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Lekie","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Dwanyen","location":"University of Minnesota","background_text":"Lekie Dwanyen is a Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Family Social Science at the University of Minnesota. Her research agenda centers on family-level adjustment and wellbeing in communities affected by war and organized violence. She is invested in understanding and advocating for the psychological and relational health of war-affected immigrant and refugee families, as well as families in post-conflict settings. Lekie is also interested in the development of family-level interventions for traumatic stress."}],"subjects":[{"id":46,"name":"Cultural \u0026 Ethnic Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM621","visible_textbooks_count":26,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies"},{"id":45,"name":"Political Science","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"JA71","visible_textbooks_count":41,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/political-science"},{"id":9,"name":"Social Sciences","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"H1","visible_textbooks_count":285,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/social-sciences"},{"id":43,"name":"Sociology","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM586","visible_textbooks_count":35,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/sociology"}],"publishers":[{"id":472,"url":"https://www.lib.umn.edu/publishing/works/textbooks","year":null,"created_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:40.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-09-07T12:22:40.000-05:00","name":"University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing"}],"formats":[{"id":486,"type":"Online","url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/immigrantfamilies/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1669,"type":"PDF","url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/immigrantfamilies/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1670,"type":"eBook","url":"http://open.lib.umn.edu/immigrantfamilies/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2285,"type":"ODF","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/immigrantfamilies/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":2286,"type":"XML","url":"https://open.lib.umn.edu/immigrantfamilies/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":13,"reviews":[{"id":1041,"first_name":"Winston","last_name":"Seegobin","position":"Professor of Clinical Psychology","institution_name":"George Fox University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The authors did an excellent job of comprehensively describing the immigrant and refugee experience in the United States. Each chapter provided extensive coverage of topics and issues that are very relevant to understanding and working with immigrants and refugees. This book provides an excellent overview of the immigrant and refugees experiences, their journey to the United States, some of the mental health and other health concerns they may present  with when seeking assistance, and specific ways that can be helpful in their resettlement. I especially appreciated the chapter on Resilience and factors that facilitate that process, as often the negative aspects of immigrants and refugees are highlighted. I found the authors' emphases of the book from a systems perspective to be an appropriate model in terms of how we can view the families from a collectivistic rather than individualistic perspective. I think the authors did a great job of presenting both theories and research on this important topic, and comprehensively covered the areas they wanted to include in the book. The only things missing were the index and glossary. This book makes a major contribution to the literature on immigrants and refugees.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This book presented a variety of perspectives on immigrants and refugees. The statistical data presented was accurate and up to date. They often provided links to sources of data for further exploration and information, which is a major strength of the book. The approaches to understanding immigrants and refugees were balanced, as they often presented many views, including opposing views, to ensure comprehensive coverage of the issues. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This book makes an outstanding contribution to the literature on immigrants and refugees because of its up to date statistics, research studies, and coverage of currents events such as the Affordable Care Act and its impact on immigrants and refugees. I think that the book is amenable to updates as they become available and can easily be inserted in the appropriate places in the chapters because it is an E-book. I see the contents as being relevant at this time because of the current occurrences related to refugees (e.g. Syrian refugees), and the policies about immigration that are being discussed. This book has an important place in understanding how we, as Americans, can assist in the resettlement of both immigrants and refugees. This book also provides important information for health care professionals in responding in a culturally-relevant manner to the needs of immigrants and refugees.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This book is written for a very wide audience from the volunteer who desires to assist his/her neighbor who is an immigrant or refugee to the professional who wants to ensure that that she/he has a grasp of how to approach their work with immigrants or refugees. I appreciated that the authors clearly defined some of the terms they used. For instance, they often explained the theories they described in common terminology and provided definitions when necessary. All of the topics they chose to emphasize were clearly delineated and illustrated with case examples.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The overarching theme for the book is how we can understand and assist immigrants and refugees. Consequently, they organized the chapters that build on each other as they tell the story of immigrants and refugees. They provide convincing data to support what they propose and emphasize that there is no unilateral manner to understanding and assisting immigrants and refugees. I like their theme of seeing immigrants and refugees, in the context of their families, throughout the book. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I want to commend the authors on the structure of each of the chapters. They begin with a quote, present the issues for the chapter, discuss the various theories, share a case study, and discuss future directions. I find the topics that they chose to cover in each chapter to be very relevant to an understanding of immigrants and refugees. In terms of use of the book as a text, I think the chapters can be organized as independent units. As a clinical psychologist, I was happy to see the chapters on mental health, intimate partner violence, substance abuse, and resilience.  ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"This book is well organized and flows well. The chapters build on each other, although they can be read as individual units. The book starts out with understanding policies, recognizing the journey, the importance of human rights, economic considerations, mental health issues, including intimate partner violence and substance abuse, the role of resilience, and understanding resettlement. The book covers information that is essential in an understanding of immigrants and refugees.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"One of the advantages of this book is that it can interface with a variety of devices and it displays well. I liked the links to further information. The text is quite readable.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The grammar of the book was fine and there were no significant grammatical errors. In fact, the writing was clear and comprehensible.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"One of the highlights of this book is its cultural relevance. It does a great job of describing culturally relevant ways to approach and work with immigrants and refugees. For instance, it emphasizes the need for health care professionals and psychotherapists to understand the background and experiences of immigrants and refugees and develop culturally appropriate ways of working with them. It also describes the importance of understanding culture in the resettlement process.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"As an immigrant, I was very impressed with this book. I like the research base as well as the practical applications. As a professor in clinical psychology, I plan to use this book in my Multicultural Psychotherapy class. It is very important that psychologists understand how to work effectively with immigrants and refugees in culturally relevant ways. I highly recommend this book for both undergraduate and graduate classes.","created_at":"2017-02-15T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2017-02-15T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1065,"first_name":"Kristen","last_name":"Terry","position":"Adjunct Professor","institution_name":"University of Texas at Arlington","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"What a timely text! This textbook covers the journey that immigrants and families makes from their home country to their destination country, includes relevant policy background and covers common problems that are experienced as a result of this often traumatic and tumultuous journey (substance abuse, intimate partner violence, mental health, economic struggles, etc). I found the immigration policy descriptions especially useful as it explains many political factors that influence the immigration and resettlement process.\n\nThis is great guide in helping us to better understand their situation in context of the family. For most immigrants and refugees, their families are some of the only ties they have to their home country. It can be their greatest source of strength and resilience. The few textbooks offered regarding immigrants and refugees view them as individuals rather than a family-system.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Of course this textbook is written from a pro-immigration perspective which is inherently biased. I did not encounter any grammatical errors.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This text is up-to-date including recent ICE raids for deportation in early 2016. Especially with our current political climate, I feel like the chapter on immigration policy will be ever evolving which will call for updated editions.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I was impressed by the clarity of this textbook. It breaks down all terms and policies that often get confused in a simple and understandable way.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I found this textbook to be very consistent in usage of terminology and theoretical frameworks (human rights perspective).","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I found the modularity of this textbook to be especially useful because the chapters logically flow one into the next, taking you through a literal journey with immigrant and refugee families. I can already imagine how I would form a course using this text, perhaps using one family case study to follow each journey: the immigration process and the resettlement process. Students could easily use this text to imagine what each family might be experiencing.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"As mentioned above, this textbook naturally flows and takes you on a step-by-step process of immigration and resettlement.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"The interface is very well developed, using case studies, quotes, pictures, discussion questions and helpful links. The only drawback I would mention is that throughout the text there are some large blocks of text that could be discouraging for readers.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not encounter any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I think content matter of this textbook speaks for itself here. It is a culturally competent text.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This will be a great resource for anyone working in any capacity with immigrants and refugees or someone who just wants to be informed. It is very accessible across disciplines.","created_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1166,"first_name":"Cathleen","last_name":"Faruque","position":"Department of Social Work Chair/Professor","institution_name":"Winona State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text covers issues related to immigration in the United States as well as refugees, legal issues, human rights, issues of mental health, chemical dependency and violence in immigrant and refugee families, resettlement issues, and resilience.  The case studies in each chapter provide poignant examples to help the reader understand how immigrants and refugees are impacted on legal, health, chemical dependency, and violence issues.  The text provides in-depth information on how federal policies on immigration have formed over the decades and how it impacts the make up of immigrants in this country today.  \nThis textbook provides more than many texts I have reviewed on the subject of immigrants and refugees.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The textbooks is as accurate as the year it was published (which I cannot find the date of publication but it was sometime around 2016 based on bibliographies).  This makes information quite accurate up to the point of our last election.  As immigration and refugee policies were part of the current administrations campaign promises and indeed recent event have shown this, it will be necessary to make some edits on information as new policies develop.  It is free of bias and has no misinformation but provides factual data backed up by appropriate references in the bibliographies after each chapter.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"With current global upheaval and movement of thousands of refugees across the globe, this is a very relevant book indeed.  I would like to see more on the topic of climate change and refugees as I believe this will be a very relevant topic in the coming years.  The text could easily be updated with the latest information by the authors with minor edits.  I believe edits will be necessary within the next year or two as new immigrant and refugee policies are developed by our current federal government.  More information on global impacts of the massive movement of refugees would be helpful in context to this book as some countries in Europe will be forever changed by the refugee impact.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text is very easy to read.  I would place it at the undergraduate level.  It is free from jargon and technical terminology - and when used is defined and explained - including case examples that assist the reader in understanding what the authors wish to convey.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is multi-authored but reads with an easy flow.  There is no differentiation between sections or chapters.  It flows well and is easy to follow.  Case examples in each chapter assist the reader with a clear picture that readily flows from one section to the next.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"What I particularly like about this textbook is that I can uses different sections within a chapter and/or different chapters throughout a course.  I would not necessarily need to use the entire book but can visualize using parts of the book at different times through the course semester that relates to the topic we are discussing in class.  It would not be disruptive to use only part of the text for a class as each chapter does stand alone - yet is organized in such a manner that it flows whether the decision is to go from each chapter in sequential order or not.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Each section and chapter are logically sequenced in a orderly fashion.  The subjects flow naturally from one section to the next with great case examples to enhance the understanding of concepts and terminology.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"The interface is okay but it is a little challenging at first to navigate.  Moving from one page to the next is not difficult so much as it is not particularly friendly.  As I think of my online reading - using things such as tablets or a Kindle - I can bookmark a page, I can search a topic and find something that I am looking for with relative ease.  This is a bit more challenging to do that - other than go to by chapters and sections.  It would be nice to have a feature to save your place from one reading to the next.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no grammar errors in this text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This textbook has nothing culturally insensitive or offensive within sections or chapters. The text is presented free of bias.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I will be using parts of this textbook for my Globalization of Social Welfare class as we discuss immigrants and refugees.  I do not need the entire text but will certainly use specific chapters.  I see this as a very well written book that explains the bio-psycho-social-political-cultural-economic issues that are involved in working with or understanding of immigrants and refugees in the United States.","created_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2017-04-11T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":1624,"first_name":"Jeff","last_name":"Marks","position":"Senior Lecturer","institution_name":"Ohio University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is a concise book on a subject that is both wide-ranging and of enormous import.  As such, it will be very useful for those wanting to get a comprehensive overview of a complex situation without getting bogged down by too many particulars.  For someone with interest but without specialized knowledge, such as myself, it provides a valuable orientation.  The effects of immigration, both on the immigrants and the communities that receive them, is an increasingly important focus of my introductory politics course and this text will be useful. Part of the value of this text for me is that it is not too comprehensive; it doesn’t try to cover everything.  ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Not being directly involved in the field I don’t feel qualified to confidently assess this book’s accuracy but I can affirm that nothing I read here conflicts with those what I know of the subject from a lay-person’s perspective.  I would add to this that the sources cited are solid and current.  ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Given the times, this is an extremely relevant text and, if kept updated, will remain so for decades to come.  There is no doubt in my mind that, with the possible exception of climate change, immigration will become (is becoming) the most urgent issue of our day and this book addresses aspects that are not often part of the public discussion (mental health, substance abuse, partner violence, resilience, etc.).  We should all be better informed about these matters and these readings provide an opportunity to present them in the classroom.  This is such a fluid topic, given both geopolitical developments and constant legislative changes, that it will take a real effort on the part of the authors to keep parts of this text relevant.  ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Even though I have no particular expertise in this subject matter, this text was direct and clear.  Everything, from the terminology to the history, was explained and illustrated (in most cases) with examples.  ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This text is consistent throughout, both in its focus on its stated aims and stylistically.  ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Part of the utility I see in this text comes from the way it lends itself to the presentation of certain individual aspects of the general issue.  For example, I could easily use readings from Chapters 5, 6 and 8 to enrich my course on the politics of Latin America as they tie into other readings I have assigned but the scope of the course does not allow time to include other sections.  ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The material is organized in a logical manner.  Even if you choose not to use/read the entire text you can easily find the information relevant to your purpose.  Some sections could be broken down further and ordered by a problem-possible solution structure.  ","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I have only accessed this on a Mac computer using Preview.  It works fine and the layout is attractive and easy.  ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no grammar errors in the text.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Given its focus, the ‘cultural relevance’ of this text cannot be separated from its general relevance, which has already been discussed.  ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"As I have mentioned a couple of times already in my responses above, I feel this text could be useful for those, like myself, who want to build a larger component dealing with immigration issues into a course that does not necessarily have this as its primary focus.  In my case, courses on the politics of Spain and Latin America can benefit greatly from a concise look at some of the issues presented here.  I would use these readings primarily to provide a framework for class discussion.  They are not so detailed or “wonkish” as to be inaccessible to those outside the field or newcomers to the issue.  ","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1634,"first_name":"Cindy","last_name":"Hunter","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"James Madison University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"For a BSW and Family Studies course, this book was exactly what I needed. It had the basics that I could then add to (video, articles or speakers).  It does not cover the plethora of exceptions to \"basic immigration\" - Cubans, Migrant Workers, transmigrants, Temporary Protection, etc. BUT it gives the essence of what beginning practitioners need to understand to begin interacting with immigrants and refugees. I was not looking for detail on the ins and out of policy- I wanted students to be sensitive to what the issues immigrants and refugees are facing and this book more than filled the bill. It is strong on the human rights. Links to more in-depth information was also a bonus. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"It is likely that the book avoids immigration policy details in order to remain relevant for a period of time. I found no inaccuracies. ","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The book is very much up-to-date as it is recently published. I imagine the beauty of an online book is that it is easy to update. It would seem easy to update based on the text but also because the authors include links to information, even the most recent information could be linked to the text. Nonetheless, since it is not a policy book and it does sensitize readers to common experiences, I believe it will be relevant as is with minor updates for several years. ","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The authors do not assume any particular background through my junior and seniors were better able to relate the content to human behavior in the social environment more readily.  The writing is clear with minor grammatical and spelling errors. There were some points that it would have been nice to have exact definitions- such as for \"human rights\".  ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book remains clear throughout. We were even able to skip around to chapters out of order without losing comprehension. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book is easy to use with larger print and headings. I am new to using an online book so I could have used some instruction for myself and students as to which format to read it in and how to use tools of innovation - but that is not the fault of the editors. The PDF format was least interesting to read.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Our class needed the final chapter on assimilation and theories of displacement much earlier to have a context for mental health, domestic violence etc. Nonetheless, it was easy to have them read ahead. ","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"No students complained or questioned how to interact with the book. I had the most challenges understanding how to use the technology beyond accessing the link and downloading everytime I accessed the book. Again, the PDF was not an easy format to read but the other formats I experimented with worked fine. \nSo, for example, I knew I would be writing this review and wanted to highlight areas that had grammar or spelling errors or places where the definitions were ambiguous but I did not have the skills to highlight, comment, save and re-access that information.   ","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"Only minor grammatical errors. However, being new and a bit skeptical about open source books, the first few errors made me more suspicious about the quality. I was not at all disappointed. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book was inclusive and referenced a wide variety of immigrant cultures.  ","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I want to thank the co-authors Jaime Ballard, Elizabeth Wieling, and Catherine Solheim for writing and making this available. I care deeply about people being able to access this information and I shared the link with our Refugee Resettlement office and other professors at our school. Mid-semester, I took a short workshop that showed how one could annotate and add information, video links, articles and web pages to accompany the text so students could use e-books in a more interactive way. I am now motivated to learn more about the technology. ","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1671,"first_name":"Siobhan","last_name":"McGuirk","position":"Adjunct Assistant Professor","institution_name":"American University","comprehensiveness_rating":2,"comprehensiveness_review":"The title of the book is a little misleading: as it is an entirely US-focused text, “global perspectives” is an odd choice. Within the parameters of a book about immigrant and refugee families in the US, the range of issues / chapters is otherwise broad, which is useful but unfortunately comes at the expense of depth in some areas, most notably the first Section, on Context. Chapter 4 is packed full of issue areas that might have been better addressed as stand-alone chapters (covering health, housing, and work) and education is a topic mentioned at multiple different junctions but not focused on specifically. Religion likewise.\n\nGiven the brevity and desire to cover quite a lot of different topics, some areas suffer in terms of detail. Refugee experience outside the US is one of these issues, and it's perhaps beyond the remit of the book in general. For example, in Chapter 3 there's a number of general claims about the particular experiences of women in refugee camps, but with inadequate attention to the hows and whys of issues mentioned, or to complexities and confluences of different causal factors. Across other chapters there’s scope to more deeply connect immigration policy to other policy areas—including labor rights, healthcare, welfare, and foreign policy—which significantly inform the contours of immigration debates and immigrant experience. These issues are explored to some extent in later chapters, but it should be more clearly stated at the outset that immigration as a feature of US life and immigration policy are deeply ideological and informed by socio-political realities, whereas the analyses herein focus more on individual-level (family unit) analysis. That’s understandable given the stated intentions, but it does seem like there is more scope to more explicitly discuss political decisions as lying behind funding for human services; labor protections, etc. Given the attention to intersectionality theory in the penultimate chapter, that decision seems strange in hindsight. \n\nThere’s also scope to explain (or even just to note more clearly) that there are significant differences between states—in terms of policy but also in terms of community-based services, language access, community breadth, etc. across different geographic regions in the US. This important fact is too-often obscured by overly general statements about immigrants in the United States.\n\nI was also surprised that there was not more inclusion of the grassroots immigrant rights organizations, or immigrant-led advocacy groups. The Sanctuary Movement and its influence is notably absent from the historical chapters. “Communities” are given little attention in terms of identified stakeholders and there’s an overreliance on experts’ publications rather than research conducted by community-based organizations. As a result, it feels quite ‘top down’ in tone, with other people’s stories told as “case studies” but with their agency quite diminished. There is also notably little mention of how and why different stakeholders strive to influence policy, and it is unclear from where the “Future Directions” recommendations that end each chapter arise. \n\nIn terms of inclusiveness, I appreciated mention of LGBTQ / same-sex families in the opening chapter, but on the whole the text does not consider how non-normative families can be impacted in particular ways (including other unusual but still relevant family arrangements, such as grandparents or aunts raising children; cousins living together, etc.) \n\nI sense that many, but not all, of these issues could be avoided if the theoretical framing chapter (9) were placed much earlier in the text. In general, the text needs to be complemented by further resources, reading, and debate in most areas.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"There’s an over-reliance on normative claims and a lack of critical engagement with immigration policy at various points. This leads to a few uncomfortable dichotomies being established in the text early on. There is not sufficient attention to how legal status, for example, is often a changing rather than fixed feature of immigrant family experience, and how mixed-status families encounter specific challenges (though this is briefly mentioned at points). More notable is the focus on “documented” versus “undocumented” status, and the strict differentiation between refugees and non-refugees. This leaves little space to explore different types of visa status; to differentiate or draw similarities between asylum seekers, asylees, and refugees; to note how complex and multiple factors prompt migration: i.e. people can seek better financial circumstances while also fleeing persecution, etc. The normative assumptions also somewhat undermine the notion of “global perspectives” mentioned in the title. I am an immigrant in the US, and I conduct research with immigrant communities. I found some of the rationale given for people’s decisions re: healthcare, savings, education, etc. quite conceptually narrow, and possibly not very appreciative of how the hyper-capitalistic / for-profit nature of many U.S. institutions and services can be critically regarded by immigrants, rather than being not understandable, or simply “foreign” to us.\n\nThe overall assertiveness about challenges immigrants face has the unfortunate—and likely unintended—consequence of giving a broad-brush impression of immigrants as on the whole uneducated, disempowered, victims. The chapter on Human Rights and that on Substance Use buck this trend, and in general are more analytical/ nuanced, albeit in different ways. \n\nThe case studies and questions that end each chapter are quite emotive, and seemingly intended to elicit empathy / value judgments rather than critical engagement with policy and structural discriminations as the causes of challenges faced by immigrants. I appreciated the points where those issues are addressed in the text, but found that they were often missing from these Case Studies / questions. In the Mental Health chapter the authors assume that causes of trauma, stress, and depression all emerge from past experiences, rather than present circumstances. This is strange particularly as the chapter follows detailed explanation of how ill-health, low-waged work, labor exploitation, lack of access to housing, financial insecurity, etc. all disproportionally impact immigrant communities. There should be more explicit attention to how racism and xenophobia are causes of stress and depression here, as well as trauma past. Likewise, it appears to be taken for granted that IPV is not a significant issue in the United States, and that U.S. patriarchal norms are not contributing factors to high incidence rates. There are really invaluable data and analyses of attitudes towards and approaches to dealing with IPV and DV in POC and immigrant communities in the U.S. produced by organizations like INCITE!, and these should really be included in such discussions.\n\nIn terms of accuracy of law and policy, I appreciated the links to sites that are (or at least should be) kept up to date, and to research bodies that are continuously publishing analyses of new legislation (such as MRI). Again, however, closer attention to state-level differences would have been useful to tease out the nuances and diversity of experience.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"In general, policy issues are very well suited to the type of easily updated format Open Source web-based textbooks provide. That is clearly an intention of the authors, and there’s areas where that will be quite simply done in the future. Some information is already out of date, however, and seems particularly glaring where there’s direct reference to Obama / Obama-era policies. \n\nSome language choices throughout the text however seem unsuitably assertive, for example: “Never before has policy been so inclusive or aimed so intensely on family reunification.” This type of line is at once unclear (what does “inclusive” mean here?) and given the nuances of the Trump administrations’ approach to immigration, already outdated—or in need of caveats regarding country of origin; qualifications, etc. The links directly to government sites should help here, though reading it in November 2017 it already feels sadly out of date in some areas.\n\nSection I: Context is the most likely to suffer in this sense. The other two sections are more focused on experience, longterm trends, and family needs, rather than specific policies for the most part, so should better stand up under changes to law (to an extent). These are more likely to remain relevant and insightful for the longer term.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The text is very easy to read, and clear. Organization could be improved: some information is hidden in appendixes that could be more clearly signposted or included earlier to provide more detail. Language is simple and for the most part jargon-free. ","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Overall, the text is consistent, with the exception of framework—there does seem to be different political perspectives promoted in various chapters. Again, this might have been better explained (not necessarily avoided) by featuring a discussion of different theoretical approaches to the topic earlier on, rather than left until the end of the text. Assigning Chapter 9 early in a course will allow students to identify if a particular set of authors is taking, for example, an assimilationist position as opposed to an intersectional framework. I appreciate the plurality of voices otherwise—though there was scope for more diverse perspectives and inclusion of more grassroots insights—and overall they cohere.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book is notably modular, and well-suited to being divided up by the assigning professor within as well as across chapters. Cross-references are rare, and hyperlinked for ease of reading.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Chapter 9, which situates different theoretical frameworks, would have been useful earlier on, as it is really a “Context” chapter. It explains many of the terms used earlier on, and as such would make it easier to understand what chapter authors mean when they choose to use specific language (“acculturation” for example). Other organizational choices make sense overall.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book is largely text-based and easy to navigate. There are few tables / images (though scope for more of the former especially). The drop-down menus and hyperlinks work well. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There are very few proof-reading errors: an incomplete sentence at the end of a page; a repeated sentence, an errant comma etc. Nothing that is distracting--really only a handful of mistakes throughout. ","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"I wouldn’t say the book is offensive, or necessarily insensitive, but I do feel it is quite ethnocentric, and as mentioned above, quite ‘top-down’ in its approach. I believe that the authors have made a real effort to be inclusive and thoughtful in their language choices, for example explaining why they use “Latino/a” rather than “Hispanic” and why they use “survivor” rather than “victim” when discussing IPV. \n\nI however felt that there were too many broad-bush statements made throughout the text (e.g. “In Asian families, family cohesion stems from Confucian values” is quite an assertion!), and a lack of nuance regarding differences in experience, which is an expected challenge in a book that is addressing “immigrants and refugees”—a huge, diverse population. I'm a queer immigrant woman who studies the U.S. asylum system and LGBTQ immigrant experience, so my own perspectives are quite particular, and evidently shape my response to this text. Perhaps especially because of the recent changes to immigration policies and debates under the Trump administration, and perhaps more so because of recent social trends and incidents, I do feel that more explicit attention to racism, and anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment would make this text more culturally relevant. \n\nI felt that there were opportunities to highlight state-by-state / urban-rural differences within the United States, in terms of reflecting the diversity of experience immigrants can attest to here. There was scope to include perspectives and research conducted by immigrant-led organizations, especially in southern border states, to better round out the case studies and examples, which became repetitive. The subjects of the text felt precisely that—subjects, not agents or interlocutors. Given how central community-based supports are to immigrant families in the United States, this seems to be an oversight. \n","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":1761,"first_name":"Deborah","last_name":"Meyer","position":"Visiting Professor","institution_name":"Ohio University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Provides an excellent overview of immigration policy, the experience of immigrants and refugees and many of the major issues confronting the communities who take them in and the families who’ve landed in a new country and culture. The authors clearly highlight the complexities and contradictions of U.S. policy and the convoluted process that immigrants and refugees must navigate. And, they thoroughly cover many of the barriers refugees and immigrants face when fleeing home, trying to enter the U.S. and building new lives in the U.S.This book is especially useful for those who know little about U.S. policy or the issues surrounding immigration. \n\nThe TOC provides a clear overview with active links to the topics listed.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I didn't find any inaccuracy although the authors did generalize at time. They did, however, acknowledge this.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Immigration policy has also swung between extremes, but despite the fact that policy is in flux, most of the information in this book remains relevant. Many barriers that immigrants face and the forces that push and pull them to start new lives in the U.S. don't change even if the specific circumstances do. The topics ranged from national and international policy to individual and family issues that are relevant to a number of disciplines and courses.\n\nI could see using this textbook and supplementing with current news and journal articles that provide updates on policy but also examples of different experiences and cultures. Also, the authors can easily update as new policy and laws are enacted.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Thanks to the TOC that outlines the major topics, the structure is very clear. Additionally, the writing is concise and easy to follow and understand. Each chapter follows a similar format including a case to begin and end each chapter.\n\nCases and questions at the end of the chapters help pull together the issues and would make good class discussion prompts.\n","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"I didn't find any inconsistencies in the text.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapters were clearly delineated and an instructor could easily assign chapters based on varying course content.  As an instructor, I can easily assign either whole chapters are sections as well as the cases and discussion questions. Each chapter was well-referenced with up-to-date citations that offer additional sources for faculty and students.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book is well organized and each chapter is self-contained with a logical flow between chapters. ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I only used on my computer as a pdf file and it was easy to navigate and move back and forth as well as search. The images and text were easy to read/view with no distortions.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found a couple of what appear to be typos, but nothing that distracts from the book.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"There was nothing insensitive or offensive. As mentioned earlier, the authors did paint immigrants/refugees with a broad stroke, but for the most part that didn't impact the impact or credibility of the content. And, they do address the need to avoid generalizations in Future Directions in the last chapter and at several of other points within the book.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"If I had a negative comment, it would be that authors paint immigrants and refugees with a broad too a brush. For example, they suggest that most are impoverished. They idea that the majority of immigrants work in low-wage jobs is inaccurate. Much depends on their country of origin, their legal status, and the circumstances surrounding their immigration. If not exposed to immigrant/refugee communities and the resilience, strengths and community supports a reader might come away feeling pity rather than awe at what many immigrant and refugee families and communities accomplish. Chapter 8 does discuss resilience, but I would like to see more of the positive examples woven throughout and a couple of cases that present a success before the end.","created_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-02-01T18:00:00.000-06:00"},{"id":2068,"first_name":"Barbara J.","last_name":"Michael","position":"Adjunct Assistant Professor","institution_name":"University of North Carolina Wilmington","comprehensiveness_rating":2,"comprehensiveness_review":"Comprehensive only in terms of listed topics.  There is no index.  The only bibliographic information is at the end of each chapter, making the bibliographic information difficult to access.  The reader must know what chapter a desired reference \"might\" appear in.  Should have a comprehensive bibliography at the end of the book.  The only definitions given are embedded in the text (in boxes).  There should be a comprehensive glossary at the end of the text.  Some boxes labeled \"Definitions,\" actually do not have definitions, but refer to reader to cited sources.  For example, the authors do not provide their own definition of \"Refugee,\" but send the reader via a link to another document.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"Cannot answer this question without reading all the cited sources.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The sources cited are up-to-date.  However, the legal and policy information might change and need updating.  Since the book is essentially a policy manual and a literature review, it should be easy to update.","clarity_rating":1,"clarity_review":"The writing is not interestingly written.  As it stands, it probably cannot be interesting as the beginning chapters read like a government manual and the remaining chapters are essentially an extensive literature review.  The is no indication or presence of the authors.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book follows a consistent pattern and organization in each chapter.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The book is modular and divided into sections that could stand alone.","organization_rating":2,"organization_review":"In my opinion there could be a more logical organization of the chapters.  For example, the two background chapters (#1, #3) are separated.  I would order the chapters as follows:\n#1 - Chapter 1\n#2- Chapter 3\n#3 - Chapter 2\n#4 - Chapter 4\n#5 - Chapter 9\n#6 - Chapter 8\n#7 - Chapter 6\n#8 - Chapter 5\n#9 - Chapter 7\n#10 - Chapter 10\n","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"There are good links to many of the bibliographic sources.  Perhaps other links could be added.\n\nIt is very difficult to move around in the text.  One has to scroll through each chapter separately.  Actually, one cannot scroll through an entire chapter, but only through each individual section of a chapter.\n\nThere is no index.  And, there are NO page numbers in the book.  It would be impossible to cite anything from the text unless the reader counts and numbers the pages themselves.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There are a few errors that got past the editor, but no significant problems.","cultural_rating":1,"cultural_review":"The text is culturally sensitive and not offensive in any way.  \n\nHowever, to me, \"cultural relevance\" means it should consider CULTURE in some depth.  This book does not.  I am hard pressed to find even any sociological relevance without going to the cited works.","overall_rating":6,"overall_review":"I thought perhaps this book would be useful for a new anthropology course I am developing on immigrants and refugees.  The only reason I would refer students to this book is that it is a relatively useful handbook or manual on policy and might be useful as a bibliographic source guide, and, its free.  The book is essentially a book-length literature review, with nearly every sentence having an in-text citation.  I could not identify anything in the text that is evidence of the authors' knowledge, experience, or analysis.  In fact, any sort of analysis if completely absent.  For example, in section 8.1, the authors say \"maybe\" the reason fathers from S.E. Asia, Armenia and Iraq do not work (based only on statistics presented) is because they suffered more trauma.  There is no supporting evidence for making this statement that is likely not true if the authors knew anything about those cultures.  \n\nThe book is not readable but is very dry and \"fact\" and \"statement\" oriented.\n\nThe \"Case Studies\" are anecdotes - not case studies.\n\nThe Discussion Questions ask questions for which there is not enough cultural or sociological information in the text to be able to answer the questions or for which the text does not answer in any way.  For example, one question asks students to discuss the \"immigrant paradox,\" but I could not find that term used anywhere in the text.  By accident I discovered that a cited author uses that phrase in the title of his paper.  Another example of a question for which there is not enough cultural or sociological information\nin the text to be able to answer is the following:  \"How would you explain the attitude toward work and education of most immigrant or refugee families?  What do you think is behind these attitudes?\"\n\nIn-text citations have no page numbers to guide a reader to the exact location of a particular reference.\nIn-text citations should not include more than two authors, but in the case of three or more, should use \"et al.\"  \n\nWhen you open the book online there is no title page that gives title, authors, date of publication.  The authors are identified several pages in.  But the only indication of the title or date of publication I can find is in the Open Text list of titles.  A reader should not have to go to the \"catalog\" to find this necessary information.\n\nThis book exemplifies my skepticism about open and free textbooks.  However, I decided to browse some other examples in your catalog and even with a quick perusal found other texts that were quite different and that meet my scholarly expectations and are ones I might use.  One I believe I will cite for all my future students is Choosing and Using Sources.  This book is a clearly written guide with excellent examples.  Another book I found I would use is Sustaining the Commons.  This book is engagingly written, has helpful diagrams, asks relevant questions not only about the material but ones that lead a student to connect what was read to their own experience - it also has page numbers and can be scrolled though in its entirety.  I'm glad I scanned some other titles as otherwise my skepticism about the quality of free textbooks would have been substantiated had I only looked at Immigrant and Refugee Families.         ","created_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2091,"first_name":"Sudarshana ","last_name":"Bordoloi","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Saint Cloud State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book provides a comprehensive overview of the American immigration process and policies with specific emphasis on global immigrants that migrate to the United States. The contents of this book, as they flow from chapter to chapter, effectively captures the socio-spatial, economic, cultural, and political imagination of the long drawn out and often quite complex processes that global migration ensues as well as the unique experiences that immigrants face by being part of it. The selling point of the book lies in the way different topics about immigrants and refugee families are tied together and consolidated in one accessible space, that the book is. For anyone interested in understanding the basics of how an immigrant is defined differently from a refugee or asylum seeker; or what various immigrant policies or human rights protocols mean in various contexts; to more nuanced knowledge of the psycho-social, economic, cultural and health impacts that immigrants endure from the start of the migration journey to resettlement in a new country, this is a definitely 'go-to' book.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I do not find any overwhelming inaccuracy in the data or definitions in the book. For the sake of data validity, the book is well supplemented by links and references to various relevant sources. However, having said that, there is a need to define the word 'global', wherein from the perspective of the book, the word global only seems applicable to 'global immigrants' in the American context, not necessarily to the process or dynamics of 'global migration’ itself. Because there is no specific reference to historical or social contexts of the causal factors that drive the global migration process in the source or destination countries, there seems to be some generalization in treating immigrants, refugees, or asylum seekers and their experiences as one simple category.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Content of the book is contemporary. However, population and migration data and concepts do change frequently and therefore a suggestion in that regard would be to update data sources and statistics in this book from time to time to keep the content of the book current.\n","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The language of the book is accessible, and the tone of communication is objective and unbiased.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The topics in the book are quite consistent from the start to the end. The book remains true to its purpose, that is, mapping out the immigration process in the United States and documenting the various experiences of immigrants as they re-build their lives in a new nation.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"All chapters are well organized, paragraphs are concise and to the point, and illustrated with reference boxes, flowcharts, data sources, and visuals. All these effectively communicate the purpose of each chapter and the way they link to other chapters. External links to additional sources, discussion questions, and sidebars in each chapter keeps the topic interesting for potential students and provides resources for instructors using this textbook for teaching.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book is well organized and chapter transitions are logical. Perhaps an introductory chapter dedicated to some of the theories or concepts that discuss the causes and effects of human migration in an era of globalization, would strengthen the book to a great extent. This is particularly important if the book aims to capture some of the audiences in the traditional disciplines in the social sciences. ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book has a good interface, is user friendly, visually interesting, and engaging for its readers. ","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Except for a few typos, overall grammar seems okay. ","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"All references in the book are culturally sensitive. However, there isn’t much reflection or discussion on the class-gender-racial/ethnic differences among immigrant communities in the US to the point of generalizing the experiences of immigrants as all very similar and all groups are equal or are at par with each other.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"A slightly misleading aspect of the book is the emphasis on the word 'global' in the title, where readers seeking an internationalist perspective on  immigration or the causal dynamics that has led to heightened human migration in an era of globalization may be disappointed in the very American focus of the book on this matter.","created_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00","updated_at":"2018-05-21T19:00:00.000-05:00"},{"id":2415,"first_name":"Ziwei","last_name":"Qi","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Fort Hays State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This textbook provided a comprehensive overall look at the issues relating to immigration and refugee settlement in the U.S. The structure of the book is well-organized. In the book, the authors provided a road-map of the pathway of immigration, including the history and political background, policy initiative, the journey of immigrant families, issues of human rights, challenges and barriers of immigration, social problems, crime and victimization, and more. As a faculty in the field of criminal justice, I believe it would be a great introduction-level textbook for students who are beginners in the topics of immigration and immigration policies.\r\nAs some previous reviewers mentioned, the book invested a great amount of text to the topics pertain to the immigrants who resettled in the U.S. instead of elsewhere in the world. Therefore, the title of the book can be misleading. In chapter 3, the authors touched the important issues of human rights of the immigrants in the United States, as well as the history and general theories of human rights law and domestic sovereignty, particularly in the U.S. Again, the author could add one more chapter to refer to other foreign policies on immigrants and refugee resettlement to boast the “global” perspective. \r\n","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Each chapter, the authors provided a great number of detailed narratives of the topics. The photographs, quotations from the immigrants, well-organized bullet points, and the references are well presented to the readers. I personally have not encountered any issues of inaccuracies or errors.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Due to the recent changes on immigration policies and political climate, it might require the authors' frequent updates of certain chapters. However, I believe the authors had done a great job to lay out the foundation of issues of immigration and policies. In addition, the references after each chapter include official organization sites. As readers, we can easily get into the source and check on any updates. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The textbook was written in a lucid and accessible fashion. The authors did a great job to lay out the context with highlights, sections, bullet points, and final remarks. Review questions and additional readings help readers to understand these complicated issues. No ambiguity has been found in the text.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The textbook was organized in a systematic and consistent manner. Again, the authors gave the readers a road-map of the history and current affairs of immigration and refugee settlement. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Each chapter of the textbook could be a stand-alone reading module. I have read through the book not in order and has no difficulties to understand the content. Within each chapter, the authors also had done a great job to break down the topics in titles and subtitles. The quotations and policies are introduced separately in a proper manner. It is easy to follow and easy to refer across the book.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The authors have outdone their job on the organization and construction of the chapters. ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Overall, the authors did a great job to keep the readers engaged while regarding the book with properly attached pictures, quotations, as well as the review questions and further readings. It would be also helpful if the authors could consider adding a sidebar to list all the key terms.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors have been noticed.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The context of the book is culturally relevant. It inclusive, comprehensive, and sensitive.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2018-11-28T16:14:01.000-06:00","updated_at":"2018-11-28T16:14:01.000-06:00"},{"id":2607,"first_name":"Brenda","last_name":"Morton","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"George Fox University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book provides a comprehensive overview of a complex topic. The book is timely and helpful to understand the challenges and experiences of those immigrating. The book discusses the challenges of day to day living for immigrants, like access to healthcare. As a professor in teacher preparation, this book will be very helpful for my students to gain understanding of the experiences of families in the communities in which they live and work. The book tackles a complex issue but the book is very accessible. The inclusion of definitions, case studies, discussion questions, and links to resources will make this text quite useful in my classes. ","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"I did not find any errors. ","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The topic of immigration is complex and data including statistics around migration would need to be updated with some regularity. The authors also included many links to resources, which may need to be checked and updated. ","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The authors did a great job of stopping to define terms and concepts consistently throughout the text. And, they backed this up with references and links to websites that would provide additional information. This helps the reader ensure they are tracking and engaging with the material using the same definitions as the authors.  ","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent in use of terminology and framework. This makes it easy to read and follow and would also make it a good classroom text. The text stays on point by sharing the experiences and significant challenges of people immigrating to a new country. ","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The book has clear organization and layout. Each chapter is divided into smaller sections with titles making it easy to use in a classroom setting. The chapters include photos, charts, and/or other visuals that add to the narrative. The resource links at the end are also helpful to extend the learning. ","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book is well organized and easy to follow. I appreciated the way in which the authors organized the book into smaller sections. The information is rich and the situations complex, so the natural break is helpful to stop and engage in discussions. I enjoyed the case studies that they included in the book and believe these would open the door for  group discussion and deeper understanding of experiences that may not be our own. They also included discussion questions and resources at the end of the chapter. I was particularly excited about the resources as it allows for students to continue to explore a specific topic by following the links. The authors also did a great job of providing detailed definitions and explanations to make sure their readers were tracking the information accurately. ","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book is easy to engage with. It includes photos and links to resources and is visually welcoming. The text boxes at the end of the chapter are noted in two specific colors, making them easy to identify. ","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"There are a couple of grammatical errors, but they did not detract from the content. ","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The authors did a really nice job of including the stories and experiences of different groups of immigrants. The authors included stories and case studies that allowed the reader to gain deeper understanding of multiple experiences from different complex situations. ","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2019-03-04T13:08:14.000-06:00","updated_at":"2019-03-04T13:08:14.000-06:00"},{"id":34090,"first_name":"Amy","last_name":"Elman","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Kalamazoo College","comprehensiveness_rating":2,"comprehensiveness_review":"First, the book fails to explore what a family is and while one might assume we all know, the absence of an internationally agreed to definition can cause havoc for immigrants and refugees.\r\n\r\nSecond, the discussion of “intimate partner violence” and sex trafficking might benefit from a more forthcoming (feminist) understanding of male violence against women.  Focusing so much on gender-neutral “cycle of violence” theories conceals a stark reality that the overwhelming majority of “intimate partners” who employ violence are men and their victims women and girls.","accuracy_rating":2,"accuracy_review":"See above.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"In general, it seems up-to-date.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing is very clear.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent, if one assumes at all times we know what a family is.","modularity_rating":2,"modularity_review":"There is a problem here that could be resolved with a new introduction that explores the difficulties of \"family\" policy because there is no internationally agreed upon definition.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"In general, the organization is fine.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I saw nothing to confuse the reader in this way.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I found no errors.","cultural_rating":1,"cultural_review":"The book shows little appreciation of the ways in which the very notion of family is itself a cultural artifact.","overall_rating":7,"overall_review":"Though an interesting and accessible text for undergraduates, Immigrant and Refugee Families offers no engagement with or effort to define what a family is.  In this sense, it mirrors the absence of an internationally recognized definition of “family” that complicates migration and human rights policies.  Nonetheless, attending to just a few of the different policies and practices concerning the definition of a “child” or “spouse”, “relative” or “parent” (e.g., in matters of adoption) would help augment the reader’s grasp of refugee and immigrant policies in significant ways.  For instance, while divorce practices vary by state and have changed over time, once divorced, many cease to be a member of “the family” for purposes of law.  The consequences of this are crucial and cannot be overstated.  While the authors endeavor to analyze the evolution of “the family” through explicit considerations of “gay” marriages/partnerships and dynamic definitions of the “child”, there is no sustained attention to and a deeper appreciation of the different historical and cultural understandings/practices of “family life.”  A revised introduction that offers an explicit operationalization of “the family” and the ways it varies considerably across states, cultures and communities across time could remedy this shortcoming.","created_at":"2022-10-28T16:44:12.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-10-28T16:44:12.000-05:00"},{"id":34749,"first_name":"Douglas","last_name":"Mpondi","position":"Professor","institution_name":"Metropolitan State University of Denver","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Very comprehensive textbook that covers the reasons for immigrant and refugee movement that includes war, internal conflict, political or religious persecutions or natural disasters. The book also focuses on the challenges that the immigrants face and how they navigate these challenges in a new cultural environment","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The book's content is well defined and covers topics such as immigration policy, immigration journeys, human rights, economic well-being, mental health, Intimate Partner Violence, substance abuse, resilience and embracing their new homes in the host country.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The book's relevance is solidified by focusing on contemporary issues that immigrant and refugee families face and will continue to face. The case studies in each chapter makes the book more relevant and current,","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The language used is simple and clear and explained in a coherent way. The language is easily accessible and easy to read.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The book is consistent and all the chapters speak to each other and this makes it easier to follow the content and the discussions in the chapters","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The book has different sections that are easy to follow and understand","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The book is organized in a logical and well structured outline that makes it easier for readers to follow","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There are no navigation issues in the textbook, the media provided solidify the discussions in the chapter.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The text has no grammatical issues that can hinder comprehension of the content being discussed.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"It is culturally relevant as it include case studies from different countries around the world. However, the focus is on immigrant and refugee families in the United States only","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"A relevant book on global and international affairs courses in the university","created_at":"2023-11-20T22:15:43.000-06:00","updated_at":"2023-11-20T22:15:43.000-06:00"}],"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/immigrant-and-refugee-families-global-perspectives-on-displacement-and-resettlement-experiences","updated_at":"2026-05-18T02:10:00.000-05:00"},{"id":930,"title":"Contemporary Families: An Equity Lens","edition_statement":"2e","volume":null,"copyright_year":2025,"ISBN10":null,"ISBN13":null,"license":"Attribution","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":"This book was created in good faith to ensure that it will meet accessibility standards wherever possible, and to highlight areas where we know there is work to do.","accessibility_features":"","description":"This universally accessible text provides students with a foundational understanding of the changing experiences and needs of contemporary families in the United States. It emphasizes the multi-directional influence of social structure as well as the impacts of difference, power, and oppression. Using an intersectional lens and placing the diversity of families at its core, the text prepares students with a range of majors and career paths to use their sociological imaginations, identify privilege and oppression, practice inclusion and take part in increasing equity for families, whether at the professional level, the personal level or both.Resources for students and instructors include chapter learning objectives, key terms with definitions, chapter activities, and reflective questions for application and discussion. In addition, instructors have access to chapter questionnaires for formative assessment, larger summative assignments, and a crosswalk to identify the location of specific topics.","contributors":[{"id":5304,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Elizabeth","middle_name":"B.","last_name":"Pearce","location":"Linn-Benton Community College","background_text":"Elizabeth aka Liz (she/her) is a faculty member who teaches Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) classes at Linn-Benton Community College (LBCC). She has served as Department Chair, Faculty Fellow in Technology and Teaching, and as the Difference, Power, and Oppression Faculty Lead. Previously she directed the Family Resource Center, a full-time child care and parent cooperative for LBCC student and staff families. This textbook, mostly original work, originated in collaboration with LBCC students. Her passion is creating opportunities and resources for transformative learning through open pedagogy in the community college classroom. She has presented locally, regionally, and nationally on this topic. She also leads and mentors faculty in equity-based teaching, active learning, technology use, and open pedagogy. Liz earned a Bachelor of Arts in Child Study at Tufts University and a Master of Education degree in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has completed post-graduate coursework in child/family development, life course theory, educational policy, and sociology at Wheelock College (now Boston University) and Oregon State University. She is the author of Introduction to Human Services and a contributor to Human Services Practicum: An Equity Lens also published by Open Oregon Educational Resources."}],"subjects":[{"id":46,"name":"Cultural \u0026 Ethnic Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM621","visible_textbooks_count":26,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies"},{"id":9,"name":"Social Sciences","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"H1","visible_textbooks_count":285,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/social-sciences"},{"id":43,"name":"Sociology","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM586","visible_textbooks_count":35,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/sociology"}],"publishers":[{"id":909,"url":"https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/","year":null,"created_at":"2020-11-30T14:29:11.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-11-30T14:29:11.000-06:00","name":"Open Oregon Educational Resources"}],"formats":[{"id":1884,"type":"Online","url":"https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/contempfamilies2e/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1882,"type":"PDF","url":"https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/contempfamilies2e/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1885,"type":"ODF","url":"https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/contempfamilies2e/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1887,"type":"Hardcopy","url":"https://www.lulu.com/shop/elizabeth-b-pearce/contemporary-families-in-the-us-an-equity-lens-2e/paperback/product-w4q2knd.html","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":1886,"type":"XML","url":"https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/contempfamilies2e/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null},{"id":5090,"type":"Hardcopy","url":"https://www.lulu.com/shop/elizabeth-b-pearce/contemporary-families-in-the-us-an-equity-lens-2e-part-2/paperback/product-kvj7kee.html","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":8,"reviews":[{"id":4530,"first_name":"June","last_name":"Morris","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Linn-Benton Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"I like how terms are defined and hyperlinked.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This topic is strongly presented. The topic is relevant and to the contemporary reader who desires to learn more about equity and issues around families in the modern US, it is unbiased.  The writing is factual and well-supported.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The content is highly relevant, touching on all aspects of identity, utilizing very timely references to events and contemporary personalities (Cardi B!). \r\n\r\nThe content is arranged is an extremely easy to read manner, with generous white space, large boxed quotes, and photos that really stand out.  It is clear that some of the photos are from an open resource but it also seems likely that the author took many of the photos themselves.  This text is presented in a warm, invited way; it draws the reader in with easy to read chunks of text and lively, interesting visuals that capture our modern, evolving society.  There are some well-known graphics (Maslow's Hierarchy) and some images that students (especially younger ones) will find familiar from social media and memes.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing is academic and informative but accessible via the hyperlinks and clear explanations of the language of sociology.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Each chapter is arranged in a consistent manner.  The reader is able to correctly anticipate the organization of each chapter after reading the first chapter or two. Also, the use of preview questions provides a solid framework for understanding each chapter's purpose.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"If a student were to utilize the table of contents, they would see that each chapter is consistently organized into modular sub-units. Even the more academically-rich sections of the earlier chapters, the material is organized into easy-to-manage chunks and could easily be used in a different context.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The only chapter that seems out of place is that of \"food and water\" at the end, after topics such as \"beauty\" and \"justice\". But to be honest, I am not sure how one could re-organize the chapters more effectively. The text begins with chapters on \"social constructions\" and \"studying families\" which are the foundational chapters, but each chapter is highly important to the study of the contemporary family.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book provided no distracting elements.  The content flows easily from section to section.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The writing is clear and correct in all ways.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The author has taken extraordinary care to ensure that many voices are represented and a wealth of experiences are represented. The author presents the information bluntly, but with a clear compassion toward the experiences on which she draws for content.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I REALLY enjoyed reading this book, from cover to cover.  I do not have much educational experience with sociology, but the content in this text piqued my interest significantly.  I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to better understand the ever-changing and complex nature of contemporary families.","created_at":"2021-01-06T19:37:21.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-01-06T19:37:21.000-06:00"},{"id":4566,"first_name":"Isabelle","last_name":"Havet","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Linn-Benton Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text is very comprehensive, covering a variety of topics relating to contemporary families thoroughly, and from multiple angles. The authors take pains to provide different perspectives on topics, by raising questions, presenting different methods or theories for approaching topics, and including many clarifying examples. While comprehensive, the textbook could easily be expanded to include additional chapters since the bulk of chapters are thematic. I also greatly appreciate the authors' emphasis on diversity, and providing examples that show different experiences and perspectives.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The text appears accurate, error free, and unbiased. The authors make it clear that they seek to present materials in a multi-faceted and unbiased way, presenting different experiences, perspectives, and points of view.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The authors present content that is highly relevant to the contemporary reader. Each chapter is subdivided by topics and key concepts, and text descriptions are accompanied by many examples and illustrations. The examples and illustrations are far-ranging. For example, in the chapter on Visual Culture, examples range from image-making in the Paleolithic era to 21st-century street art. The text is structured in a way that necessary updates would be relatively straightforward to implement, for example by introducing even newer, more relevant examples and case studies.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is clear and prose accessible. Chapters are highly-structured and broken down by sub-topic. This makes reading the text manageable, and the material very digestible. This clarity is commendable given the broad subject of the book, and the very big and complex topics of the chapters (such as Chapter 1: Social Constructions and Chapter 2: Studying Families). While the text covers an almost dizzying number of topics and issues, the content never feels overwhelming. Key concepts and technical terminology are clearly defined. Another important factor that makes the text accessible are the numerous examples and illustrations that are provided throughout the text. I found the preview questions included at the beginning of each chapter to be very useful in understanding key issues and stimulating thought. I can see these being very useful in generating class discussions as well.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The chapters are very consistent in framework and layout. The reader is able to anticipate how topics will be presented and follow along easily. Preview questions are also helpful in understanding the framework and \"big questions\" of each chapter.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text could easily broken down into sections. While the first chapter lays out many core concepts, the reader could pick and choose which chapters or sub-topics of chapters to read without encountering difficulties. The index with chapter headings and sub-headings is also useful.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"One of the great strengths of the book is its clear organization. The text is anchored by core chapters (especially 1 \u0026 2), followed by chapters addressing different topics related to the contemporary family. This modular format is easy to understand and follow. While I am able to see the logical progression of chapters, especially 1-3, I would have no problem skipping back and forth through the text.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is easy to navigate. While there are many illustrations, charts, and tables, these do not distract from the text or present technical issues.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"The book is well-written and clear for the most part. There are some minor grammatical errors and inconsistencies in Chapter 6: Visual Culture. For example, the text sometimes is inconsistent in using terms such as \"art,\" sometimes fluctuating between \"art,\" and somewhat awkward terms like \"art piece.\" A quick edit of the chapter could easily smooth out these minor inconsistencies.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The text is very inclusive, which is one of its greatest strengths. Topics are approached with an eye towards equity and diversity. Many different voices and experiences are represented throughout. All chapters are presented in a way that squarely centers inclusion. For example, Chapter 1, in presenting social constructions of families, emphasizes the fact that there is no \"one size fits all\" in the nature or composition of contemporary families. This is a welcome and refreshing perspective, and much needed. I also note that the text is inclusive in its design; it features multiple authors, including student authors, who lend their voices and unique perspectives. The \"team structure\" approach works well.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This textbook could be valuable to a diverse readership. While centered on studying the family, I believe that different chapters could be useful to readers in working in a variety of disciplines or contexts, or who have different interests. The Chapter on Visual Culture, for example, could be valuable for educators and students in art or art history, who wish to study the impact of art in contemporary culture. The chapter is an important contribution to visual studies, and expands and corrects some existing Eurocentric visual culture readers. The squarely inter-disciplinary approach of the authors has the potential to open many fruitful dialogues with diverse audiences.","created_at":"2021-01-12T15:28:09.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-01-12T15:28:09.000-06:00"},{"id":4798,"first_name":"Eunice","last_name":"Brekke","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Leeward Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is a thorough treatment of contemporary families with a solid introduction of core concepts and theory. Overall, key elements of contemporary issues are addressed and the table of contents is easy to use.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The authors do not present bias and the content is accurate.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The smart use of videos and content links makes this attractive to students and any updates should be fairly easy.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This is one of the book's greatest strengths - it is very accessible and conveys complex ideas in a way that students can understand.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The title of the book \"an equity lens\" is a consistent theme throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The layout and organization is very well laid out - it will not overwhelm.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Although different, I particularly like the addition of food and health as contemporary issues that many families face.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is easy to navigate and visuals are used well.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There are no issues with grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"While no text can address all cultures, the text does not offend and it does include diversity as something to pay attention to.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Great read! I can see how much work and passion the authors put into this. Thank you!","created_at":"2021-04-19T18:23:42.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-04-19T18:23:42.000-05:00"},{"id":5160,"first_name":"Sadie","last_name":"Pendaz-Foster","position":"Sociology Instructor","institution_name":"Inver Hills Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This was a very comprehensive book from the perspective through which the material was presented.  There were so many things to consider in the book in terms of how axes of inequality and social institutions, as places of reproduction for social life and social inequality, overlap with families.  Two areas that I was the most impressed by in the book were the attention to sleep and how sleep impacts the health of families (and individuals within them) as a part of the section on health care and health equity and the attention paid to the war on drugs.  As this book incorporated some discussion of the larger framework of social problems into the introductory structure of the book, it was very comprehensive in this macro-to-micro connection sense regarding the role of families and overlap (again) of families to social inequalities.  \r\n\r\nGenerally speaking, and extending beyond this, the book was also comprehensive in the the goal of connecting social inequality to the social construction of family life.\r\n\r\nThe reason that I gave the book a \"4\" and not a \"5\" is because if a person was using just this book as a resource for a typical \"family sociology\" course they would likely be missing some areas of content around topics like single-parenting, dating \u0026 courtship, remarriage \u0026 divorce and the like.  While the book outlines that there is \"no longer a dominant family form in the United States\" as a keystone feature of the material, often course objectives for a family sociology course require more depth than on an assortment of topics (including those I mentioned above and others) that just were not expanded in the book, though a person could certainly use the conceptual and theoretical framework, and especially the emphasis on social construction as a dominant feature of the book, to anchor those discussions.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I would say the content is absolutely very accurate, error-free and unbiased, though one thing I did notice was that there were places where students might come with some assumptions or arguments (using a quote from Michele Obama, for example, might create the commentary that the associated content was political).  Again, this can be easily remedied with discussion out setting-up for students, but, depending on the associated student audience, it may be important to acknowledge those places.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Here one (small) concern would be with the potential for \"link rot\" with some of the embedded YouTube links.  \r\n\r\nThe book was very up-to-date using examples about COVID-19 precautions as a source of disagreement among spouses, featuring artwork that incorporates the murder of George Floyd, and many other very contemporary resources and examples.  Even so, as contemporary and up-to-date as those feel in this particular moment, it's hard to say if they will age quickly even in the next few years.\r\n\r\nOne thing that might be important to note in a different aspect to considering relevance is that the book was written in Oregon, and in the section on \"Water\" following a discussion of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, there's a feature entitled, \"Could this happen in Oregon?\"  There may have been other sections in a similar fashion in the book that I overlooked, but what I wanted to say about this is that an instructor teaching in another area of the country might have to be aware to update or modify that section for their relevant geographic/social area and at least know it's coming up in the book so that they can keep it relevant for their student audience.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Yes - the book was written well and the repeated emphasis on social construction as a way to orient the book and the content was very effective.  Even if some of the theories and that repetition of content with regard to social construction may seem jargon-y, it's necessary to effective understanding, as well as helpful in continued examples and reinforcement of those ideas.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Yes, and, again, I come back to the way that the authors used the framework of social construction with continued emphasis.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Yes, this was very effective and relates also to the aspects of organization.  The framing questions at the start of chapters also helped with the break-out and organization of the book.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"I'm not sure I would assign the chapters in the exact order as they are presented, but that's not something that is on the authors as much as reflects another comment I had made about the book's organization and what is left out of it being important to cover in terms of needed course objectives and learning objectives for the material.\r\n\r\nOne thing that may have been helpful would be some explanation of what wasn't prominently featured, especially in terms of chapters.  For instance, there wasn't a chapter on work and organizations and their overlap with families, which is an important issue of justice and equity also (and is sometimes combined with considerations of things like education as well).  Maybe understanding what the logic of these exclusions were would be helpful in terms of understanding the overall comprehensiveness of the book.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"This was good!  I liked how the definitions populated when you hover your mouse over key terms and also that there was a nice integration of multi-media implements that instructors could use (or not) for students as requirements.  Even if instructors did not assign these as a mandatory part of the reading and review, students can still see and engage them if they want to as well.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I didn't notice anything that would rise to the level of either significant or minor errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Since the book's entire objective is to enhance the understanding of family life as it relates to justice and diversity (in the United States, at least) the book does a good job at these representations, especially in making central the normalization of diverse family forms, including interracial and LGBTQ+ families and also showing the relevant legal and political histories and social movements that were attendant these histories and that bring us to the contemporary realities for these families.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"The structure of this book gave me a lot to think about in terms of how I could use something like this while bringing in the other course requirements in my teaching.  It was really a thought-provoking resource to examine, and I haven't had something challenge me in terms of the taken-for-granted structure of the way I teach families for a while.  There were topics that I have seen as attendant to a social problems or a social inequalities class easily and readily incorporated into this material in ways I hadn't previously considered so this was just a really invaluable book to review in that regard. \r\n\r\nAnother comment I wanted to make about the book is that I really appreciated the authorship of the book including students!!","created_at":"2021-06-28T17:03:21.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-06-28T17:03:21.000-05:00"},{"id":34580,"first_name":"Sydney","last_name":"Hart","position":"Professor","institution_name":"City Colleges of Chicago","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"While there is much to admire in this text, I cannot recommend it for a sociology of families course as the main source. It would make a fantastic supplement. It is a really good book outside of the specific requirements of a sociology of families course. \nAlthough brief, the text does an excellent job of introducing some key sociological terms like social construction, intersectionality, the sociological imagination, and Goffman's stigma. It's coverage of research methods is concise and excellent. I don't have many quibbles with its brief explanation of family theories, either. It maintains its foci of social construction and equity throughout the work in a clear and understandable manner, making good use of contemporary data, including Covid information. The coverage of history and policies on the social institutions in each chapter is outstanding and there are often causes for in the \"Looking Ahead\" segment of each chapter.\nHowever, it really reads like a social problems text with a brief nod to families. For example, the chapter on health discusses health disparities, but not really in the context of families. The chapter on housing does a great job of explaining inequities but only mentions issues of domestic violence or effects on children in passing. Even when addressing families directly, like where families live, the focus seems to shift from families to a more generalized inequity.\nThe chapter on Connections is the closest to what I would expect in a traditional family textbook. It does lean a little more to psychology than sociology, but overall does a fine job of introducing ideas. This chapter could have provided more depth. The other sections I found directly addressing family issues is in the Justice chapter with the student essay \"Real Laws, Real Families\"  and the final chapter about food and water. \nThere is simply too much missing--including a focus on equity, domestic labor, and work; domestic violence; divorce; effects of education on marital rates and success; the choice (or forced birth) of children, including alternative inseminations; etc. These topics would have fit in well with the equity and social construction themes of the book.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I caught just a few minor errors--defining the nuclear family as having \"several children,\" the idea that a gendered division of labor (identified as separate spheres) came about during industrialization. Mostly, however, there is a high level of accurate content. Given the strong emphasis on equity, I think that the text is relatively unbiased (as unbiased as it can be!).","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This book is up-to-date and focuses on many key issues of interest to students, especially in the context of a social problems course. Some of it also is highly relevant in a sociology of families course.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The writing and organization is clear and inviting. My community college students could easily manage the vocabulary and the personable tone would draw them in to the content.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The paired themes of social construction and equity are consistent and tie each chapter together into a coherent whole. The format from chapter to chapter is also easy to follow, even with the switch to mostly student authors in the last couple of chapters.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Each chapter could be separated and used on its own as long as the teaching professor reviews the ideas of social construction and equity. This would not need to be a long review! The text avoids redundancy in these definitions, so might need a sentence or two from a prof just to ensure everyone is clear on the definitions of these two key terms.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Especially because the text is highly modular, the organization makes sense. And if the teaching professor doesn't care for the organization, they can rearrange it! Each chapter is similarly organized so that the reader can predict what will come next.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Each key term is linked to a definition. There are several other links to additional information, articles, and videos. This is a fantastic feature of this text!","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Although I was not proofreading for grammatical errors, I did not notice any.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"With an equity focus and an inclusion of intersectional analysis, this text does a great job of \"marking the unmarked category,\" showing the reader how whiteness, masculinity, cis-gender, heterosexual, and middle-to-upper class statuses are used to create norms. It then provides multiple examples from a wide variety of groups that shows how these norms can harm others and how others have constructed different ways of living in the world even in the face of hegemonic norms.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I feel a little bad about the low score for the comprehensiveness category. I am faulting the book for not being the book I need, which may not be fair. Because it seems like the text is written for a sociology of families course, I had to be clear about what I thought. Nevertheless, this is an excellenet text and I am anticipating using many parts of it in my upcoming teaching.","created_at":"2023-05-26T19:10:41.000-05:00","updated_at":"2023-05-26T19:10:41.000-05:00"},{"id":34655,"first_name":"Sharon","last_name":"Methvin","position":"Instructor","institution_name":"Mt. Hood Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Text covers the key areas for family in the US and the equity issues. I love the embedded videos. The sections on food and water are great editions to address and not often covered.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Text is well supported and points are backed with references.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Content and issues are up to date. The graphs are in much need of updating. The images could have better consistency in size and style.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Easy to follow and the writing style and content are appropriate for a community college student.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Some sections vary in length and it would be better to strive for more consistency in the next ed. I would also love to see an embedded video for each section instead of random. These are a real asset of the text.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Sections can be easily cut for time constraints and moved around in the course as needed.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"I am not sure that the art section really works well as is. I would tie it into the data on visual and performing arts, book readings etc. in relation to family living situations.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I love most of the images, but I would strive for more consistency in size and style and update the graphs.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"Well done on this point.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Authors do a great job including diversity both in the examples provided and the authors included.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"The text drops off at the end after the section on water. I would move the future discussions that are found earlier to the very end and develop a greater future focus at the end of the text. I love the videos that are only a click away.","created_at":"2023-08-17T13:52:59.000-05:00","updated_at":"2023-08-17T13:52:59.000-05:00"},{"id":35060,"first_name":"Ann","last_name":"Obermann","position":"Associate Professor \u0026 Online Education Coordinator","institution_name":"Metropolitan State University of Denver","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text does a really great job introducing the concept of family, the multiple systems involved in family life, social justice issues that impact families, and family concepts like partnering and belonging. Each chapter did a nice job for a comprehensive introduction into these topics. I would have liked a more comprehensive introduction to share how the authors felt the book fits together and why they chose to organize it the way that they did. I liked hearing about the book’s creation, that was really interesting. \nI did not see an index or glossary included in the 1e version. The 2e version has a glossary.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Book is accurate and up to date. Has current links, references, and data points.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This text provides relevant up to date material addressing families in US society. It addresses current and historical biases that impact family functioning, the definition of family, family services/systems, and those working with families. I sought for this book specifically because of how it addresses the concept of family within context of systemic oppression. It is one of few books that addresses families from a systemic and critical lens. I appreciate the multiple voices in this book (including students!!) and their statements of positionality. Having the first chapter set the stage with introducing social construction and families set the stage for the entire book and is foundational in how I use the text in a social work course.\nThere were comments about Covid and other recent events. \nThere is a new edition: https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/families2nd2e/part/main-body/","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I love the \"definition links\" in 1e. This is super helpful for students’ comprehension thru repetition. The writing is clear and avoids jargon or overally academic writing. I liked the examples being more modern and the images were clear. I missed the “definition links” in the 2e version, but maybe these are not accessible to screen readers? \nConsistency: 1e and 2e had consistent language and formatting. It was predictable from chapter to chapter and easy to follow.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"1e and 2e had consistent language and formatting. It was predictable from chapter to chapter and easy to follow.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"There is some reference to other chapters and sections of the book, though I find this more helpful than not. I think it would be very easy to adapt this resource to my own course, using chapters on social construction for instance. It was a self-contained chapter that would allow for remixing. \nMaybe a little more “break up” with formatting to avoid the longer text passages. Sometimes there are images and graphics which is helpful in learning but also just for the break from text is the visual presentation.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"I enjoyed reading through this book. For my class, I would organize it differently, but it was well done. Some of the sections could flow into each other more or maybe indent or some type of formatting that helps the subheadings/headings, etc. I know that the numbers do that with 9.2.1, etc. but sometimes a visual organization of hierarchy could be helpful. \nFrom the 1e to the 2e version – the 2e version does a much better job of saying what each chapter and then each section will cover in a paragraph in the beginning. I enjoyed the “questions” posed in the 1e version, and maybe those could be offered as “discussion questions” at the end of the chapter for review or conversation. The 2e version has objectives, which are really helpful when there are long sections of text. \nIt would be helpful, in addition to the book name, if able, to list the chapter at the top of all pages within the chapter. Then you can remember which chapter you are in, even if it clearly has the number of the chapter list. \nI like the bolded words for the important concepts in 2e. \nAttributions in 1e in the blue box was helpful – as it is a lot of text and break up the references, etc. It stayed in a box for 2e but not blue. \nI liked the “In Focus” sections – good formatting and broke up the text length in 2e \nLike in 2e that the author put the social justice issue chapters all together at the end. This flowed much better in my mind.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I did not observe any interface issues. I used Chrome to view the online book and I downloaded a PDF. Both were easy to access.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not observe any grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This is why I wanted to use parts of this book. So many other family books do NOT include discussion of social construction and systemic oppression that impacts families. I like how they applied Justice, Housing, etc. to families as well, this also helped further explain oppression in systems and their impact on families. In addition, chapters 4, 5, \u0026 6 did a lovely job of explaining culture as it relates to connection, belonging, and expression. It wasn’t an “alternative” lens, but just simply about family culture and how this plays out. I really appreciate the “tone” of discussing families and limiting the use of words like traditional or alternative families.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I am so thankful for the efforts of this author and their coauthors! It was well done and I will be using it in my social work families course. It aligns really well with social work CSWE EPAS 2022 competencies. Also the newer edition, 2e, seems to have integrated many of the comments that I was going to make in the review here, especially the chapter primers and overviews - this was very helpful. In addition, having the \"table of contents\" being able to freeze on the left pane was very helpful when wanting to go back and forth on different areas. Really appreciate the consistent integration of human rights framework and NOT using words like alternative and traditional.  A much needed resource.","created_at":"2024-05-21T16:40:12.000-05:00","updated_at":"2024-05-21T16:40:12.000-05:00"},{"id":35798,"first_name":"Sarah","last_name":"Feeney","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Central Washington University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This text incorporates discussions of equity, social constructions, theoretical frameworks, intersectionality, demographic trends throughout the various topics on family formation, function, and context. The chapter on culture was particularly refreshing as it goes beyond demographic trends of particular racial-ethnic groups to explore cultural practices and families as agents of culture. The text gives attention to both micro and macro level contexts that aren't always addressed in a general text such as political and healthcare systems, the housing market, and the justice system. A full chapter on Visual Culture seems somewhat tangential. Some sections could be incorporated into other chapters. The only aspect of family life that could be emphasized more is technology (e.g. how it relates to union formation, parenting, safety, etc.).","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Data from reliable sources is interwoven throughout the text to support and illustrate family trends and experiences. The equity lens provides the most current and accurate information that contemporary family scholars would consider essential to understanding family life.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Family life is always changing, so updates are bound to be required, however the way it is written will allow for easy integration of new information or changes. The text has already been updated since its original publication in 2020. The text also maintains relevance by incorporating ways to further learning though links to social media and YouTube videos. The authors also provide links to organizations that relate to the various aspects of family life being discussed.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Concepts explained in clear concise language, accessible to lower division students. Each chapter offers learning objectives, a glossary, and links to key terms as they appear in the text. Comprehension checks appear throughout chapters to give students a chance to assess their learning. Reflective questions at the end of each chapter invite deeper thinking about the material.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Terminology was consistent, and references to concepts from previous/future sections help the reader draw connections.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The text was easy to navigate, and purposefully divided into subsections. Navigation guidance was provided at the beginning of the text.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The material was well organized, with more proximal family life topics being discussed first, and then moving into more distal contexts. The only chapter that seemed somewhat out of place was Chapter 12 on Visual Culture.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No noticeable issues with the interface. Minor issues with some low resolution images and different fonts being used in the same paragraph. Overall the texts has a very professional look.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors noted.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Addressees cultural differences in a thorough and sensitive manner. Terminology is current and intentionally defined.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"The text offers helpful instructor resources such as course packs, discussion questions and activities, as well as reflective questions. The development of this text is also innovative and inclusive in that students contributed to the content.","created_at":"2026-02-25T18:26:52.000-06:00","updated_at":"2026-02-25T18:26:52.000-06:00"}],"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/contemporary-families-an-equity-lens","updated_at":"2026-05-18T12:03:53.000-05:00"},{"id":939,"title":"Intercultural Communication","edition_statement":null,"volume":null,"copyright_year":2020,"ISBN10":null,"ISBN13":null,"license":"Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike","language":"eng","accessibility_statement":null,"accessibility_features":"unknown","description":"Intercultural Communication examines culture as a variable in interpersonal and collective communication. It explores the opportunities and problems arising from similarities and differences in communication patterns, processes, and codes among various cultural groups. It explores cultural universals, social categorization, stereotyping and discrimination, with a focus on topics including race, ethnicity, social class, religion, gender and sexuality as they relate to communication.","contributors":[{"id":5319,"contribution":"Author","primary":true,"corporate":false,"title":null,"first_name":"Shannon","middle_name":null,"last_name":"Ahrndt","location":"University of Missouri-St. Louis","background_text":"Shannon Ahrndt, University of Missouri-St. Louis"}],"subjects":[{"id":46,"name":"Cultural \u0026 Ethnic Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HM621","visible_textbooks_count":26,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies"},{"id":16,"name":"Journalism, Media Studies \u0026 Communications","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"P91.3","visible_textbooks_count":57,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/journalism-media-studies-communications"},{"id":47,"name":"Gender \u0026 Sexuality Studies","parent_subject_id":9,"call_number":"HQ1101","visible_textbooks_count":16,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/gender-sexuality-studies"},{"id":9,"name":"Social Sciences","parent_subject_id":null,"call_number":"H1","visible_textbooks_count":285,"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/social-sciences"}],"publishers":[{"id":918,"url":"https://irl.umsl.edu/oer/","year":null,"created_at":"2020-12-11T02:09:27.000-06:00","updated_at":"2020-12-11T02:09:27.000-06:00","name":"University of Missouri - St. Louis"}],"formats":[{"id":1918,"type":"PDF","url":"https://irl.umsl.edu/oer/24/","price":{"cents":0,"currency_iso":"USD"},"isbn":null}],"rating":"4.5","textbook_reviews_count":17,"reviews":[{"id":4525,"first_name":"Jackie","last_name":"Mosley","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"University of Arkansas","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"I have yet to find a textbook that fits with my Cultural Competence course, and this might just be the one! This text covers various theories of cultural competence, without going into a \"boring theories section\", which is difficult to find. The material is presented in an easy way for my undergraduate students to comprehend with tangible examples, rather than larger concepts and ideas that are often boring or more difficult to understand.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Content is timely and accurate.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This book is super relevant right now, and could be utilized in so many different types of social sciences courses. This text was written in 2020, which is imperative, given the current climate in the United States and has timely topics related to cultural events.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Text is very easy to comprehend, especially for undergraduate students in introductory courses related to cultural competence.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Consistent terms and material.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I love that the Learning Objectives are very clear and then what major terms will be focused on in the module - very helpful for readers (students) and faculty who want to organize for their own class. I also enjoy the Takeaways at the end of the module that are bulleted - easier to read quickly vs. a large paragraph of a summary. I think students would enjoy this too.","organization_rating":3,"organization_review":"I feel that the material (especially in the 1st module) jumps around and covers a lot of material, that I'm not quite sure how I would adapt in my own classroom. It will make it difficult to specify which pages to read (or sections), but it is do-able. Just wish introductory terms were focused on first, and then go into more of the contextual issues later. But I also recognize, each curricula is organized by an Instructor's own preferences; and I may try to use the organization of this text for my class, is possible.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"I enjoyed being able to click on citations or other images to discover more; very useful for an online textbook. I do wish there was a way to \"highlight\" specific things you like in the text that students can see, basically the Instructor telling students what is most important to read (I've seen this in other platforms and really enjoyed that).","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammar issues.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Inclusive book to all types of identities and communities related to cultural competence in the United States in today's modern age.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Overall, this book is perfect for any course on cultural competence or diversity, equity and inclusion. It covers all the major groups/communities in the US; however, it could use more research and discussion on other diversity issues: ageism, body size issues and neuro-diversity.","created_at":"2021-01-06T10:16:00.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-02-02T18:09:34.000-06:00"},{"id":4585,"first_name":"Kerric","last_name":"Harvey","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"The George Washington University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"This is not just a comprehensive assemblage of material about the topic, but it actually stretches the conventional boundaries of \"intercultural communications\" in the best way possible -- and in a way that is long overdue. Intercultural communication, as a field, has always been one of those subjects best approached as a \"praxis,\" a vibrant, supple, dynamic combination of theory and practice that must react to changes in the \"real world\" just as nimbly as it responds to the development of new concepts and hypotheses. As such, any textbook in this discipline must be sensitive to shifting social values and cultural conventions to a degree that isn’t necessarily the case with other dimensions of communications studies, per se. Ahrndt’s text fulfils this requirement at the Olympic level. She not only covers the best and most enduring of the legacy material, but expands what “intercultural” means to include sub-divisions within the American “body cultural,” including LGBTQ+ populations, hearing impaired, differently-abled, gender fluid, religious, and other affinity groups not usually addressed in a text of this sort. She also addresses the “intercultural” communication dynamics among African-American, Native American, and Latinex, and several types of Asian, Arab, and Indian sub-continent populations whose immigrants and American-born descendants interact with Americans of European descent.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Interpreting the word “accuracy” to mean the degree to which the text presents without error the theories, concepts, specialized vocabularies, relevant canonical literatures, and real-world case studies used to create a teaching instrument, this text is remarkably accurate across a wide range of core and cognate fields and sub-fields of intercultural communication. The author also does an excellent job with the photograph captions that pepper the text, providing clear, concise, but comprehensive commentary for these illustrations that accurately capture the political context of the events, issues, and objects they depict without overt editorializing or, at the other extreme, falling back on such vapid, \"pro forma\" descriptions that the captions rob the photos of their cultural vibrancy. Not being able to fact-check the entire text, I can’t guarantee that single piece of information it contains is correct in all ways, but I didn’t see any conspicuous errors, or even anything that suggested less than scrupulous attention to factual detail.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This is an extra-ordinarily relevant text. It’s really the model for understanding what “culture” means in the 21st century, especially in pluralistic societies and taking into account the meta-societies created by the emerging acceptance of multiple identities on many dimensions. Even the case studies are contemporary to the moment (this review is being written in January 2021), including as they do references to the Marriage Equality Act, the Summer of Ferguson, Take Back the Night, the Parks 51 controversy, and on-going tensions about Confederate flags and statues. Although as time progresses and events continue to unfold, these “teaching examples” might diminish in terms of their immediacy, they will still provide emotionally accessible insights into tensions, topics, and events that will retain salience for a very long time to come. The text can also be easily amended to augment the current material with anecdotes and information that “brings it up to speed” in subsequent editions.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"One of the real joys of reviewing this text was how easy it was to read. The author moves along at a lively rate without short-changing important concepts or down-grading important theories into superficial versions of themselves. Instead, she condenses material without diminishing it, and does so using clear, approachable language that is deftly crafted and judiciously punctuated. Ideas are presented in digestible form and linked concepts are explored without falling into cumbersome, complicated grammatical constructions. Every chapter begins with a list of “key words” and any technical language or specialty vocabulary is explained organically within the text as it flows from point to point.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This book is very consistent in terms of tone and authorial approach as well as structure and organization. Each chapter is organized the same way, utilizing the same elements, and the informational content itself is recognizably the same authorial “voice” all throughout the work. Terminology remains consistent throughout the entire text, as well.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This book would be very easy to use as a course text. It’s broken up into subject-specific chapters that make intuitive sense, and each chapter is well-organized in a way that would translate easily to classroom presentation. Chapters build on each other as the book unfolds, but not to the extent that would prohibit instructors from re-arranging the chapters according to a different course organization, or using some and not others. This useful modularity continues within each chapter itself, in that instructors can avail themselves of all that each chapter offers, or can extract chapter sub-sections that can still stand on their own as teaching tools.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"This book is very well-organized, in a way that leverages its modularity while simultaneously making it easy to use as a fully intact text, in its entirety. Specifically, each chapter begins with information about the source of the material within it, followed by a list of keywords and the learning objectives for that chapter. This is followed by the central material, augmented along the way with exercises, illustrations, relevant tables and graphs, and magazine-style “sidebars” in which the author raises pertinent questions or provides a more granulated look at the chapter’s main issues through a short “case study-like” story. Each chapter concludes with an executive summary of “key takeaways,” a chapter bibliography, and more structured and elaborate student exercises.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"As far as I can tell, there are no serious problems with the technological interfaces or the various links associated with this book. It’s an especially nice feature to be able to click on citations to add immediate texture and enhancement to what’s being covered in the text at hand.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"I didn’t find any grammatical issues in the text. There were a few instances of odd spacing and of double-words, although I strongly suspect that’s a casualty of my own computer clunky “reading” of the pdf rather than something that’s actually there in the text itself. I did notice that the word “Dutch” was not capitalized in the caption for the photo of Tiger Woods.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This book is absolutely culturally sensitive – in fact, I’d call it an exemplary model of how to do that well and gracefully. It’s also wonderfully diverse in the author’s attention to breaking up monolithic labels for what are rightfully heterogeneous populations. For example, she writes eloquently and sensitively about the diverse as well as the shared immigration experiences of the variety of Spanish-speaking peoples in the United States today, noting contrasts among Mexican, Puerto Rican, Central American, and other Latino and Latina groups. She repeats this useful approach several times, even when discussing the social biographies and the residual communication environments for different types of European immigrants. \r\nIn subsequent editions, I’d love to see her complexify her discussion of the Native American experience a little more, focusing perhaps on the meaningful linguistic differences as well as cultural norms among different tribal groups and addressing the special situations faced by reservations in the Far North, as well as those on which casinos are located, a challenging setting for intercultural communication if ever there was one. Another place where what she’s already doing well could be expanded would be a bit more material on the escalating presence of immigrants from the Indian sub-continent, especially the women who are making such remarkable contributions to American science and medicine.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"This is a highly readable, deeply sensitive, excitingly contemporary text. It preserves the best of the field’s canon while simultaneously introducing culturally salient, socially relevant, and intellectually invigorating new material that is highly relatable for today’s students and easily adaptable to a wide range of courses. I’m so taken with it that I’m already trying to figure out how I can use it in the courses I already teach, or use it as a springboard into ones I’ve yet to develop.","created_at":"2021-01-15T19:15:35.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-01-15T19:15:35.000-06:00"},{"id":4663,"first_name":"Cory","last_name":"Geraths","position":"Visiting Assistant Professor of Rhetoric","institution_name":"Wabash College","comprehensiveness_rating":2,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book, unfortunately, is not comprehensive. The textbook proposes a focus on intercultural communication and, while this is a recurring theme throughout (particularly in the opening chapter), much of the content focuses more on the \"intercultural\" side of \"intercultural communication.\" The selections compiled by the editor into this text stem largely from Sociology and, while this is helpful to a degree from the perspective of interdisciplinarity, Communication teachers looking to use this book in an Intercultural Communication course will find the book quite light in terms of explicit focus on communication theories, practices, and situations. The text does not include an index, though it does include highlighted key terms throughout. Such terms are also noted at the outset of each chapter alongside core learning objectives. Each chapter also ends with a bulleted summary of key themes and most chapters (there is an inconsistency here) also include some exercises for students. Unfortunately, the learning objectives and summaries are often quite lengthy; a more refined list of student goals and key takeaways would be helpful.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"The book does not contain, to my eye, significant issues in accuracy of content. The primary issue, as noted elsewhere in this review, stems from the need for a richer focus on Communication Studies as a discipline, broadly, and Intercultural Communication as a rich subfield of that discipline, specifically. Of particular concern, in my view, is that multiple chapters (namely, Ch. 5 on class and Ch. 7 on sexuality) lack a rich engagement with scholarship and other evidence. Rather than drawing upon work by academics and others, these chapters rely primarily on Wiki sources. And, while such sources can be useful as sites for general information, they lack a needed rigor and richness in the context of a textbook to be assigned to students.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"This textbook is inconsistent in terms of relevance. At times, examples are up-to-date (as in parts of Ch. 7 on sexuality). More often than not, however, the data marshaled and the examples proffered in this book lack a necessary recency. There are, for instance, multiple occasions where data is marshaled from the 1990s or 2000s. Such data is not explicitly connected to the present moment or even a more recent moment. It is, instead, used without sufficient context in a way that is troubling and would, in my view, lead a faculty member assigning this textbook to have to fill in the gaps on her own.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The seven chapters compiled by the editor into this text are, by and large, clearly written. Terms are clearly defined and highlighted, and the book appears as one would expect a textbook to appear. The prose is accessible was easy to follow. At times, however, I would have appreciated more explicit engagement with the student audience. It is not always clear that these chapters conceive of students as the primary audience; for instance, this is more common in Ch. 1 and Ch. 2 and much less so in later chapters.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"By and large, the textbook has a clear flow and is consistent in terms of terminology and framework. Because the chapters are taken from a variety of original open-access sources, however, there are occasional repeats in key terms and the style of language/prose is not always as consistent as one would like. Moreover, as noted elsewhere in this review, there are a few chapters that lack exercises for students at the end.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The textbook can certainly be divided into modules over the arc of a semester, quarter, or other class. I wish, though, that the chapters were more even in length. Ch. 1 and Ch. 2 are quite dense, and would likely need to be split up over a few days (depending on the level of the course and one's students). The latter chapters, on the other hand, were quite short and, at times, led to me desiring more information, content, and examples. That said, chapters all contain helpful subheadings and would be easily assigned to students in this regard.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Yes. The textbook, as compiled, moves from overarching theory in the beginning chapters to more specific subject areas. This makes sense at a logical level.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Yes. I found no significant issues with the interface. Links (at least those I clicked, worked) and images, charts, and figures were clear on the pages.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"There are a handful of grammatical errors in this text. I noticed a few typos, words missing or out of order, and so forth. By and large, however, this is not a distracting issue.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"I found no significant issues here. The textbook works purposefully to cite examples across identity categories and life experiences.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":"I went into my reading of this text hopeful that I could assign it in a forthcoming upper-division Intercultural Communication course. I am, however, disappointed with the end product due to the reasons that I have noted above. And, for those reasons, I will look elsewhere for an open-access text on intercultural communication.","created_at":"2021-02-28T18:15:02.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-02-28T18:15:02.000-06:00"},{"id":4728,"first_name":"Noel","last_name":"Neptune","position":"Lecturer/Clinical Education Coordinator","institution_name":"University of Southern Maine","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Covers the content expected.  I appreciate all the works cited sections at the end of the chapters as well to see their references.  I think a section at the beginning of each chapter defining key terms would be beneficial.  I also like the explanation of some of the exercises that have been used when looking at cultural awareness.  It provides a lot of resources to look into to use for courses.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"I believe the content is accurate and free of bias, but there are several points in the book that the author tells their own story.  I think these would make better boxed out discussion or authors thoughts rather than in the middle of the text.  The author also lists all of their references.","relevance_rating":3,"relevance_review":"The content is up to date but I think many of the sections and references will seem poorly written as time goes on (refers to things in recent history, etc...).  I do like the historic timelines of important dates and those will be easy to update.  But the in-text references will be harder to update.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"Fairly clear but I think a chapter in the beginning that clearly defined key words, or having tabs off of the text to do so would be helpful.  Some of the definitions of terms you had to read the whole section to decipher the authors definition. Also, lots of first person story telling.  I like the stories, but think they should be separated from the researched information.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The author is consistent throughout the entire book.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The text is obviously divided but I think it may even be more beneficial to break into even smaller segments.  I like books that make it easy to break up the reading into small segments with clear places you can stop and resume at later dates.  This does have several subsections you can do this with in some chapters but others it doesn't work as well.  Chapter 1 is a bit too long and reads dry.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"Topics are all introduced but I find the flow of the book a bit choppy for some reason.  It might be because the book jumps from personal story to research, then to definitions and back and forth.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I did not have any issues with interface with the online text.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No issues that I noticed but I will admit, this is not my strong point.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"It is a book about Intercultural Communications.  It can't get much more culturally relevant than that.  The examples the text used are all relevant to evaluating cultural awareness and competence.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I like the exercises at the end of the chapters.  I also enjoy the authors personal notes, just wish they were introduced outside of the chapter reading.  I would also add a list of terms and definitions at the beginning of the chapter for quick reference.  Overall a good text.  My biggest concern is the amount of timely references made in the book and how they will hold up and read with time.","created_at":"2021-03-31T12:28:36.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-03-31T12:28:36.000-05:00"},{"id":5036,"first_name":"Kristen","last_name":"Livingston","position":"Associate Instructional Professor","institution_name":"Pittsburg State University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Very dense- all encompassing and dare I even say \"loaded\" with all of the connecting ideologies to sociological foundations. I worry that it is not effective in communication practices but may be helpful understanding people which is how connections in communication may be made. I would reduce the overwhelming focus on descriptions and focus on what intercultural means in terms of communication. Intercultural communication can be an overwhelming subject and this may encourage more anxiety with the topic. The key terms would benefit including definitions at the beginning or the end of the chapters to help reiterate the importance of those in relation to intercultural communication. The exercises are helpful to generate discussion/reiteration of content.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"The content, in accordance with best practices, theoretical framing, and academic acknowledgments, is referenced adequately. The citations at the end of each chapter clarify anything within the text that may encourage questioning. Intercultural communication is heavily reliant on experience as much as academics- I know this may not be a popular \"opinion.  Thus, this text does a good job collecting information to help further a classroom discussion.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Since intercultural is tangible and reliant on those individuals communicating, this book is relatively up to date but will not adjusted often. It is helpful to have the historical timelines, case studies, and the author's references to aid in the exploration of content. It will be up to the instructor to guide students through the text and engage them with approaches to understanding the content.  It helps to know where we have come from to know where the discussion will allocate further in the classroom.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The seven chapters are clearly written, organized, and offer context for the terminology used throughout the text.  It is easy to read, navigate, and connects the subject matter from chapter to chapter.  I would appreciate a bit more connectivity to student learning and an understanding that this can be very overwhelming (which at times I felt was without during my reading).","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent, has a clear identity in reading, and flows from one subject to the next.  Some chapters don't have the abundance of student inclusion (exercises) but that may be due to the subject matter in question. It does a good job in framing ideologies, given how the text pulls from a variety of resources, and condenses into a relatively unified voice.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"The chapters can be divided easily throughout a semester or a summer course.  Given the lengths of chapters, some information may need to be reduced by the instructor through picking and choosing the most important content (due to how much content there is overall). How each chapter is divided into sections is helpful to for discussions and assignments.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The textbook is organized in an easy \"map\" formation that will lend to understanding one topic to the next. The subject builds upon itself to help set tone, standards, and understanding before moving on.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Everything worked, links were not broken, and imagery was clear without pixelation.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"There were some typos that I caught during my brief experience with the text (however, due to how dense the material is, I am not surprise).","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This text is HIGHLY relevant and is inclusive by default of subject matter. However, all examples, case studies, and references help to monitor and recognize all aspects of intercultural exploration.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This is a well-written book that just needs some minor considerations as an adoption in class.  I think an instructor can cherry pick the materials from this text OR ultimately will choose to create content themselves from OER resources. Overall, I would recommend but each instructor should recognize how much material is embodied in the text, the scope of the text in seven chapters, and what they would like their students to learn most importantly.","created_at":"2021-06-03T14:03:02.000-05:00","updated_at":"2021-06-03T14:03:02.000-05:00"},{"id":33544,"first_name":"Gloria","last_name":"Wenman","position":"Adjunct Instructor, English Language Acquisition","institution_name":"Kirkwood Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The textbook covers a wide range of the American cultural landscape. It explains the history of certain issues with tact while also conveying the good and bad of historical figures and impactful decisions (historical as in the past few to many years ago). Explanations are placed with the initiation of a concept. This is convenient as it alleviates the need to grab another book to find the meaning. At times, explanations are tied back to previous concepts to help with understanding, e.g., “the socializing institutions we discussed earlier…” The table of contents could be revised to include headings within each chapter. This would help the reader to see at a glance all that a chapter focuses on, rather than just the chapter's main thesis.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"While most of the content consists of statements of fact, the author's opinions are obvious in the words used to examine different concepts. It is usually clear when the author's own viewpoint is being expressed. The content is well referenced with a discussion of the sourced information. In-text citations are linked to the reference page. Most of the references are linked to the originating document. This makes it easy to fact-check a discussed concept or approach. A random sampling showed that the author stayed true to the represented ideas of the linked articles.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Very few ‘currently trending’ words or phrases are used thus lessening the need for interpretation. This lends to the relevance of the material as it prevents ‘dating’ of the material. Much of the textbook is tied to the historical beginnings of certain outcomes. While the interpretation of these may change, hopefully, the facts won’t. When combined with common use words, this will keep the textbook from being outdated within the next decade (as is the case with many printed books).","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The author's style of writing helps the reader understand the different approaches used. The contained concepts are well defined and considered from several perspectives. It is also written with good sentence structure and paragraph placement making for a clearer understanding of theories, opinions, and explanations. Headers, sub-headers, and highlighting help to simplify content and connections.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The style of writing is consistent throughout the textbook. Words, phrases, and concepts of the same level of proficiency are conveyed in a similar manner throughout. Chapters are laid out in the same pattern making it easy to pinpoint references, suggested learning outcomes, key terms, key takeaways, and student exercises. The flow of the chapters is similar without any jarring (or chaotic) changes. The call-backs to previous chapters or discussions help to connect the entirety of the communication concept between and within different American ideals, beliefs, and systems.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"Moving through the book in a linear fashion allows certain aspects to bloom in a particular way. However, the author’s way of developing the textbook does allow for segmentation. Chapters could be subdivided with the extractions combined in different ways. This helps home in on certain facets that may be at the forefront of common thought, the news of the day, or the planned focus of a class. This makes it easier to pick and choose which portions to use in classroom discussions. While each chapter has a set focus, some of the concepts do overlap. This helps with flow and understanding but may make it more difficult to subdivide without seeming fragmentary.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The textbook is organized into overall categories then subdivided into specific areas of focus. This continuity of structure helps the reader move from one aspect, or focus, of the chapter to another. However, some chapters begin with a story of a recent event, others start with consideration of different research, and yet others begin with an expressed opinion. While this might lend an interesting diversity, it impacts the flow between chapters. This keeps the textbook from being as useful of a classroom tool as it could be. Some chapters have questions after the opening foray, but most do not. The questions are useful because they make the reader immediately question their own biases. They also provide a great starting point for discussion-based classes.","interface_rating":3,"interface_review":"Links within the document help with understanding. The links allow you to click on a keyword or reference and be taken to the definition or usage within the textbook. Getting back to your starting point is not as easy due to the necessity of scrolling back. Clicking on a picture byline or reference did not result in the same issue. Hitting the back button returns you to the exact place in the textbook you left. Perhaps the issue is only true of links within the document rather than those linked to outside sources. While this aspect is probably true of many online documents, having a link that goes backward and forwards could alleviate this.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"There are some dropped words, such as indirect articles, and some awkward word usage. However, I didn’t read it with the intent of proofreading, and the meaning and intent appear clear.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The dynamics and inter-connectedness of the different aspects of American culture are well explored. The textbook is somewhat limited to those already in or wishing to integrate into, the existing stratified American culture or to better understand their place(s) in it. For those coming to this country with the wish to understand the culture, and not change their own, this is a great overall introduction. However, while there may be commonalities between cultures, the book doesn’t consider outside backgrounds and cultures.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"The textbook is focused on the intersectionality within American culture. It is more intracultural than intercultural. I had looked at this textbook for possible use in an English Language Acquisitions’ Culture and Communication class. This is a high-level class, and in the next lowest (in a progression-based system) we discuss a person’s culture of familiarity in comparison with the American culture. When I first looked at this book, it seemed to be a possibility. After more in-depth consideration though, I don’t think it will work for helping students to understand the American culture as it relates to their own. Thanks to the decent modularity, there are many facets that I can use. I just can’t use it as a whole class. I think this textbook is great, and I certainly like it for its inclusivity of American’s varied cultures.","created_at":"2021-12-15T16:04:39.000-06:00","updated_at":"2021-12-15T16:04:39.000-06:00"},{"id":33770,"first_name":"Sweta","last_name":"Baniya","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Virginia Tech","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The book is less comprehensive than I thought. Though it covers a variety of important topics, I wanted some comprehensive historical grounding of IC and its importance.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"All content seems accurate.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Content is very relevant","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The language is really clear.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Information is very consistent. However, I think the history of IC is missing.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I think so! I like the format.","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"It seems like there are so many items within one page but those are easily identifiable.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I like it.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No issues that I can think of","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"None that I can see.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I think the book is really good. However, I think I wanted a comprehensive history of intercultural communication that will help the students to understand the grounding of IC. I do think the book is really good. However, I am not so confident in using only this text as my major text for my class. The chapter on Race and Ethnicity is really important. I will definitely assign some chapters from the book to my future IC class because the book has important topics.","created_at":"2022-04-01T13:21:51.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-04-01T13:21:51.000-05:00"},{"id":33963,"first_name":"Andrea (Ané)","last_name":"Pearman","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Tidewater Community College","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Although the text covers a vast amount of content, there are foundational aspects of ICC that are not addressed as well as I would prefer.  There appears to be a more sociological or cultural anthropology focus to this text and less of a focus on the field of communication. For example, nonverbal communication was barely addressed yet it plays such a significant role in ICC.\r\n\r\nI appreciate the listing of key terms at the beginning of each chapter as well as the direct links between the listing and the content within the chapter.  I would recommend a well-structured glossary as an addition to this text or a detailed index to the entire text for reference; this would make content even more accessible for students.  I appreciate the inclusion (which is not rather standard process) of learning objectives for each chapter but I do not always see the connection within the chapters.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"Content, without copiously scrutinizing each chapters’ content and fact checking each and every single reference, appears to be accurate. The author cites sources at the end of each chapter and within the content of the chapters.  Links to source citations are added within each chapter’s content for credibility and to enhance further research.  I appreciated the links within the \"References\" section for each chapter to easily access original source content.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Overall, the language of the writing does not tend to “date” the content as the author has written with “timeless” language.  The author includes both historical and current examples which may impact the long-term relevance of the text.  The inclusion of incredibly current content (text written in 2020 with sources from 2020) may help this text stand the test of time.  The language is current and there is a good inclusion of up-to-date examples of some concepts discussed within some of the content (particularly in the Ch. 7 Socialization and Human Sexuality).  These examples could easily be updated to keep the content as current as possible.","clarity_rating":4,"clarity_review":"The chapters are clearly written with the author’s writing style being very “readable” and I feel that this puts the readers at ease regarding the content.  The author’s language is written at a level easily accessible for both higher and lower-level undergraduate course students.  The author uses anecdotes and personal examples to make the content more “relatable” and the author tries to create connections with students, overall, with the language style of the writing.  However, the somewhat heavy reliance on personal examples by the author can take away from the overall research value- for me, as a reader.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The chapters’ language, formatting and content follow a consistent pattern.  I appreciate the use of key terms, learning objectives, photo boxes, “getting real” and “getting plugged in “sections, key takeaways, examples, video links and one level of sub-heading throughout each chapter.  I would even value a further level of sub-heading, if possible, in future editions.  The flow of content is logical and consistent, but some chapters are significantly longer or include more content than others which requires the professor to break down into addition reading sections for students.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"In the text’s current organization, the chapters seem to flow logically into each other or lead logically to the next chapter’s content.  Having said this, the chapters are structured in a manner that they can easily be rearranged for teaching style and timing.  The subdivision of content with secondary headers within the chapters makes it easier to “pick and choose” if necessary, content to be addressed.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"As previously noted, some chapters contain considerably more content than others and this could be modified with either adding more chapters OR more content to other chapters.  The flow of content is logical and well-structured.  There is consistency in the content included with the exception of some chapters including more pedagogical aids than others.","interface_rating":4,"interface_review":"Basic but, overall, easy to use. Downloadable pdf with links (but it’s easy to lose your original place of reading when using links).  Although I appreciate the links for key words and source information, the “open in another tab” option is not available, but it would make the process easier to return to prior reading place.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"I did not review the text as an editor nor run through editing software, but I did notice a few slight grammatical issues present; the errors were nominal and none that would impact the author’s credibility.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The examples were very current as well as relevant and, overall, would relate to, or at least interest, students.  I found the book to be sensitive to a variety of aspects of culture but found it to be somewhat “American-centric” meaning it was more relevant to North America than subcultures of other geographic areas (like Africa, Asia, Australia and Europe).","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"I found the text to be an enjoyable read and I think students would find value in the content included.  I appreciated the key term links and exercises for students as well as the personal anecdotes of the author.  While the coverage of intercultural communication from a sociological perspective was quite thorough, I would not be able to use this as a “stand alone” source for my Intercultural Communication courses but would need to supplement with additional content regarding communication theories as well as more content from cultures outside of the United States.","created_at":"2022-07-28T12:53:51.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-07-28T12:53:51.000-05:00"},{"id":34039,"first_name":"Caleb","last_name":"Lamont","position":"Adjunct Faculty in Communication Studies","institution_name":"Eastern Oregon University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"Various topics and theories are explored in the text and present them in a fun and engaging way. Everything is easy to understand throughout and students are able to see how one topic connects to another one.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Everything was accurate and relatable to the students.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"Everything is very relevant and up-to-date. Granted, some things might need to be revised down the road in future editions to make things more relatable and current but as of today, everything was fine and relevant.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Everything was very easy to understand and flowed clearly from chapter to chapter.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The author was consistent throughout.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Overall, everything is easy to understand throughout and is a solid text the way it is today. Everything flows and builds off of previous chapters/topics.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text is very well organized and everything flows from the first chapter to the last chapter.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"No issues with this, no broken links were found.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"While not a major issue, there were several typos and other grammatical errors in the text. Not a major issue at all though, and it did not take away from the material being presented to students.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The examples used were all current and relatable to students but it was more geared toward North American culture it seemed. Expanding the cultural examples being used is suggested for future revisions.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"Overall, this is a solid text and does a great job presenting information to students.","created_at":"2022-09-09T17:35:09.000-05:00","updated_at":"2022-09-09T17:35:09.000-05:00"},{"id":34134,"first_name":"Reslie","last_name":"Cortés","position":"Assistnat Professor","institution_name":"James Madison University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"The information provided and the chapter organization is interesting and good but overall, I think this book is more about identity than culture. It covers very little ground to the extent that I would not be able to keep it as my main book and would only be able to use it to supplement a different text. It is also quite short at only 100 pages. So while it could be used as a helpful reference it’s not a stand-alone text.","accuracy_rating":3,"accuracy_review":"While the book often brings in widely accepted concepts regarding prejudice, there is insufficient/inaccurate discussion of how these function through colonialism. For example, in discussion of social class the author points to overpopulation in the global south. This is a myth borne out of colonial discourse which erases exploitation of these countries and has been widely disproven. We have also moved beyond considering oppression as an individual experience and much more structurally.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"Does not extensively use “current events” to explain concepts so it feels very anachronistic. This could increase its longevity but also detaches it from everyday experiences.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"Writing style is very clear, accessible, and personable. The author refers to themselves in the third person which I think student would like. Most students should be able to easily digest the reading.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The terminology is consistent, however there is an imbalance in paradigmatic coverage. There seems to be an implied assumption that all intercultural communication research has this critical approach which I feel is very inaccurate and limits the coverage on social scientific or interpretive perspectives in the field. In other words, presenting critical perspectives as the umbrella instead of one approach. I myself am I critical scholar, however in a survey course we must address the other paradigms as well.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Chapters are 25 pages or less with plenty of subsections","organization_rating":4,"organization_review":"The chapters are divided by different identities and while this contributes to a good flow, there is more to intercultural communication than identity. I fear this organization has excluded some important themes such as cultural space, identity performance, globalization and modern-day imperialism, the role of media, cultural practices, language, etc. Furthermore, while intersectionality is discussed, this organization hampers readers ability to see how these functions because the identities are all discussed separately.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Well placed headers, images, charts. Links work correctly.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"None detected","cultural_rating":3,"cultural_review":"There seems to be a hesitance address modern-day colonization and imperialism in this book. Additionally, I think it could be updated by using “enslavement” rather than “slavery”. It discusses important social inequalities at length but mostly at an individual level, leaving out explorations of more structural oppressions. There are also some red flags throughout that reveal internalized oppressive discourse of the author. For example the chapter on social class (only 10pgs or so)  talks about criminal justice and uses a photograph of a black man being arrested with no contextualization or discussion of rates of arrest in different communities or police brutality. Literally choosing to include this without drawing its relevance to culture. What was their goal for discussing this topic? Out of touch and completely unacceptable.","overall_rating":8,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2022-11-09T13:08:53.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-11-09T13:08:53.000-06:00"},{"id":34165,"first_name":"Elissa","last_name":"Mitchell","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"University of Southern Indiana","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book covers many areas (e.g., stereotyping, beliefs and values, race and ethnicity, social class, gender and sexuality) so it's\r\ndiverse enough to be used in a broad course, likely as a supplemental text/reading. Each chapter has a good overview of the topic. It\r\ndoesn't not go in depth on any one topic, so would be best for an introductory course.","accuracy_rating":4,"accuracy_review":"While I am not expert in this field, it appears as though the information in this book is based on the appropriate literature and is\r\nsupported by in-text citations and linked in the references.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"This is an up-to-date discussion of intercultural communication, although I would have liked to have seen more of a discussion on\r\nnonverbal communication (an important factor). While language or preferred terms may evolve over time, this could easily be updated\r\nto reflect those changes. A list of key terms would be a nice addition to each chapter, perhaps included at the end with the key\r\ntakeaways.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"I found this to be a very well-written text. It is fairly informal, not including a lot of unnecessary jargon, and makes the text accessible\r\n(ideal for undergraduates). Personal examples and stories are included which engages the reader.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The text is consistent in terms of formatting, style of writing, and additional content (key takeaways, student exercises) throughout","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This is a highly modular text and chapters could easily be used independently without assigning the whole text. Chapters on race or\r\ngender, for example, could be used as supplemental readings in courses addressing those topics. The chapters can be a bit long so\r\none might even consider breaking up chapters into subsections.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text is well-organized and flows well. While some chapters start differently than others, I think that helps break up the monotony\r\nof some texts. The book starts with an overview of the topic and then each subsequent chapter talks about a specific aspect of culture\r\nor identity.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The text is free of significant interface issues or navigation problems. The images/charts are clear and cited \u0026 I appreciate the linked\r\nin-text citations.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"This is a well-written text with few grammatical issues. Those that are present do not detract from the topic or information being\r\npresented.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"This is an appropriate book for intercultural communication from an American perspective. Those from other nations would likely have\r\na different view. That being said, the U.S. has many cultures and subcultures and this book does a nice job of discussing potential\r\nissues and considerations.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2022-11-18T13:00:34.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-11-18T13:00:34.000-06:00"},{"id":34284,"first_name":"Marc","last_name":"Pinheiro-Cadd","position":"Associate Professor","institution_name":"Drake University","comprehensiveness_rating":3,"comprehensiveness_review":"While each chapter is of interest and potentially useful for an introductory course to intercultural communication, there is no index and no glossary. This could be addressed using ancillary materials, but it would not suffice as a stand-alone textbook.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is unbiased, taking a \"neutral\" stance on the various topics. The content is consistent with current research in the field, although there are some missing content that would be useful.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"My primary motivation for reviewing the text was to find a better presentation of the chapter on gendered communication, i.e., something that addresses more the interaction between males and females. While the text discusses the LGBTQ+ movement and community, it lacks a thorough discussion of communication within the community and with other communities. While the research in this area has not been largely forthcoming, most instructors will want a text (or replacement chapter) that is more current. A chapter devoted to acculturation might be a useful addition.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The text is very clearly written and 100% appropriate for an introductory course. Studnets who wish for or need material that can be applied directly to their lives without difficult jargon, this would be an appropriate selection.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Assessing this is a little difficult given that there is no index or glossary, but based on my reading, it is consistent. The framework remains consistent in that it is a very user-friendly text.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"I believe this is one of the strengths of the text. Individual chapters could be used to supplement or replace chapters of other texts. Alternatively, chapters of this text could be omitted and replaced by others more suitable to the instructor and their students. The divisions internally within each chapter have been well chosen.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The first three chapters of the text are the more \"theoretical,\" although they are easily processed by a reader unfamiliar with the field. The remainder of the chapter address various aspects of human society that face some of the issues addressed in the first three chapters.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"There were no interface issues to note. Every chart and image were clearly displayed and easily understood.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors were found.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Race, class, and gender were addressed in individual chapters. A discussion of communication between non-binary and binary/cis individuals would be an appropriate addition. No offensive material was detected.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"Having known little about OER prior to the search that led me to this text, I was very pleasantly surprised to discover this text. It will be useful for future iterations of my courses.","created_at":"2022-12-15T10:30:40.000-06:00","updated_at":"2022-12-15T10:30:40.000-06:00"},{"id":34646,"first_name":"Kay L.","last_name":"Colley","position":"Professor of Mass Communication","institution_name":"Texas Wesleyan University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This book is a comprehensive yet concise read allowing students to really understand the basics of intercultural communication. The glossary provides a great resource for students and anyone who wants to understand how to more effectively communicate across cultures.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Most intercultural communication texts are written through a lens, so examples veer toward a focus on one area, usually the area of specialization of the author. This text provides a good depth of examples that seem to go beyond your traditional examples in such a text.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The basic theories and concepts of intercultural communication are tackled effectively in this text, and content is fairly up-to-date. As this topic changes so quickly, it is difficult to keep intercultural communications up-to-date, but examples and issues are relevant to today.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This text is well-written and more accessible to students than several other texts I have reviewed. A limit on jargon and clear explanations of complicated topics make the text one that students will use.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"Consistent use of terminology and phrasing is clear throughout the book.","modularity_rating":4,"modularity_review":"The first two chapters are a bit long, especially chapter 1. Breaking the chapter into a bite-sized portion would be helpful.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"Clear flow and logic are present in this text.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"I was impressed by how the text looked. It is clear, attractive and written in a font that makes reading easier.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"There are a few grammatical errors, which is common in most texts today. Nothing is glaring, in terms of grammar, but there are some S-V agreement issues.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The topics that this textbook covers are sometimes hot button. There are some graphics that may be jarring, but that is the nature of intercultural communications. In studying how to communicate effectively across cultures, there are times when issues must be addressed that are uncomfortable.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"This textbook is far more accessible to my students than the previous textbook in terms of writing, tone and style. I really believe my students will understand the subject better as they use this text, which is integral to understanding how to communication effectively across cultures.","created_at":"2023-07-31T19:38:16.000-05:00","updated_at":"2023-07-31T19:38:16.000-05:00"},{"id":34817,"first_name":"Christi","last_name":"Masters","position":"Clinical Associate Professor","institution_name":"Purdue University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"This covers a fairly wide range of topics in regard to intercultural learning. For an introductory course (especially geared towards freshmen), this will provide a nice overview of topics. Given the title, I was expecting to see more comprehensive information about culture and communication (e.g., how to communicate more effectively). Chapter 1 covered this more comprehensively than the remaining chapters.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"Overall the information is accurate and sources are cited. Writing about this topic can be tricky as we often view this from our own experiences in life, but the author appropriately references material discussed.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"The overall topic and broad information is quite relevant. While there are a few examples that are recent, many of the examples (including video clips) were often quite old (and not clearly related to how it is relevant to current times).","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The clarity is excellent. I appreciated how each chapter provides clear learning objectives before getting started. The key terms at the start of each chapter (and being able to click on them for more information) was helpful, especially when thinking of the student perspective.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"Consistency with terminology throughout the text was noted. The consistent start of each chapter with learning objectives and key terminology was helpful. All of the chapters ended with \"key takeaways\", but two chapters did not include \"exercises\" at the end of the chapter.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"Although chapter 1 was long and contained more information than others, there were still clear sections and subheadings that aided modularity. Although some of the information builds off previous content/chapters, it would still be feasible to assign a chapter or section and still make sense to the reader and allow for learning based on that specific assignment/chapter.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The text was organized and flowed well while reading. As mentioned previously, the organization of each chapter was helpful (starting with learning objectives and key terms, and ending with key takeaways and exercises).","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The images and charts were clear. The key terms and videos were easy to click on and find. There were no distracting features noted.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"A few minor errors but nothing that hindered content or readability.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"Given this is the focus of the text, it covers a range of cultural topics. Again, some of the information/examples are older and it would benefit from more recent examples.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":"There were many things I appreciated about this text. For example, noting the importance of reflection and reflective practice when it comes to intercultural learning. I wish there was more focus and an explicit statement about intercultural communication competence being a life-long journey - you don't just one day become \"competent\". While I am sure the author knows that, I think an undergraduate student could read the section on ICC and think there is an \"endpoint\" where you are finally competent.","created_at":"2023-12-19T14:25:41.000-06:00","updated_at":"2023-12-19T14:25:41.000-06:00"},{"id":35408,"first_name":"Brian","last_name":"Healy","position":"Lecturer","institution_name":"Metropolitan State University of Denver","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text covers the fundamental intercultural communication theories well in the first few chapters. As it moves into talking about the different spaces in which intercultural communication occurs, the text could provide more breadth in talking about","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content is accurately cited and maintains the complexity of diverse and inclusionary perspectives expected in research and writing about intercultural approaches to communication.","relevance_rating":4,"relevance_review":"As the landscape and capacity to work in the field of intercultural communication are in varying states of flux, the text attempts to pindown current trends in this practice. There are new experiences and information that could be highlighted and added to make this text even more contemporary.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"This text provides a clear throughline for students to follow. Previewing key terms and learning objectives and concluding with key takeaways and exercises allows the reader multiple touchpoints for uptaking the material through repetition.","consistency_rating":4,"consistency_review":"The writing style is consistent, and the deployment of theory and terminology reinforces the overarching ideas within each chapter.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"It was easy to chunk into smaller sections for easier intake for the student. The heading and subheadings make this easy.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization is straightforward and moves from fundamental theories to application in a logical fashion","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Navigating this text is straightforward, and the media worked consistently.","grammatical_rating":4,"grammatical_review":"Moments of grammatical error occurred, and they did not detract from the overall capacity to make sense of the text.","cultural_rating":4,"cultural_review":"The text covers the more prominent and fundamental theories and terms of intercultural communication well. Due to the scope of the text, there are particular aspects of the study that the book could spend more time unpacking. I can see a further iteration of this text taking time and space in these efforts.","overall_rating":9,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2025-03-14T11:23:13.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-03-14T11:23:13.000-05:00"},{"id":35507,"first_name":"Ketevan","last_name":"Mosashvili","position":"Part-time faculty","institution_name":"Bridgewater State University","comprehensiveness_rating":5,"comprehensiveness_review":"The text presents a wide range of topics and theories within Intercultural Communication in an engaging and accessible manner. It effectively demonstrates the interconnectedness of key concepts, enabling students to develop a coherent understanding of how cultural frameworks influence communication practices","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"This text demonstrates a high level of accuracy in presenting theories, concepts, terminology, and case studies across the field of intercultural communication.  I found no noticeable errors or signs of careless research, suggesting strong attention to factual accuracy throughout.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"This text is highly relevant and offers a compelling framework for understanding culture in today’s pluralistic and identity-rich societies. The text is also flexible enough to be updated with newer examples in future editions.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"One of the strengths of this text is its readability. The author presents complex ideas clearly and concisely, without oversimplifying key theories. The writing is engaging and accessible, with well-structured explanations and smooth transitions. Each chapter begins with key terms, and specialized vocabulary is introduced naturally within the flow of the text.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"This book maintains a consistent tone, structure, and authorial voice throughout. Each chapter follows the same format, and key terms and concepts are used uniformly across the text.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This book is highly adaptable for course use, with clearly structured, subject-specific chapters that flow logically but can be rearranged or used independently. Its modular design also allows instructors to use entire chapters or standalone sections as needed.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"This book is well-organized to support both modular use and reading as a whole. Each chapter starts with source info, keywords, and learning objectives, then presents core content enhanced by exercises, illustrations, tables, and magazine-style sidebars offering deeper insights. Chapters end with key takeaways, a bibliography, and detailed student exercises.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"The book’s technological features and links work smoothly. The clickable citations are a particularly helpful feature, adding immediate context and depth to the material.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"No grammatical errors found.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"The book is a good example of cultural sensitivity combining all kinds of groups, communities and experiences.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":"I am considering incorporating this book into my Cultural Psychology course and highly recommending it to colleagues in related fields.","created_at":"2025-06-06T13:35:58.000-05:00","updated_at":"2025-06-06T13:35:58.000-05:00"},{"id":35783,"first_name":"Zane","last_name":"Dayton","position":"Assistant Professor","institution_name":"Marshall University","comprehensiveness_rating":4,"comprehensiveness_review":"Most of the content is comprehensive, especially Ch. 2 covering “Social Categorization”. However, I believe that Ch. 3 needs more content, as it is quite brief.","accuracy_rating":5,"accuracy_review":"The content in the book was accurate.","relevance_rating":5,"relevance_review":"The material covered is relevant, particularly in today’s society. The author covers overarching material related to culture more generally and then proceeds to discuss culture in more specific areas throughout the book.","clarity_rating":5,"clarity_review":"The content is clear and concise. More importantly, the material is written so that undergraduate students can easily understand the material and examples provided.","consistency_rating":5,"consistency_review":"The material in the book is consistent, both in definitions and examples.","modularity_rating":5,"modularity_review":"This text can act as a supplemental reading and/or a main text itself. There are different sections of chapters that can be taught separately and broken down more in-depth for students. Therefore, building a course around a book such as this can be beneficial, either individually or in combination with another text.","organization_rating":5,"organization_review":"The organization works well, as the author starts broad in Ch. 1 and then proceeds to be more specific throughout the remainder of the book. The first three chapters are an important introduction to identity, categorizing others, and how we characterize our values and cultural characteristics.","interface_rating":5,"interface_review":"Content is easily accessible and no errors on both handheld and laptop devices.","grammatical_rating":5,"grammatical_review":"The textbook is free of grammatical errors.","cultural_rating":5,"cultural_review":"Great work in providing cultural sensitivity by providing examples across cultures and introducing ideas related to stereotypes, intercultural competence, and many others.","overall_rating":10,"overall_review":null,"created_at":"2026-02-15T21:06:30.000-06:00","updated_at":"2026-02-15T21:06:30.000-06:00"}],"url":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/intercultural-communication","updated_at":"2026-05-18T02:07:05.000-05:00"}],"links":{"self":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies.json?page=1","total_pages":3,"total_count":28,"next":"https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/subjects/cultural-ethnic-studies.json?page=2"}}