Readings for a History of Anthropological Theory, Third Edition

This comprehensive anthology presents 40 readings that are critical to an understanding of anthropological theory and the development of anthropology as an academic discipline. The readings have broad anthropological appeal, emphasizing social and cultural anthropology.

The third edition has been completely revised throughout and organized to work more closely alongside the companion overview text, A History of Anthropological Theory. It includes six new readings as well as two original essays written by contemporary anthropologists on "Why Theory Matters." These new essays help ground the more abstract readings in the collection. The glossary has been significantly expanded and the discussion questions have been revised. The result is a volume that offers not only a strong foundation in the history of the discipline but also a good overview of developments in twentieth- and twenty-first-century anthropological theory, including feminist anthropology, postmodernity, medical anthropology, globalization, postcolonialism, and public anthropology.

This comprehensive and extremely popular anthology presents readings that are critical to an understanding of anthropological theory and the development of anthropology as an academic discipline. The readings have broad anthropological appeal, emphasizing cultural anthropology in the North American and European traditions.

Thematic coverage begins with nineteenth-century foundations and forerunners, before moving on to the early- and mid-twentieth century when anthropology comes of age. The last section examines numerous late-twentieth-century and early-twenty-first-century developments in anthropological theory, including feminist anthropology, postmodernism, medical anthropology, and globalization.

The third edition has been completely revised and updated throughout. It offers seven new readings, including works by Freud, de Saussure, Levi-Strauss, Sahlins, and Foucault, as well as three original new essays written by contemporary anthropologists on the topic of "Why Theory Matters." The edition has also been organized to more closely complement the accompanying overview, A History of Anthropological Theory, third edition.