The Art of Being Human: A Textbook for Cultural Anthropology

Reviewed by Sharon Methvin, Instructor, Mt. Hood Community College on 12/2/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

The material covers much of the material and ideas in an introductory text, but it is difficult to follow the sequence/order of the sections. Terms/concepts could be better identified in a coded or easy to spot framing. I love the colorful diagrams found in some chapters.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Much of the material is intriguing first hand knowledge. Other sections with non first hand stories could have been better referenced.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Some of the most up to date and intriguing examples I have seen for students to catch. Powerful, relevant examples. This is the real strength of the text.

Clarity rating: 5

Text is well written and not only captures, but sustains the readers interest with compelling examples and readable content.

Consistency rating: 4

Framework is recognizable throughout the sections and consistent. Shifts occur in the chapter lengths, types and amounts of graphs and images.

Modularity rating: 5

Yes, but I would shift the content around as it does not seem to follow a logical order that can be easily divided/organized.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

It does not seem to follow a logical order that can be easily divided/organized.

Interface rating: 5

Interface is consistent and the graphs/images captivating and of good quality.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Easy to follow, not dry and good flow.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Will engage the student with up to date and meaningful examples and content.

Comments

I would like to see links added at the end of the chapters for the LEARN MORE sections. I know it would be hard to do, but I would love to see the chapters shortened as this text serves primarily as a supplement/reader primed for discussions and so on, so it can get long therefore leading to skimming after a bit of reading and it is too juicy to let that happen.

Reviewed by Diana Fox, Professor and Department Chair, Bridgewater State University on 6/15/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The book takes a novel approach to introduce cultural anthropology to students, drawing on wonderful stories and ethnographic anecdotes as a way to discuss anthropological concepts. This means that there is somewhat of a trade-off between anecdote and number of and breadth of examples; however, the engaging nature of the writing compensates, and instructors can use the chapters as opportunities to explore more details, counting on student interest being heightened through the storytelling format.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

For a contemporary anthropology text, this is a somewhat complex question since anthropology embraces intersubjectivity as a window into cultural understanding and poststructural theory also demonstrates that bias is present across all forms of academic theorizing. The value of this text is that it is conscious of bias and instructive about where it is helpful as a tool of understanding. Data that is incontrovertible is accurately discussed.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

There are some contemporary examples that area already seeming somewhat out-of-date, such as the example of Miley Sirus and her dancing. However, the example is harnessed to make a point about how symbols can be manipulated particularly through social media and mass communication, while also recognizing the importance of cultural positioning of perceivers of symbols. In 10 years, the example will be more difficult to explain. Other examples are more likely to stand the test of time because they are more abstract and less tied to a popular culture moment.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is a great read. It is one of the most accessible Introductory Cultural Anthropology texts (with required forays into basic archaeological, biological and linguistic anthropology insights necessary for cultivating a four-field approach). It's fun to read, absorbing, and interesting, casting reflective light on anthropological perspectives and insights that even this 25 year veteran of the field found provocative.

Consistency rating: 5

The style and format are consistent and fluid. There are suggestions for further reading and creative assignments at the end of chapters that engage students in activities that provoke reflection on the concepts outlined in the chapters, bolstered by the previously-mentioned ethnographic anecdotes.

Modularity rating: 5

Yes, and I am using this text exactly for this purpose, requiring students to read segments that blend well with other readings for a second-year seminar course on culture and sustainability. There is a degree of layering of knowledge that is true with any introductory anthropology text; foundational concepts are necessary and other ideas build on them. This is true of this text as well, but there are sections that stand alone as well.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The topics are presented in a creative and unusual format; they do not progress through the conventional titles of Introduction to Anthropology texts such as kinship, political organization, magic/ritual/religion, language, etc. I welcome this creativity non-normative approach; through the unusual titles, the main topics of an Introduction to Anthropology text are addressed but in an unconventional fashion through stories. In the linguistic anthro chapter, for example, the major components of languages are shared, including significant theories such as Sapir-Whorf; however, it does not unfold in the typical structure. This makes it a bit difficult to search through and find; on the other hand, these ideas are relayed in an ethnographic context, which makes them more interesting to read--they are woven in rather than blocks of stand-alone "phonemes' of information if you will.

Interface rating: 5

No problems here. Images are well-explained and useful.

Grammatical Errors rating: 1

There is a very low number of errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The text addresses central concepts important to understanding human diversity such as gender, sex, and race, and does so drawing on anthropological knowledge as well as wider social impacts of the ideologies around race and racism and gender biases. This is cultural anthropology so of course, global cultural, ethnic, and other forms of diversity are central to the text's makeup.

Comments

While some of the comprehensiveness of a straightforward Introductory text is exchanged for stories that introduce concepts in a more narrative style, and while some instructors might miss all the kindship charts, etc., I found that the multitude of examples and relevance to contemporary global cultural life in the information age was extremely valuable and made the text highly readable. I think this is a text students will enjoy reading, will actually read, and instructors can offer additional details through their own examples. I highly recommend this text.

Reviewed by K. Drybread, Lecturer, University of Colorado Boulder on 6/11/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

In the introduction to "The Art of Being Human," Wesch quotes a post that one of his students presumably shared on social media. It reads: "today my anthro professor said something kind of really beautiful: you all have a little bit of 'I want to save the world' in you, that's why you're here, in college. I want you to know that it's ok if you only save one person, and it's okay if that person is you." If you believe that the practice of anthropology can be a form of self-help that might also produce some positive consequences in the world, and if this is what you'd like your students to learn from an introductory course in anthropology, then this book is a great fit. The text is lively and engaging, and it touches on a range of topics one would expect an introductory textbook to cover: culture, language, religion, gender, race, technology, and morality, to name a few. However, the text seems to value breadth over depth. Kinship, gender, race, colonialism, structural violence and power are noted but not addressed in significant detail. Nationalism, material culture, and ethnography are not mentioned at all.

Of course, no introductory cultural anthropology text can be completely comprehensive; they all reflect the priorities of the author. This text seems self-consciously directed to an audience that is taking anthropology as a requirement rather than a vocation. It does not provide students with a sense of the history of the discipline, but it clearly shows how all of us can benefit from anthropological thinking. If the intention of your course is to fully prepare students for further anthropological study, this may not be the best fit. But if the intention of your course is to make students realize that anthropological thinking can make them more empathetic and effective global citizens, this text might be with adopting.

The book does not provide a glossary or an index, but it is table of contents and headings are easy to navigate, and the PDF provides links to Wesch's course website, which provides students with alternate ways to access the text and with additional, supporting materials.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The text is explicit in its agenda, but nevertheless provides students with access to a wide range of perspectives and materials. While the text accurately represents the information it references, it does not expose readers much actual anthropology. The majority content cited comes from journalists, novelists, and pop-psychologists rather than from anthropologists. Some might argue that this strategy makes anthropology accessible to students by because it presents influential anthropological concepts to students through examples that speak effectively to popular audiences and to the specific concerns of college students today. Others, however, might argue that by filtering anthropological concepts through the work of authors who write for popular rather than academic audiences, and by failing to provide a history of the discipline, the text gives the contributions of actual anthropologists short shrift.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The Art of Being Human: A Textbook for Cultural Anthropology uses up-to-the-minute cultural examples that will make it seem incredibly relevant to current college students. While the text's sheer hipness might negatively impact its longevity, it will not diminish the text's usefulness. Even if some of the examples in the text become dated, instructors can follow Wesch's model for finding and using relevant real-world events to teach anthropological concepts to students in the future.

Clarity rating: 5

The text's biggest strength is that it is very accessible. Wesch uses little to no jargon and goes out of his way to put complicated anthropological concepts into plain English that anyone can understand.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is internally consistent and mobilizes its own terms regularly.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is divided into 10 lessons, and each of these lessons is divided into smaller segments. The title of each chapter and each segment clearly informs the reader of its contents, making it easy for instructors and students alike to reorganize the text to meet course objectives.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The author has intentionally organized the text to speak to U.S. college students and the values they presumably hold upon entering the classroom. The flow will work in some contexts, but in others chapters can be eliminated or rearranged to better suit the audience.

Interface rating: 4

The interface on the PDF includes embedded links to the course website that are not visually indicated. This is the only issue I discovered that might annoy a reader. However, some readers might absolutely love that the text directly leads them to supporting materials that can reinforce the lessons taught. The course website contains videos, podcasts, and other multimedia materials instructors and students alike can take advantage of.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

Wesch clearly appreciates David Foster Wallace but does not share the novelist's obsession with grammar. Few of us, however, do. The text contains a few errors in grammar and usage. but these are not distracting and do not diminish the quality of the text at all.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The text seems to presume a white, middle class, Christian audience that shares the author's background. While the author is culturally sensitive and aware (he is, after all, an anthropologist who has obviously thought deeply about issues of inequality and cultural relativism and is careful not to deliberately offend), the text might not be as well received by students from different backgrounds.

Reviewed by Lara Watkins, Anthropology, Bridgewater State University on 5/30/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The book is a short and easy-to-read introduction to anthropology. It covers key concepts in a simple and engaging fashion. It is not really a stand alone textbook, but rather a "grabbing read" that would be best complemented through an ethnography (or a few) and/or some case studies on specific topics of interest. It does not have an index or a glossary. Either or both of these would definitely improve the use of the text, particularly since it is aimed toward introductory students who are most likely taking their first anthropology course to fulfill a requirement.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The book is a blending of personal experiences that provide an overall narrative to anthropological ways of knowing, learning, and experiencing the world. It could be strengthened through having more links to relevant references for more information and more details (such as urls) for recommended resources throughout.
While chapter one is written in an engaging fashion, it implies that fieldwork is haphazard. It is important to note that while fieldwork can feel haphazard and sometimes decisions need to be made quickly while in the field, there is a lot of preparation that goes into fieldwork.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The content touches upon key, timeless concepts and terms in anthropology, such as ethnocentrism and participant observation. There are some examples that may prove to be more timely now than in the future, such as the use of Miley Cyrus to bring the relevance of the classic article on the Nacirema "up-to-date". However, similar to the article by Miner, this example may just feel a little dated at some point, but it will not take away from the intent of the use of the example in the future. In other words, it may feel a little dated at some point for students, but the salience of the example will remain.

Clarity rating: 5

A key strength of this textbook is that it is incredibly accessible. It reads in a very straightforward and personal manner. It feels like the reader is listening to a series of compelling stories being told by Wesch.

Consistency rating: 4

The 10 lessons / 10 challenges framework provides an easy to follow introduction to anthropology.

However, having well-documented and accessible resources (such as urls and/or complete bibliographic information) for expanding reading/viewing outside the confines of the textbook would be very helpful.

Modularity rating: 5

The 10 lessons / 10 challenges framework is perfect for breaking course material into sections. However, the text does not follow the same format as many introduction to anthropology texts. It does not obviously move through the standard topical areas in the standard manner. Some instructors may find this refreshing, but some may find it frustrating. A strength of the text is the use of challenges at the end of each of the chapters. This provides a possible hands-on learning activity to integrate reading with student experience, thereby extending into experiential learning.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The text uses a clear 10 lessons/10 challenges framework that helps to weave together key concepts, classic examples, author's experiences, and potential student experiences. It would be helpful to have an index, glossary and/or review terms and concepts at the end of chapters. Wesch acknowledges early in the text that it is a loose framework for future expanded editions, suggesting that it will be revised over time to build upon this initial strong framework.

Interface rating: 4

There are no glaringly apparent issues with navigation. It would be helpful if there were hyperlinks in key areas to aid in navigation, for example, if the table of contents had hyperlinks. There are few places where margins appear to be different sizes and where the text appears to be a little fragmented.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

There are some paragraphs throughout that are rather short and feel somewhat abrupt.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

As an introduction to cultural anthropology text, different cultural examples are explicitly tied into the material. Students should be asked to interrogate their own backgrounds more and consider how their own identities impact their experience of the world. This is particularly relevant to the chapter 7 challenge exercise. This activity as it is written seems to reinforce "othering". While the intention of this activity is appropriate for an introductory anthropology course, students should also consider their own positionality, thereby opening up classroom conversations around challenging topics.

Comments

The strengths of this text far outweigh the challenges. I am definitely considering using it the next time that I teach Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. Its engaging narrative as well as the challenge activities at the end of the chapters are critical components for students who are most likely taking their first anthropology course to fulfill a requirement.

Reviewed by Lincoln DeBunce, Instructor, Blue Mountain Community College on 12/16/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The Art of Being Human has no index or glossary but really doesn’t need one. If you are looking for the tell-tale text book full of boldfaced words and concepts this isn’t for you. Most topics covered in a traditional text book are here, though kinship seems short-sheeted. If you want a few big ideas aimed to change the student from the inside out, and want students to really “get” cultural relativity and value the insights that anthropology can bring to a student’s life, then the topics covered in this 300+ text will largely be sufficient.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

This is not an unbiased book, but it is an honest book. Wesch is passionate about what an anthropological mind set did to change his life, and he is unapologetic in sharing his view point and personal journey. The book is light on the number of concepts, but those used are skillfully woven into the prose. The book is intended as an introductory text, but not in the classic exhaustive way. It is less a reference book and more of a self-improvement manual.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Is this text book relevant?—absolutely; three big recurring questions are identified and dealt with throughout: “Who am I? What am I going to do? Am I going to make it?” This is one of the strengths Wesch brings to bear. He taps into questions college-age adults are likely thinking about. Unfortunately, some of the examples used in exploring these questions are slightly dated. For instance, using a Miley Cyrus concert seems less than compelling for grabbing a student’s attention. References to the 2016 election and ongoing “culture wars” will quickly be dated. This is too bad but it is an easy fix for those instructors willing to do a bit of editorial work and management of these examples.

Clarity rating: 5

Each chapter is about a lesson the author wants us to learn. Careful, artful prose is employed throughout the book. Thoughtfulness and good editing are found in each of the ten chapters.

Consistency rating: 5

There is a balance of length and depth between chapters. Writing is consistently polished and effective throughout.

Modularity rating: 4

Wesch offers ten lessons, one for each chapter. On the surface it would seem you could mix and match chapters to fit the needs of the class. Unfortunately, this would take a modest bit of work. Chapters refer to other chapters already read, or yet to be explored. I purposefully read a couple of chapters out of order. Referencing other unread chapters wasn’t a huge distraction, but noticeable.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The unfolding of chapters is logical and linear. After establishing the significance of exploring other cultures, Wesch introduces the “Barrel” model of culture, which includes infrastructure (used loosely to include economics), social structure, and superstructure (cosmology, worldview, etc.). Topics flow forward from there.

Interface rating: 4

If you are a fan of referring to web pages outside of a text book this OER has an ancillary web site that is well developed and interesting to explore. Wesch provides tools, videos and guides for other instructors to use. The videos included are fun and enjoyable. What is a bit annoying is that the ancillary is entitled ANTH 101 and is listed as such in the text book. If you teach cultural anthropology and your class isn’t titled ANTH 101, this could be confusing. Additionally, The Art of Being Human includes assignments that direct students to the ANTH 101 website. If you are like me, you may wish to put your own twist on these assignments—this is not easily done without making a modification to the text or otherwise directing students to ignore the book’s directives.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Other than a handful of typos, The Art of Bring Human is a solid, well written and beneficial addition to the OER movement. At times, the crafting of examples and storytelling is quite masterful.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

For the most part Wesch wears his anthropological hat well and provides the reader with specific examples of why thinking differently and holding empathy is a good thing. Regrettably, Wesch falls short at times in his inclusivity by making statements that assume we are from and part of his culture, using statements such as “we value and hold…” “From our western perspective… .” Interestingly, Wesch assumes a standard American culture that he characterizes and includes the reader as being a member.

Comments

There are few books that have given me more to think about as a cultural anthropology instructor. Light on concepts and heavy on encouraging action, The Art of Being Human reads as a manifesto for living a fuller life, at least from one energetic anthropologist’s viewpoint. As a book used to make an instructor think differently about what we should be doing as a teacher, this OER is a “can’t miss success.” Used as an introductory survey text, this book is unconventional. Do I recommend it as such? It depends on how adventurous or safe you want to be in the classroom. I envision some students being liberated by it, while those who have a hard time reading anything in the social sciences struggling to find their footing and an instructor struggling to keep them from shutting down quickly—it I that type of transformative reading.

Reviewed by Peggy Gibbons, Assistant Professor of Social Work, George Fox University on 8/31/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Although this text is designed for an introductory anthropology course, students from
other disciplines will find value in the content and in the power of great story-telling.
There are six sections to the book: Fieldwork, Culture, Evolution, Language,
Infrastructure, and Social Structure. Professor Wesch’s narrative moves the reader
through each by using personal stories, anecdotes, and information from researchers
other than himself. Because his examples are strategically placed and centered on
personal connections, the concepts are easily understood. As a result, he carefully
builds the foundation upon which readers will gain a broad understanding of
anthropology while learning specific ways to explain the human condition. At the end of
each section Wesch presents questions for reflection and challenges to his students to
go out and “do” something related to the content. These challenges appear to reinforce
core concepts while asking the students to push themselves as they develop their skills.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The content appears to be unbiased and accurate. Content is supported by research
although sources are not cited in the text. While the lack of in-text citations or footnotes
allows for easy reading, it also means the reader will have to search the references for
specific citations.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

This book is relevant now because of the discussions on human rights, cultural rights,
structural power, the power of language, and because examples are pulled from around
the world and from different historical eras. The content is meaningful, important, and so
clearly focused on the human condition it will be relevant well into the future.

Clarity rating: 5

Professor Wesch’s voice is clearly heard throughout the book. It is as if he were sitting
nearby sharing stories – some colorful, others scholarly but none are boring or difficult
to understand.

Consistency rating: 5

The design of the text is basic and incredibly easy to follow. Graphics and photos are
placed appropriately to illustrate salient points.

Modularity rating: 5

The six main sections of the book are distinct enough they could easily be used as
stand-alone content but also combine to be a comprehensive text.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Everything about this book is easy to follow. The table of contents is simple and
matches the headings in each section and chapter so the reader does not need to hunt
for particular content. The challenges and reference lists are in the same place at the
end of each section. The overall format is a refreshing break from many textbooks with
busy, cluttered pages.

Interface rating: 5

The PDF version type, graphics and photographs are easy to read. However, the book
is more than 300 pages and scrolling from one section to another is a bit tedious. There
are a few pages with extra blank spaces but they do not interfere with the readability of
the pages.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Only a few grammatical errors were noted.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Because there are so many relevant issues exposed in this book, this is a text for everyone, not just anthropology students. Hate, race, gender, social media, globalization (and many others) are tackled in this book with an explanatory tone and defined through examples and context. For example, Wesch explores how four cultures define and live out their values regarding love and marriage. He deftly shows the differences without promoting a right or wrong perspective. Readers can’t help but pause for a moment and check their own value system and wonder how they would respond in a similar situation. Wesch does a great job of not politicizing current events but stays focused on the cultural lesson we all can learn about someone else’s human experience.

Comments

The most remarkable feature of this book is how it captured my attention and took me
along for the ride. I can only imagine how powerful Professor Wesch is to hear in
person. I imagine he sounds just like he writes and I would expect each day in his class
is like visiting with a favorite relative who has traveled the world and has great stories to
tell. A powerful component of his writing is the lack of judgment. He clearly shows how
to be a respectful researcher and learner. Reading this book was enlightening,
affirming, and a true pleasure. As a social work professor I found the sections on
culture, language and social structure especially relevant and I will incorporate some
content into my courses.

Reviewed by Sanaa Riaz, Associate Professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 7/27/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

The book covers many foundational concepts, such as ethnocentrism, participant-observation, culture shock and others. However, there are very few important terms described in relation to politics, religion, health, socioeconomic inequalities, class and economics. While it is a very comprehensive text to understand the essence of anthropology and to deconstruct worldviews, it is not the most comprehensive introduction to the various aspects of culture holistically studied (what the author calls Seeing Big in Lesson 2) in cultural anthropology. Individual discussions on globalization, culture, health and evolution are very thought-provoking and comprehensive. However, discussions on forms of political organization, art, health and pluralism, ways in which applied anthropology is informed by cultural anthropology and the other sub-fields, and the relationship between the framework of the book (infrastructure, social structure and superstructure) are not included.
The book lacks an index and a glossary. However, readers are pointed to the ANTH101.com resource for further learning, connections and questions. Each lesson ends with a challenge related to the topic of the Lesson that challenges students to deconstructing their own cultural ways and learning how to walk in someone else’s shoes.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The book challenges subtle and overt biases and fictional approaches (tropes) in looking at other cultures and encourages readers to critically examine the idea of cultural-normative through the author's personal fieldwork examples and anthropological journey. The narrative is reflexive throughout and free of errors and biases.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The text contains cutting-edge discussions on health and what the author terms mismatched diseases. In the most articulate manner, the author discusses the politics of life expectancy and the "survival of the fittest". The book tackles the sensitive topic of evolution in a way that can allow students to see how it is related to lifeways and flexibility towards various lifestyles, rather as through an isolated discussion on the history of human evolution. Because the underlying theme of the book is infrastructure, social structure and superstructure, as indicated by the barrel-shaped structure, it provides for a discussion of religion, marriage, gender, and globalization that will not only not go obsolete, but inform how additional aspects of cultural lifeways will continue to fall within the layers of the barrel categories. Finally, discussions on Twitter, snapchats in relation to language and on technology becoming the new human god in the future, as noted by the author, in relation to globalization put this text at the fore front of discussions about cultural transformation that anthropologists (as anthropological field sites also increasingly include virtual social media sites) must address.

Clarity rating: 5

The accessibility of the prose is the biggest strength of the book. The author uses fieldwork experiences as well as other ethnographic examples to contextualize important terms. The text is easy for an introductory student as well as a pleasure reader to understand the premise of anthropological inquiry.

Consistency rating: 3

The author notes in the introduction that this is not a typical textbook and therefore there will be fewer terms to memorize. It is highlighted that ten big ideas in anthropology on how to approach the idea of culture will be the focus. In Lesson 2, another framework, which informs the organization of the subsequent Lessons/chapters and discussions therein, the infrastructure, social structure and superstructure barrel-model, is introduced. The Lessons that follow highlight religion, marriage, economy, globalization in relation to each of the barrel categories. A formal statement of how the 10 points inform the framework in Lesson 2 or of the Lesson 2 framework at the beginning in Lesson 1 would have provided the readers a roadmap for addressing the book content.

Modularity rating: 3

While the narrative flows, the text lacks subheadings throughout. Lessons are divided on the premise that some aspects of culture studied in anthropology will form the infrastructure, some social structure and some the superstructure means that while the text is divisible into smaller reading sections, the framework, highlighted through a barrel-shaped model, of the infrastructure, social structure and superstructure and each informing the other may be missed out. It is also not possible to assign the first Lesson as an introductory reading for the framework along with smaller sections from later Lessons, as the framework of the barrel model is discussed in the second chapter. Lesson 2, Culture, where the barrel model of the framework is first introduced, provides an overview of the underlying characteristics of culture in relation to the barrel-model and can be assigned independent of other Lessons.
Chapter 5 on Infrastructure, discusses globalization in conjunction with content that is typically discussed in a separate chapter on economy in conventional textbooks. Because of its unique, futuristic manner of discussing subsistence strategies, economic challenges, globalization and technology all together, Lesson 5 can be assigned as stand-alone reading.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

Without Lesson 1, Fieldwork, including a statement on the ways in which the rest of the chapters/lessons would be organized, it is quite jarring to move from Lesson 8 on Globalization to Lesson 9 highlighting social and philosophical discourses on a good life and Chapter 10, the Art of Being Human, concluding the book with a focus on applied anthropology in the areas of environment, health and social inequality. In Lesson 2, the infrastructure, social structure and superstructure model has been introduced in the form of a barrel diagram. The lack of introduction in the first Lesson/chapter does not allow one to see that topics, such as economy, religion, marriage and others are organized in Lessons 5-7 around infrastructure, social structure and superstructure with the sub-headings included in the table of contents not providing any cues.

Interface rating: 5

There are no navigational issues with the text. There are a few images of people from fieldwork. Other images are of the barrel-shaped infrastructure/social structure/superstructure diagram and snapshots of Tweets are placed appropriately and do not distract the reader.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

There are no grammatical errors in the text.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The text largely comprise of the author’s reflections from ethnographic fieldwork, including some case studies to provide other cultural examples. As the author notes in Lesson 1, the text is meant to serve as an exploration of the 10 big ideas in anthropology. As Lessons/Chapters are organized around these ideas, certain topics, such as forms of political organization, kinship, religious systems, forms of art and others are left out as a result of which cultural examples from around the world throwing light on these aspects of culture have not been included in the book.

Comments

This book is a refreshing text in the scheme of conventional textbooks in that it does not begin with an introduction to the field and sub-fields of anthropology, a discussion on schools of thought in anthropology and a history of the field onwards to a chapter dedicated to an aspect of culture, such as religion, political organization, etc. Instead, it provides a framework of infrastructure/social structure and superstructure to understand various aspects of culture, albeit the framework is not clearly presented at the beginning. Evolution is quite a sensitive topic to study and teach in the West as notions of cultural evolutionism still inform discourses on social inequality. Evolution is typically dealt with at the beginning in conventional textbooks and other aspects of culture, such as health and social inequality are not related to it. This book provides a fresh take on evolution by relating it to health and what the author notes as mismatched diseases. Each Lesson ends with a challenge for students, something that urges them to give up what they deem as normative or approach it from a completely different perspective or step into the shoes of someone from another culture, which is a great strength of the text.
Discussions on beliefs and points of view include Twitter snapshots and snapchats which are in keeping with the times.
With the framework laid out in the introduction and the links between infrastructure, social structure and superstructure of the book highlighted throughout all Lessons/Chapters, this could become one-of-a-kind introduction to the essence of the field of anthropology.

Reviewed by Christina Cappy, Instructor of Anthropology, Central Oregon Community College on 6/21/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This book offers a creative and innovative approach to teaching anthropology. Rather than dividing content into topics such as gender, race, and the economy, this book adopts an alternative approach that covers key anthropological skills and asks students to embark on different challenges.

The biggest strength of this book is the author's skill of storytelling. He begins each chapter with an engaging and relevant story that he then uses to introduce anthropological concepts to the reader and allow them to see how these concepts can be applied to real-life scenarios. He is clearly aware of how students learn and what grabs their attention and uses this understanding to write this book. Through this style of writing, he is demonstrating how anthropology is also an art. Certain chapters of the book, such as the chapter on globalization and social structure, are quite comprehensive and cover content that is important for any anthropology introductory course.

The book could further acknowledge some of the complex and checkered history of anthropology, including issue of power dynamics involved in fieldwork in terms of who is producing knowledge and how knowledge becomes validated. In addition, certain sections of the book (such as the opening chapters) could work more to include more voices of the author's research participants in order to support the goal of allowing the reader to understand our shared humanness across cultures. Including these aspects could make the work even more comprehensive.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The information presented in this book draws on the works of well-known anthropologists as well as the author's own fieldwork experiences. It appears to be accurate. It could be improved by including more comprehensive citations for the reader to be able to refer to the sources being cited with greater ease, and also allow the reader to form their own judgements when generalizations are made.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The stories told and theories examined in this book are very relevant to undergraduate anthropology students and a broader US population. This book is clearly directed at an American undergraduate audience. It regularly draws cross-cultural comparisons to encourage readers to question their own perspectives. By covering topics in pop culture and issues surrounding media use this work will be easily accessible and relevant to many people in the US today.

Clarity rating: 5

The book is very clearly written. The author has a talent for explaining complex concepts in an easily digestible form.

Consistency rating: 5

This book is quite consistent in it's organization and writing style.

Modularity rating: 5

This book works well with regards to modularity. The book could be taken as a whole or certain lessons/chapters could be pulled from it to bolster a class that uses a different textbook or structure. I plan to use sections from it in future classes.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

This book is clearly laid out. The table of contents and introduction explain what to expect of this work, which is helpful. I would also suggest that each chapter could begin (perhaps after the ethnographic excerpt) with a few more guiding sentences about what will be covered in the chapter. Because this book offers such a different style for teaching anthropology, additional details as to the topics that will be discussed in the different sections of each chapter would be useful. In addition, the "Learn More" section at the end of each lesson that includes additional resources for the reader is helpful and I think that this can be further developed.

Interface rating: 5

The interface of this edition is in a basic PDF format with occasional photographs and helpful diagrams to breakdown more challenging concepts. In future editions it could be useful to have hyperlinks to the different chapters as well as a brief review of concepts covered at the end of each chapter.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The writing of this book is very clean with little to no grammatical errors. This makes for very easy reading.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

This book strives to be culturally relevant and culturally sensitive. It's objectives of getting students to experience more, experience difference, and experience differently are central to any anthropology class. I appreciate how the book makes these the central objectives of the book rather than any one bit of content or getting students to memorize (and quickly forget) key terms. Overall, the book is strong in accomplishing this task but could be improved by including more voices of people from around the world, perhaps by drawing on a wider range of ethnographic studies that offer these expressions. As mentioned before, being more reflexive about where our knowledge comes from and the position of anthropologists in knowledge creation could also aid in this endeavor.

Comments

Overall this is an impressive and creative book. It is ambitious in the way that it turns anthropological teaching upside down to have students take away certain skills rather than just content knowledge. It is clearly written and easily accessible and I look forward to seeing how it will develop.

Reviewed by Lori Cole, Instructor, Chemeketa Community College on 5/5/19

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Let me start by saying I absolutely had no idea this book would be so fabulous. If only all texts were written in this way we'd never have to worry again if our students were reading the information we provide. Professor Wesch's writing style is brilliant. I opened this book the first time thinking I'd read maybe the first twenty pages and only closed it when I realized I was late for a meeting, 175 pages later. I couldn't wait to return to it. Every page is a story with outstanding examples throughout.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The examples used in this text are completely unbiased. Dr Wesch has a great sense of humor and is a natural-born storyteller bringing to the reading audience vast experiential information and scholarly work.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

I can't imagine this text ever becoming obsolete. His information hits the core of the topic and explores the deep roots of humanity. It's destined to become a classic.

Clarity rating: 5

The joy of this book is that it's in no way pretentious. By several pages into the text, I felt like I was sitting in a lecture hall listening to a person with amazing skill explain what very obviously, is a passion to him.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is simply simple and flows beautifully. It's laid out in concise order with summaries at the end of each section directing the student to more information.

Modularity rating: 5

One of the best things about this text is that each section is short enough to capture my interest and long enough to give me the information I need. If the reader wanted to pick out one or two topics from this book, it's easy to do.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The organization of this text flows perfectly from one topic to the next. The reader won't be stopping and having to look back for information to understand the current section's information. Perhaps because it's so skillfully written to hold the reader's attention, information from one page to the next builds upon each other.

Interface rating: 5

I loved that Dr Wesch used a simple anthropological diagram to show how the topics he covered were interconnected. By seeing this particular diagram throughout the book, it helped immensely to understand the basic premises of humanness in a variety of topics.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

There was just one place in the entire book where the word 'write' was entered when the word should've been 'right'.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I came away from this text feeling a respect and honor of our Earth's cultures. Dr Wesch used numerous examples of his work in the field and never implied an egocentric attitude.

Comments

I was so moved by this book that I researched Dr Wesch and his work. I viewed his YouTube video and, happily, found that he really IS humorous and unpretentious. He's one of those rare teachers that is gifted beyond commonness to grab the attention of his reader and leave them wanting more. What a joy to have chosen this book to review!