Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Cultural Anthropology

A very good deal for a good book that lends insight into the anthropological field.

The book starts off with an introduction describing the history and modern state of anthropology, general theoretical approaches to the field, how anthropologists reach conclusions and fundemental questions about the field like the debate over whether it is a science or a humanity. The book covers 18 issues framed as a series of yes or no questions grouped and grouped into three categories: theoretical issues, specific issues in cultural anthropology, and ethics in cultural anthropology. The issues chosen are issues that are still unresolved in the field. Each issue contains a summary and postscript by the editors bracketing two articles, one arguing yes and the other no, reprinted from anthropology journals and books. The postscripts include a list of further reading on each issue. In the back of the book there are short biographies of the contributors and a very nice index of authors, topics, and key words.