Cultural Anthropology: The Human Challenge

The book's generous use of figures, photos, and maps gives students a visual explanation of important information. Locator maps illustrate where in the world the chapter's content is taking place.

Chapter 1 introduces students to the holistic discipline of anthropology with up-to-date descriptions of the anthropological fields, including discussions of linguistic relativity, sociolinguistics, and saving endangered languages, as well as material on historical archaeology and other archaeological sub-specializations.

Globalscape features chart the global flow of people, goods, and services, as well as pollutants and pathogens. Showing how the world is interconnected through human activity, this feature contributes to the text's globalization theme with topics geared toward student interests, from international adoption to piracy in the coastal waters off Somalia. Each ends with a Global Twister question that prods students to think critically about globalization.

Biocultural Connections illustrate how cultural and biological processes work together to shape human biology, beliefs, and behavior—and reflect the integrated biocultural approach central to the field of anthropology today. Topics include "Cacao: The Love Bean and the Money Tree," "Change Your Karma, Change Your Sex?" and "Toxic Breast Milk Threatens Arctic Culture." Each one ends with a critical thinking question.