The anthropological lens : harsh light, soft focus /

This book is ``a somewhat philosophically oriented glance at anthropology by an anthropologist.'' Peacock (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) elucidates the central concepts, distinctive methodologies, and general significance of anthropology with remarkable lucidity. The book concentrates on social and cultural anthropology with secondary emphasis on archaeology, biological anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. Using the language of photography, Peacock characterizes two dimensions of the anthropological perspective: a harsh light that illuminates particular human living situations without losing the focus of the cultural and social background, and a soft focus that attempts to understand the human condition holistically. In its clear exposition of the premises and critical issues of anthropology, this book is an excellent supplement to standard texts in anthropology, a highly readable introduction for neophytes, and a sensitive overview for those specialists practicing in the area. A welcome resource at every level.-J.H. Riker, The Colorado College