Cows, Pigs, Wars, and Witches: The Riddles of Culture

Explains the diversity of the world's gastronomic customs, demonstrating that what appear at first glance to be irrational food tastes turn out really to have been shaped by practical, or economic, or political necessity.

This is a fascinating exploration of why Middle-Eastern cultures don't eat pork and what not. It will blow your mind.

I first read this book as "light" reading when I was a graduate student in anthropology. Now, as an anthropology instructor, I assign it as a textbook in a course on Religion, Magic and Witchcraft. It proposes logical and fascinating solutions to such puzzles as (1) why Hindus are better off going hungry than slaughtering and eating their cattle,(2) why religions of the Middle East have made pork taboo, while cultures of the South Pacific organize their ritual life around pork feasts, and (3) in what way are New Guinea cargo cults, the 12 disciples of Jesus, the European witch trials, and the popularity of New Age beliefs of today the results of similar cultural pressures.This is the first book I have ever assigned in class that students have asked if they may read all at once, instead of a chapter a week. They can't put it down!

I found this book to be an excellent work in cultural anthropology, as well as a great read for general intrest. It brought to light many possible reasons behind why people believe things that seem outrageous to others. It was well-written, scholarly, but not so much so that the average person(like me) was boggled down in technical terms. A must-read for anyone interested in why people behave the way they do.

This book is one of my absolute favorites! I was introduced to it as an undergraduate anthropology student, and I've kept the same copy (now well-worn and stained) throughout graduate school and after. This book is a refreshing change from the dry, jargon-filled tomes normally produced by anthropologists. Harris delves into some of the most perplexing aspects of human cultures and takes the reassuring position that somewhere, somehow a logical explanation exists for everything. I don't necessarily agree with all of his conclusions, but I find him thought-provoking and intriguing. I appreciate as well his humor, insight, and humanity.