Social History of Anthropology in the U.S.

Rating:
Summary: Engaging and informative overview
Review: This book did exactly what I wanted it to do! I received an overview of the history of American anthropology in less than two hundred pages. The book is broken down into historical periods such as the New Republic, Liberal Age, Postwar Era, and the Neoliberal Era. I came to this book , because I had read a bio on FRanz Boas during my studies of Northwest native cultures. It was interesting to learn in what ways science, politics, and education impacted anthropology and to see how the separate disciplines evolved. The bibliography is EXTENSIVE, so if you want to know more about any one social scientist or a particular historical movement the biblio points in the right direction. Although scholarly, this book is not difficult to follow for the average reader that is interested in the subject. I highly recommend it if you are looking for an excellent overview of American anthropology.

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a post-Stocking history of anthropology
Review: This book goes a long way toward redirecting the history of anthropology away from the blindspots inflicted on us by George W. Stocking Jr. and his mob. Patterson's marxist approach stresses political and economic factors that anthropology's historical gatekeepers have tried to shield us from noticing. A great book that shoul be read by all anthropologists.