Review
"This is the book that every social anthropology student needs. Hendry guides her readers through the breadth and depth of the discipline whilst simultaneously transmitting a profound sense of why anthropology is a field to be passionate about." -Cathrine Degnen, Newcastle University, UK "This is without doubt one of the best introductory texts on social anthropology that exists. Much of the book's success lies in its lively, engaging and accessible style: Hendry has a knack of simplifying complex arguments and making anthropological ideas not only interesting but also fun." -Cris Shore, The University of Auckland, New Zealand "Joy Hendry offers the perfect introductory guide to anthropology for students as well as a curious public. This is the book I reach for first as a teacher because of its topical breadth, attention to history, and the sheer excitement it conveys about what an anthropological gaze can offer." -Tamara Kohn, University of Melbourne, Australia "With examples from around the world, a wide palette of topics, and clear explanations of key concepts and theories, this is a highly engaging and vividly rendered introduction to social and cultural anthropology for new students and general readers alike." -Willam W. Kelly, Yale University, USA "Sharing Our Worlds is a superb learning experience for anyone curious about humanity and cultural dynamics. Joy Hendry dazzles with provocative questions, compelling stories, and profound answers." -Christopher C. Fennell, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA.
From the Back Cover
An Introduction to Social Anthropology opens up the field of social and cultural anthropology, demonstrating its value for building an understanding of the vast diversity of human societies and cultures that make up the world today. Without assuming any prior knowledge, the book gradually leads the reader from some of the discipline's earliest foundational approaches and theories, through the fundamental areas that make up contemporary anthropology. Taking a truly global and holistic view, it includes case studies from far away as well as closer to home, wherever you might be reading it, touching on a range of topics that both divide and connect us, such as family, marriage and religion. This third edition closes with a new chapter discussing the role of social and cultural anthropologists and the specific methods they use in a fast-changing world.
This is an inviting, engaging and enjoyable text that aims to smooth the journey for new or prospective anthropology students seeking to better understand the discipline and its roots. Offering illustrations, plentiful further readings and films, first-hand accounts of people across the world, and a number of thorny topics for reflection, the book makes an ideal text for sharing and discussing in the classroom too.
About the Author
Joy Hendry is Professor Emerita in Anthropology at Oxford Brookes University, UK.
