The Invention of Culture

Full disclosure: I am a former student of Roy and a Ph.D.I think the first three chapters of this book are some of the most important writings on the theory of culture in anthropology, or any other discipline. It presents the proper starting-point for developing an understanding of how people live and how people think about themselves and other people, the way they live and just _are_. This is not an easy book, even for advanced students of anthropology. It is not for those looking for a quick intro to anthropology, either. However, if you have read some introductions to anthropology and find their thinking about people and cultures simplistic, then you shoud read this book.