Reviews (5)

The sound of a different drummer
My father, of blessed memory, Reuben Kelly Freedman used to say ,"Be a worker, not a shirker". And all my life I have been driven by the idea that I must be working , doing something useful at each and every moment. Now the paradox in my case is that I chose a way of work which to many people is not work at all ( writing) and which in terms of earning power certainly fits more in the 'shirking ' category than the working one.
A true pleasure to read cover to cover, especially while the reader is allegedly at work
Doing Nothing: A History Of Loafers, Loungers, Slackers, And Bums In America by Tom Lutz is the true story of the American anti-work ethic from Benjamin Franklin's "air baths" to Jack Kerouac's dharma bums to the notorious slackers of Generation X to doctors declaring the medical problems of overwork and much more. The history, philosophy, and justification of goofing off, supplemented with careful research and statistics, makes for engaging reading whether for expert sociologists researching the cultural phenomenon's of shirking or lay readers making the most of their own relaxation time. A true pleasure to read cover to cover, especially while the reader is allegedly at work.
Much amusing ado about something. Or nothing.
Anyone who's ever questioned the actual industriousness of Ben Franklin, envied the sylvan sloth of Henry David Thoreau, or felt indignant over the perceived indolence of Douglas Coupland will find (most of) the real story in Tom Lutz's entertaining survey of American productivity and slackerdom. Lutz begins on the couch, where his teenage son, Cody, has parked his lethargic, jobless self, leading Lutz to meditate on his own lack of motivation as a youth and throughout his life. From there, he journeys through the Agricultural and Industrial revolutions through to the dot-com explosion, chronicling the lives, philosophic musings, and artistic output of lazybones and workaholics alike.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business Ethics    4. Cultural And Social Anthropology    5. Economic Conditions    6. History    7. Laziness    8. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    9. Slackers    10. Social Classes    11. Social Science    12. Sociology    13. United States    14. History / United States / General   

Subjects:  1. Social Science    2. Sociology    3. Sociology - General    4. Java & variants    5. Social Science / Sociology / General    6. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (16)

Competent compilation of the anti-Creation movment.
John Brockman has succeeded in assembling a good cross-section of anti-ID essays in one reasonably concise volume (less than 300 pages).The quality therein fluctuates from competent to outstanding, while the tone ranges from strictly professional to strangely defensive at times, all depending on the individual authors.Some wrote for purely to share knowledge, while a few (and only a few) bore an agenda on their backs, which weakened their credibility.
Amounts to a destruction of Intelligent Design
As Editor John Brockman writes in his introduction, this book, a collection of 16 essays by eminent scientists, "is a thoughtful response to the bizarre claims made by the ID movement's advocates, whose only interest in science appears to be to replace it with beliefs consistent with those of the Middle Ages." (p. x)
Scientists debunking pseudo-science...
If you're unclear why serious scientists get so frustrated with the intelligent-design movement, then this book is a must-read. It offers the opinions of respected professionals from a variety of fields, from biology to psychology, all of whom have one thing in common: they recognize that while science and evolutionary theory have not answered every question in the universe, intelligent design has not answered any. Another common theme throughout is the debunking of "teach the controversy", touted by intelligent designers as a back-door means of getting religious belief taught in the classroom. As these insightful authors explain, the only "controversy" is the misappropriation and distortion by intelligent-design proponents of evidence produced by serious researchers to satisfy the former group's untenable claims. There's nothing scientific about that... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Essays    3. Evolution (Biology)    4. Human Evolution    5. Intelligent design (Teleology)    6. Life Sciences - Evolution    7. Philosophy Of Science    8. Religion and science    9. Religious aspects    10. Science    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Science / Evolution   

Reviews (12)

What Do You Review With A Book Like This
This book is breathtaking, a real stand-out visually -- and at the same time grippingly educational and fun for kids. If you want to see that dawning light of curiousity and hunger for understanding in a child that's just learning that it's fun to learn, there's no better book than this one.
Wonderful as a read for science class!
I have read this selection to several classrooms.The students not only love to see the pictures, but they LOVE to guess as to the purpose of the tails and it is a great lead in for adaptation.Additionally, (as all elementary students love to do), they love to share their knowledge of the animals and share what they think.After a group read, this book has become popular with students who sometimes shy away from science but just become fasicnated with the facts and cool animals.

Won over
I had thought about buying this, but always decided not to. My son (5 years old) checked this out of the library on his own. He loves it. The cut-paper artwork is beautiful. Despite the fact-based discussion, it can be a very fun book to read. On the section about whales being able to hear sounds hundreds of miles away, my son always breaks into a whale song of his own. He also stunned his daycare teachers when they went on-line to check out his assertion that crickets had ears in their knees. So there you have it: fun, educational, beautiful! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adventure & Adventurers    2. Animals    3. Animals - General    4. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    5. Children: Kindergarten    6. Concepts - Sense & Sensation    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile literature    9. Miscellanea    10. Physiology    11. Preschool Picture Story Books    12. Science & Nature - Zoology    13. Sense organs    14. Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / General   

Reviews (18)

Mandatory
It is precisely what it claims to be. If you're going to come over here, you should read it. So much information, all in one place. My life would've been much easier if I'd read this five years ago, but perhaps Who Moved My Rice? wouldn't be quite so much fun.
A consultant's review
Excellent guidelines, especially for larger corporations.Can be used by smaller companies that have some expertise in international business, or that are working with a consultant in the subject area.I plan to use it as reference in my classes for small business on the subject of initiating business in China.

Clear and wonderfully practical
As someone who was about to embark on business in mainland China, and who has never ventured further north than Hong Kong, this book has been a god-send.
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Subjects:  1. 1976-    2. Anthropology - Cultural    3. Business & Economics    4. Business / Economics / Finance    5. Business And Society    6. Business Etiquette    7. Business/Economics    8. China    9. Corporations, Foreign    10. Exports & Imports    11. Organizational Behavior In Business    12. Social life and customs    13. Business & Economics / Business Etiquette    14. Business communication & presentation    15. Etiquette & entertaining    16. International business   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Physical    2. Artificial Intelligence - General    3. Computational Biology    4. Computational neuroscience    5. Computers    6. Computers - General Information    7. Engineering - General    8. Engineering Models    9. Medical    10. Models, Neurological    11. Neural Computing    12. Neural Networks    13. Computer modelling & simulation    14. Medical / Neuroscience    15. Neurosciences   

Reviews (2)

Needs more...
I disagree with the many reviews which compare this text to White's Human Osteology. While there is no doubt that the text is informative and the treatment of the subject thorough, Scheuer's text lacks enough illustrations to make it worth the buy for practical use in identifying fragmented juvenile or infant remains. White's text provides at least one photo and description of each bone, usually from every angle. When Scheuer releases a second addition, with far less text, and more photos or illustrations for osteologists who do not have access to a skeletal collection of juvenile and infant bones, then it will be worth the buy.

A must-have reference book
This is a first rate holistic treatment of sub-adult osteology.The text covers the entire juvenile skeleton.Chapters contain drawings of each skeletal element, descriptions of growth, unique developmental attributes and in some cases, illustration of the element through different growth stages to see the sequence of changes of the bone up to adulthood.Read more

Subjects:  1. Anatomy    2. Anthropology - Physical    3. Forensic Medicine    4. Growth    5. Human Anatomy    6. Human skeleton    7. Medical    8. Medical / Nursing    9. Medical Anthropology    10. Osteopathy    11. Sociology    12. Biological anthropology    13. Physiology    14. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Reviews (234)

A Well Presented Theory
I'm a big fan of ancient history. I remember when I went to a university open day toward the end of high school. I wandered over to the archaeology wing, and in a glass case they had a genuine Sumerian cuneiform, one of the oldest pieces of writing in known history. It was only a little one, but I remember being mesmerized by it. I'm also a big fan of alternative histories, because I do have a feeling there is more to prehistory than there appears, and have read quite a few of the "essential" reads.
Amazing Book
This was a serious and thought provoking look into facts that modern science wants no light shed on. Modern geography, anthropology, and especially Egyptology are turned completely on there heads by the undisputable evidence put forth in this book.
He did it again !
After Fingerprints of the Gods, I read Supernatural, Then reread Andrew Collins, From the Ashes of Angels, I would like to see these authors cowrite a book, because I have a feeling that now we are really getting close to the truth on Earths past history. Maybe the animal headed gods of egypt and other places were seen by the shamans, and reported on when they returned from thier Astral Journeys. I do know these Authors will produce some more great books !!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Anthropology - General    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Astronomy - General    5. Controversial Knowledge    6. History: World    7. Science    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Science / Astronomy   

Reviews (3)

Anger does not equal analysis
This is a tract, not a thoughtful piece of scholarship. It is in the Latin American school of angry social science, but is little informed by fact.Much of what it says is correct, but is also well known.But the analysis is weak, based on incorrect or outdated data, and simply a regurgitation of stereotypes instead of a deductive grounded analysis based upon good ethnographic work. It is therefore often simply wrong.But anger sells books.....

Reunderstanding development
Arturo Escobar critics the whole concept of development in theory and practice from an extremely unusual and original perspective. He steps back and views development as something exotic and almost non-sense. Inspired onthe work of Foucault, the author examines the evolution of the discourseabout development as a form of how the West keeps exerting power andinfluence on the Third World. The ethnocentric views of development andinterventions that come with them - propagated by Western governments,multinational companies, development institutions and academia - puts ThirdWorld cultures and traditional populations as something that should besignificantly changed to achieve the so-dreamed "development." Although the results of these western-driven interventions over decadeshave usually been catastrophic for Third World's populations and cultures,Western "experts" keep coming to the Third World and elaboratingnew forms of discourses on development, now addressing objects likesustainable development, women and development and poverty erradication -all ethnocentric and based on western values.This book should be read byanyone who wants to reunderstand development in the Third World (andreflect if it is needed at all!).

Reunderstanding development
Arturo Escobar critics the whole concept of development in theory and practice from an extremely unusual and original perspective. He steps back and views development as something exotic and almost non-sense. Inspired onthe work of Foucault, the author examines the evolution of the discourseabout development as a form of how the West keeps exerting power andinfluence on the Third World. The ethnocentric views of development andinterventions that come with them - propagated by Western governments,multinational companies, development institutions and academia - puts ThirdWorld cultures and traditional populations as something that should besignificantly changed to achieve the so-dreamed "development." Although the results of these western-driven interventions over decadeshave usually been catastrophic for Third World's populations and cultures,Western "experts" keep coming to the Third World and elaboratingnew forms of discourses on development, now addressing objects likesustainable development, women and development and poverty erradication -all ethnocentric and based on western values.This book should be read byanyone who wants to reunderstand development in the Third World (andreflect if it is needed at all!). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. Anthropology - General    3. Archaeology / Anthropology    4. Developing countries    5. Development - Economic Development    6. Economic conditions    7. Economic development    8. Economic history    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Anthropology    12. Cultural studies    13. Development economics    14. Development studies    15. Postcolonial Studies    16. Social Science / Anthropology / General    17. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (15)

American citizens abandoned by their gov't
Dyson brilliantly explains to us the reasons why those that were left to fend for themselves could not do it on their own and the reasons they got to that point.He explains how the gov't failed purposely or not to come to the aid of its most vulnerable citizens.
Linda Jo Smith, Book Review Editor, Sisters~Nineties Literary Group
Come Hell or High Water is a well-documented account of the events surrounding the failure, or more accurately the refusal, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), state and local politicians from the State of Louisiana (Governor Kathleen Blanco, Mayor Ray Nagin) and the President of the United States, to take immediate proactive measures to rescue the predominately black residents living in the Ninth ward of New Orleans.
Former NOLA resident
When many of the premises of a book are faulty, I find it impossible to continue reading.Perhaps this will help prospective readers in their decision about this book.
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Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Disaster Situation Planning    3. Disasters & Disaster Relief    4. Discrimination & Racism    5. Ethnic Issues    6. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    7. Floods    8. Hurricane Katrina, 2005    9. Louisiana    10. Natural Disasters    11. New Orleans    12. Social Science    13. Social conditions    14. Sociology    15. Social & cultural anthropology    16. USA   

Reviews (7)

Now in its Fourth Edition
Any textbook that makes it to four editions has to be a good one, in use at a lot of places and one that fits the current collected wisdom of the subject. I say this bit about the current wisdom because all of the sciences are moving forward at an extremely rapid rate. New theories, new discoveries make science change.
Superior text
There's plenty of undergrad textbooks on the subject of physical anthropology, of varying quality.This, however, is by far the most theory-oriented, detailed, and clear.Thanks Boyd and Silk!

Great textbook
I was assigned this book for my physical anthropology class. Overall, it's very easy to understand. THe authors explain difficult concepts well for the most part, and they usually include diagrams or pictures to reinforce the point. Granted the chapters on genetics weren't the easiest things on earth to understand, but I had a firm biology background from high school so it was not an issue. The authors also do a good job of making the concepts very interesting and alive, a difficult task for a college textbook.Read more

Subjects:  1. Human evolution    2. Life Sciences - Evolution    3. Life Sciences - Evolution - Human    4. Science    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Biological anthropology    7. Science / Evolution   

Reviews (9)

Best Peace Corps memoir I've read...but it's so much more than that
I'm always looking for books written by Returned Peace Corps volunteers, having been in the Peace Corps myself.This book is a fantastic and moving memoir of Kris Holloway's two years in the Peace Corps in a small, impoverished village in Mali.The book recounts the close friendship of two women (Kris and her Malian counterpart, Monique) from very different worlds, a friendship that continued after Kris returned to the U.S.It also very respectfully portrays the day-to-day lives of African villagers...the good, the bad and the ugly.I read the book in one day, often with tears in my eyes.I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Africa, or to anyone who would just like to read an entertaining (yes, it does have plenty of funny moments!) and moving story.

unlikely friends on a powerful mission
I love the music of Mali. Love how the songs of Ali Farka Toure and Boubacar Traore are about community --- farming and water and schools. And a passionate, exciting CD called Divas of Mali taught me that however poor Mali is --- and it's the fifth poorest nation on the planet --- women in Mali are encouraged to sing. And is that not positive as well?
This book opened a new world for me
My niece sent me "Monique and the Mango Rains" - what a marvelous book!What a glorious memorial to a great woman.The whole book moved not only me, but also my husband, who read it first. Monique was made so real to us. The other thing that so impressed me about this remarkable book is the way Kris has told the truth as it is, all the way through!A very brave decision and so well carried out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Humanitarians    4. Social Science    5. Sociology    6. Women   

Reviews (2)

An excellent text for Language, Culture & Society courses!
Nancy Bonvillain is one of the top anthropological linguists in America.This is one of the best text books on the subject that's ever been written.It includes clear explanations and excellent cross-cultural examples.It follows the major traditions set by American linguists and anthropologists in the study of language description, language structure, language acquisition, language change, and the ways in which language reflects differences in cultural values, beliefs, and practices cross-culturally.It's a handy book to use in the undergraduate linguistic anthropology course and students enjoy it.

Language, Culture, and Communication
I'm trying to wade through this book for a class. It's like trying to run in shoulder-deep mud. I cannot make out what the author is trying to say. I'm considering dropping the class. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Communication    3. Language Arts / Linguistics / Literacy    4. Language and culture    5. Linguistics    6. Social Science    7. Sociolinguistics    8. Sociology    9. Cultural studies    10. Social Science / Anthropology / General   

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Cultural And Social Anthropology    4. Ethnology    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Social Science / Anthropology / General    8. Sociology, Social Studies   

Reviews (8)

Half Way There
I bought this book because of the title.Living in the suburb and being a leader in a surburban church, the subject matter concerns me deeply.I believe that Goetz is right on the mark in unearthing some of how contemporary American thinking is hazardous to the message of the Gospel, or at least has the potential to dilute the Gospel.Thus the book puts into words some concerns many of us feel but are unable to express.
Evaluate thy self...
Great Book!... why? it gets one to critically/Biblically evaluate where one is on this continnuum called life/eternal life...

Death By Suburb:A Post-Modern Parable
If the genre is the message, Goetz has achieved a welcomed rarity by parabolically contrasting Jesus of Nazareth with religion in general and evangelical arrogance in particular. Yet, the author's substantive message to the professionalized,evangelical church come-of-age goes beyond its medium. Its challenging message may offend suburban evangelicals who discover, like the Galilean Pharisees with Rabbi Jesus, that we are the actors in the story. Goetz challenges evangelicals [and those of us still recovering from evangelicalism] to reclaim a historic spirituality without selling out to Eastern mysticism. But it might mean the silence and solitude resulting from the monastic extreme of turning off the TV.His book represents a viable source of mutual study and dialogue among all three Christian traditions [Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant] to recapture the spiritual disciplines not only as an antidote to frenetic, fast-paced suburban barely-living, but as faithful following of Jesus Christ as Lord.Warning:Death By Suburb may be hazardous to your naval-contemplative, self-absorbed lifestyle; and the Pharisee Goetz is talking about may be us!The 21st century Christian church can only benefit from this highly readable, yet intellectually-stimulating narrative designed to jar us all from our addiction to cultural relevance at the expense of the Gospel. Ever-mindful of a manicured but toxic suburban sub-culture, a counter-cultural church re-connected with the spirituality Goetz suggests may yet become a sacramental community of God's love for all neighbors both far and near.
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Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Christian Life    3. Christianity    4. Christianity - Christian Life - General    5. Inspirational    6. Inspirational - General    7. Materialism    8. Religion    9. Religious aspects    10. Sociology Of Religion    11. Spiritual    12. Religion / Spirituality   

Editorial Review

This collection of essays addresses a difficult question: Are some cultures better than others at creating freedom, prosperity, and justice? Although Read more

Reviews (49)

Tedious academic compilation
There were a few good nuggets of information in the varied chapters; however, most of the content of this book is hopelessly dry and academic.Seemingly written by professors and wonks for other professors and wonks, I cannot raise the appraisal of Culture Matters above two stars.Yes culture most certainly matters.The value sets of peoples around the world determine if they develop and thrive, or collapse into mediocrity.

it really does matter
For those who wonder why some people are doing well and some aren't, this is a good book. Particularly excellent is the section on why Africa is such a mess by Daniel Entounga-Manguelle.

Some very good chapters
Richard A. Shweder's "Moral maps, first world conceits, and the new evangelists", Samuel P. Huntington's "Cultures count", and Jeffrey Sachs' "Notes on a new sociology of economic development" are the best chapters to read, stimilating, and full of wits of multiple culturalism. Sachs' chapter points to a direction of the marginal explanation power of institutional analysis (though he might not realize it when he saw the relevance of geography determinism). In any case, you don't want to miss Shweder's chapter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Culture    3. Current Affairs    4. Ethnic Studies - General    5. International    6. International Relations - General    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Social values    10. Cultural studies   

Reviews (1)

risk society towards a new modernity
The Book consists of two interrelated theses. one reflexive modernization and other issue of risk. The concept of risk is directly bound to theconcept of reflexive modernization.It shows how classical modernization isdifferent from reflexive modernization.Risk may be defined as asystematic way of dealing with hazards and insecurities induced andintroduced by modernization itself.The risk and hazards of today is ofglobal nature of their threat to people,animals and plants .It results inglobal industrial pollution,contamination of air,water,foodstuffs etc. andalso sickness ,death of plants, animals and people. Another dimension ofrisk is social transformation with modernity.There is a process ofindividualization deprive class distints but inequalities by no meansdisappear.There is a shift from the system of standardised full employmentto the system of flexible and pluralised under employment.Risk ofscientific development increases disproportionately faster than solution.With the globalisation of industrial society political system looses itsfunction as modernization, technoeconomic system changes the realms ofsocial life and on other hand political systens pre-supposes condition ofthe system. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Archaeology / Anthropology    3. Gender Studies    4. General    5. Progress    6. Risk    7. Social Science    8. Social aspects    9. Sociological aspects    10. Sociology    11. Sociology - General    12. Technology    13. Anthropology    14. Cultural studies    15. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Reviews (5)

The Human Mosaic
Thank you for being so prompt.I am really enjoying the book and class.

Disappointed When Received
The condition was listed as "Very Good" but when received it was marked up with yellow highlighter along with other mark-ups.I feel the condition should have been rated lower.I have to say the book was received in a timely manner.

informative but biased
I took courses with Dr. Lester Rowntree during 1981 and 1990 at San Jose State University. I found him to be very knowledgeable except about Islam.This textbook which is co-authored by Dr. Rowntree contains misleading or inaccurate statements about Islam.For example, It stated in page 180 and 181 (fourth edition), that Islam spread by militaristic conquests while christianity spread by contact conversion. This is not accurate.In page 185 the authors contended that, despite the Muslims belief, the black stone in the Holy Mosque in Mecca is a meteorite.In the next page the authors stated, under the picture of the Ka'aba, that pilgrims come from afar to Mecca, for they believe that the black stone was sent down from heaven by Allah, the Islamic god. The problems with this understatement are, first: Muslims believe that Allah is the personal name of God the creator and lord of all creatures not just Muslims;second: Muslims come to Mecca not for the sake of the black stone, but because they were commanded in the Holy Quran to perform Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetimes. It is also appropriate to mention that the pilgrimage was first initiated at the time of the prophets Abraham and his son Ismail who built the Holy Mosque in Mecca long before the advent of Islam. Unlike the case with Judaism in page 191 this book ignored, in pages 192-193, the fact that the Islamic taboo on eating pork meat was also decreed by devine revelation in the Holy Quran. It stated that it was a "sour grapes" reaction to the inability of the Muslim nomads to raise and own pigs. Professor Rowntree and his co-author also stated in page 193 that in the seventh century A.D., the Muslim nomads imposed their religion, complete with the pork taboo, on the farming people of the river valleys as a final "revenge". In conclusion, this is a very informative and useful book. However, on behalf of the one billion Muslims in the world today, I strongly suggest rewriting the parts dealing with the Islamic culture. Thank you in advavce. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Earth Sciences - Geography    3. Human Geography    4. Social Science    5. Sociology    6. Cultural studies    7. USA   

Reviews (17)

Best linguistics book I've ever read
I loved this book.I've read several books on linguistics; but this has to be the best of the lot.It's so fun to read that I didn't want to put it down.(I even found myself laughing out loud several times while reading it.)In addition to being fun to read, it's very informative.I took a couple of linguistics courses in college, have read a number of books on the subject, and have studied the rudiments of several languages; but I think I've learned more about language from this book than I learned in all of my previous st