Product Description

Anthropologists who have lost their senses write ethnographies that are often disconnected from the worlds they seek to portray. For most anthropologists, Stoller contends, tasteless theories are more important than the savory sauces of ethnographic life. That they have lost the smells, sounds, and tastes of the places they study is unfortunate for them, for their subjects, and for the discipline itself.

The Taste of Ethnographic Things describes how, through long-term participation in the lives of the Songhay of Niger, Stoller eventually came to his senses. Taken together, the separate chapters speak to two important and integrated issues. The first is methodological—all the chapters demonstrate the rewards of long-term study of a culture. The second issue is how he became truer to the Songhay through increased sensual awareness.

Product Description
Once upon a time we knew the origins of things: what piece of earth the potato on our dinner plate came from, which well our water was dipped from, who cobbled our shoes, and whose cow provided the leather. In many parts of the world, that information is still readily available. But in our society, even as technology makes certain kinds of information more accessible than ever, other connections are irrevocably lost.

In Glass, Paper, Beans, Leah Cohen traces three simple commodities on their geographic and semantic journey from her rickety table at the Someday Café to their various points of origin. As Cohen draws the reader Oz-like across time and continents, she brings to life three unforgettable characters whose labor provides the glass for her mug, the pulp for her newspaper and the beans for her cup of coffee. In prose as sophisticated as it is simple, she braids the myths, lore, and history of these three simple staples and conjures an unseen world where economics, fetishization, and manufacture meet.

An elegant and inspired inquiry into the true nature of things, Glass, Paper, Beans is a classic work on the economy of everyday life.Amazon.com Review
On the face of it, the morning paper, a cup of coffee, and the mug intowhich it's poured are simple, expected pleasures--rarely given muchthought unless they fail to appear. So it seemed to journalist LeahHager Cohen, until one particularly focused moment in a Boston coffeeshop when she found herself pondering how disconnected she was from theunseen elements that brought her Sunday morning ritual to life. Thatinstant was the genesis of Glass Paper Beans: Revelations on the Natureand Value of Ordinary Things. In it, Hager Cohen traces the stories ofthe glass cup from which she's sipping, the paper upon which her news isprinted, and the coffee beans that gave birth to her morning jolt. Thisleads to tales of source origins and legends. But she also pays homageto the people involved in turning raw materials into consumer goods:Ruth Lamp, who oversees the Anchor Hocking glass factory's Lancaster,Ohio, select and pack department; Brent Boyd, a fourth-generation Canadianlogger; and Basilio Salinas, who tends coffee plants on a cooperative inPluma Hidalgo, near Oaxaca, Mexico. Woven throughout this thoughtfulmeditation are the elements that make the market tick, politics, philosophy, and musings on the role advertising plays in removing usfrom the true qualities of the items that we employ in daily life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great book! Very fascinating!
Leah Cohen is a great author, and a wonderful professor. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is detailed, thorough, and thought-provoking.

A Story for Everything
Glass, Paper, Beans is one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read.I have just completed it for the second time.Each time I read it, it opens my eyes a little more to the idea that to everything, there is a story.We as adults are often like little children who think milk comes from a store, having little or no concept of the work it took to get it there.It is comforting in a way to know that I am connected to so many people through the ordinary things of life, and those people lives are complex, creative, and hold a beauty all their own.I enjoyed Cohen's insight into three lives and how they interacted with initial stages of each product, bringing details of their private lives into play, weaving the two together.Cohen's book brings with it a greater appreciation for the ordinary things in my life.I know that people are behind them, not a new revelation, but now brought to life.

You'll never look at paper, glass and coffee the same!
This is one of those books that resonates with me yearsafter having read it. The book's starting point is the author sitting in a cafe drinking coffee in a glass mug, reading a paper. She realizes that she has no idea where the stuff she is surrounded by comes from. This book answers the question in the beautiful prose I have come to expect from this gifted writer. The story of each item is told from historic and personal viewpoints. This is an essential book!

I've tried to read this book three times...
and finally gave it away. While I think it's a great concept, I don't find it a page turner, or enough to make me care about any of the three characters Ms. Hager Cohen follows throughout the book.

A book of run on sentences and perfumed prose.
Leah Hager Cohen ends this books with the words: everywhere you rest your eyes, invisible stories blossom.Well, in this book it is her intention to tell you every possible story about every possible thing and person thatrelates to every possible other thing and person, starting from her havinga cup of coffee and readin the Sunday paper. This is "world in a grainof sand" gone mad. The premise is a good one, and was in fact why Ibought the book in the first place. But how much is enough? Cohen doesn'tappear to even care to ask the question; her editor, if there was one onthe project, was probably cowering in a corner, subject to Cohen'ssteadfast refusal to edit out one precious word. Precious. That is the mainword that comes to mind to describe this. While Cohen on the surface hasintentions of getting to the root of things, to the connectedness ofthings, she writes in a way that calls more attention to her style ofwriting than to what she is trying to describe. She is a very talentedwriter. What comes to mind is the most talented girl in high-school, doingher best to show off and please the teacher, and get the best boy. But onlynow after a degree in writing.

An example, her description of fog inMexico: "Everyone knows that the mist nourishes the coffee plants,caresses them like handmaidens with damp, cool fingers, cradles them in amoist pellicle all through the dry months." Never mind that the personshe is observing only made it to the 12th grade. Never mind that I don'teven know what the heck "pellicle" means, let alone him. Andhandmaidens in Mexico? Give me a break.

For paper, she follows a guy witha state of the art tree harvester that slices through trees like butter.Well, sure, that is the source of paper, but this is hardly a getting toknow where paper is made or even one person who has their hands in thepulp.

The descriptions are rather lop-sized, weighted toward the fellowin Mexico for some inexplicible reason. And, that in and of itself couldhave made for an interesting study. But so many pages devoted to him, andso fewer to the lady at the glass factory (and all sorts of nonsense abouther time off work) as well as that guy cutting down trees (for both lumberand paper)... well, maybe you get the idea. Cohen had an epiphany in acafe, presumably had an editor that she could sweetalk into approving herairfare to Canada, Ohio and Mexico, and then ran (and ran) with the idea.And ran on with the sentences.

If you really want to know about glasspaper or beans, you'd be better off buying seperate histories of them. And,while you will come away from this book with three portraits, of varyingdegrees of intimacy, you will likely also be saying to yourself.... get onwith it Cohen. What does Ruth's arthritis have to do with the price ofeggs?

And you know what? She could probably write you a whole book toanswer that question. ... Read more

Product Description

There is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster is the first comprehensive critical book on the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans. The disaster will go down on record as one of the worst in American history, not least because of the government’s inept and cavalier response. But it is also a huge story for other reasons; the impact of the hurricane was uneven, and race and class were deeply implicated in the unevenness.

Hartman and. Squires assemble two dozen critical scholars and activists who present a multifaceted portrait of the social implications of the disaster. The book covers the response to the disaster and the roles that race and class played, its impact on housing and redevelopment, the historical context of urban disasters in America and the future of economic development in the region. It offers strategic guidance for key actors - government agencies, financial institutions, neighbourhood organizations - in efforts to rebuild shattered communities.

Customer Reviews (5)

A persuasive accounting of the social and political disaster in New Orleans
The central message of this book is the central message of Katrina.Social and political forces, not natural forces, accounted for the devastation and unequal impact of that devastation on New Orleans and the Gulf region.Failure to maintain the levees, the concentration of poverty, and racial segregation of neighborhoods are the primary causes of the damage of the storms and the disproportionate costs that poor people and people of color paid.This book closely examines the wide ranging challenges now facing New Orleans in a series of essays written by leading scholars and activists. The call for a more transparent, democratic approach to planning is critical for New Orleans and for metropolitan areas across the country that, in fact, are dealing with many of the same challenges.The introductory chapter by the editors alone is worth the price of admission.

Powerful and Thought-Provoking
This is a powerful and thought-provoking book that is an important read for anyone who wants to understand what really happened in New Orleans, why it happened, and what we should do, both to relieve the suffering of those who have been directly affected in this instance and to prevent such a disaster from repeating itself elsewhere.The articles look insightfully at the race and class issues that formed the backdrop for the aftermath of Katrina and explore what must happen now if we are to redeem the many promises that have been made to the displaced people of the Gulf Coast.Of equal importance, the book serves as a warning to other cities that unless they address race and class issues, they cannot escape a similar fate if a disaster strikes them.The authors--and the editors--are authorities on race and class issues, and they know whereof they speak.Not only do I highly recommend this book, but I intend to use it in a class I teach on race.

A must read about the Katrina disaster
Hartman and Squires have assembled a comprehensive set of essays, by a range of activists and scholars, some from national groups, some based in the Gulf area, covering most of the key issues about the impact of the August 2005 storms. It reveals the misleading notion of "natural diaster" and shows the underlying political, economic, and social forces that led to the Katrina disaster in the first place, and then led to the bungled efforts at both emergency assistance and long-term rebuilding of the areas.

It is a useful course reading assignment on urban policy in general, race, poverty, and the individual topics covered: housing, schools, health, economic development, planning.

Misleading Title
If you are looking for a book with insight as to actual response and mitigation for Disasters this is not your book. Dr. Hartman is well versed in City and Regional Planning (with a degree from Harvard) and years of real experience in this area. Dr. Hartman is also an accomplished author, including some other works that have provoked controversy. However, the title of this book is a little misleading. This is more of an examination of the social-political issues surrounding the Katrina event in New Orleans, with a decidedly singular point of view. If you are interested in the debate regarding social justice it will be worth the read. If you are looking for some real data on the Katrina response and events, don't look here as that is not the intent of the book.

A "scholarly book?" - Not Hardly.
I'm astonished that this is billed as a scholarly work when it gets so many basic facts wrong.

The book is correct that the "impact of the hurricane was uneven" by race. Multiple studies done in the year since Katrina have all shown that it was white people -specifically elderly white people- who where disproportionately affected by the storm. You would think a "scholarly work" would know that.

(Unlike what CNN tells you) more white people died per capita than blacks. (google is your friend) The reason is simple. The "lower 9th ward" is relatively small neighborhood and most of its citizens where in the Superdome. The section of town called Lakeview however is far larger and populated (well, was populated) by a large number of elderly white people. Many of these people had medial conditions or simply could not drive the 6+ hours to safety so they took their chances. These people died by the hundreds.[again, you can google all of this]

Further the book bashes, "George W. Bush's America and more specifically the Republican-dominated South."

Ok... New Orleans has a Democrat mayor and has for decades. There are no Republicans on the city council. We have a Democrat Governor and we've only had one Republican Senator since Reconstruction. - And this book wants to blame Katrina on Republican domination? It's fantasy, pure fantasy.

And if you think I'm shilling for Republican's, I assure you I am not.If you want to know the true story of Katrina, I would HIGHLY recommend "Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security"

It is highly critical of the Bush administration -even if- Bush proper actually did a good job before, during and after the storm. (You have to read the book, Bush really did OK, many of his people should be hung however.) And the book also makes Blanco (a Dem) look much better than any of us locals thought of her.

The story of Katrina is amazingly complex. If you think -and want to continue to believe- that it only hit black people, then this book is for you. If you want to believe it is all the Democrats' fault, I'm sure you can find a book out there to confirm that. If you want to believe it is all Republicans' fault, this book should be on your short list.

If you want amazingly accurate information however, read "Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security."

This book however should be in the fiction section. 10 minutes with google will debunk the whole "scholarly work" billing. ... Read more

Product Description

From jazz to the Gettysburg Address to baseball to the White Castle hamburger—here are the 1,000 greatest things about America!

Customer Reviews (1)

It's a Hoot -- and an Education
An endlessly entertaining trip through America and its culture. It is surprising in its choices and range of subjects, an eclectic approach that pays off for the reader. This reader learned a lot while laughing a lot along the way. ... Read more

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This book is a vivacious inquiry into how Asian Indians in New York, or Desis, as they describe themselves, perform Indianness, or Desiness, in several cultural variety shows that are mounted in New York City: The Indian Independence Day Parade and Cultural Program, the South Street Seaport Deepavali Festival, the Sindhi Divali Show in Queens, and the variety shows of the South Asian college students of New York University.

Along with the fact that these community cultural productions underscore Desiness (i.e., that these are songs, dances, foods, and crafts for the non-Indian to see, learn from and consume and for the Desi to reminisce, enjoy, and be validated by) these productions reveal a tense negotiation between the preservation of Indianness and the assimilation to US American life. Indeed, though the traditional, touristic kind of Indianness may be touted by certain elite groups, this type of Indianness is simultaneously being deconstructed and subverted by other Indians who assert their own, sometimes opposing views of what it means to be Desi. This work utimately demonstrates that Desi identity is ephemeral-it constantly needs to be manufactured and begs to be performed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

well researched
Mukhi provides a good amount of research and understanding into the South Asian Diasporia in the northeast. There is a growing sense of how these people identify themselves in America. Different factors such as caste, ethnicity and religion come into play. The 'desi'- those of South Asian ancestory or immigrated at a young age are trying to identify themslves in the larger society. They are trying to find out what's like to be an Indian so far away. One of the more public displays of this is that of parades such as the India day parade or performance such as during deepavali festivals which are the focus of Mukhi's research. She's a desi being born in the Phillipeans and then immigrating in to the U.S. These public displays provide an opportunity to be in a large group to celebrate people's ethnicity, they can wear traditional indian clothing and eat Indian food. Indian movies also come into play because of India's role as the world's larges film producing nation and its imports to the Indian diaspoira. These movies provide an opporunity for desis to see movies made by those of their heritage.

much props to this desi sista!
This is indeed a one-of-a-kind book that everyone interested in performance practice should read.It exposes us to the south asian american (desi) community in the NYC area...Don't let the price scare u off -- it's really worth every penny.I've seen the writer, Sunita, perform around the NYC area and she is a true artist to the core.Her one-woman-shows are creative pieces of genius and her acting ability on par with folks like Eve Ensler, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Sarah Jones, Danny Hoch, and other amazing talents.be sure 2 check it out!Peace...

EXTREMELY INSIGHTFUL & WELL WRITTEN!!
Sunita Mukhi's book provides an extremely insightful glimpse into the lives of Indians living in New York City. Amongst a backdrop of a cosmopolitan melting pot like New York, Dr. Mukhi accurately portrays the identity challenges many Indians face: they are caught in between cultures. If you are an Indian like myself, you will find many parallels within your own life. It is a poignant book & I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Product Description
Native peoples of the Amazon view objects, especially human artifacts, as the first cosmic creations and the building blocks from which the natural world has been shaped. In these constructional cosmologies, spears became the stings of wasps, hammocks became spiderwebs, stools became the buttocks of human beings.

A view so antithetical to Western thought offers a refreshing perspective on the place and role of objects in human social life—one that has remained under-studied in Amazonian anthropology. In this book, ten scholars re-introduce objects to contemporary studies of animism in order to explore how various peoples envision the lives of material objects: the occult, or extraordinary, lives of “things,” whose personas are normally not visible to lay people.

Combining linguistic, ethnological, and historical perspectives, the contributors draw on a wealth of information gathered from ten Amerindian peoples belonging to seven different linguistic families to identify the basic tenets of what might be called a native Amazonian theory of materiality and personhood. They consider which objects have subjective dimensions and how they are manifested, focusing on three domains regarding Amazonian conceptions of things: the subjective life of objects, considering which things have a subjective dimension; the social life of things, seeing the diverse ways in which human beings and things relate as subjectivities; and the historical life of things, recognizing the fact that some things have value as ritual objects or heirlooms.

These chapters demonstrate how native Amazonian peoples view animals, plants, and things as “subjectivities” possessing agency, intentionality, and consciousness, as well as a composite anatomy. They also show how materiality is intimately linked to notions of personhood, with artifacts classified as natural or divine creations and living beings viewed as cultural or constructed. The Occult Life of Things offers original insights into these elaborate native ontologies as it breaks new ground in Amazonian studies. ... Read more

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What do Madonna, Ray Charles, Mount Rushmore, suburbia, the banjo, and the Ford Mustang have in common? Whether we adore, ignore, or deplore them, they all influence our culture, and color the way America is perceived by the world.

In this A-to-Z collection of essays scholars explore more than one hundred people, places, and phenomena as they seek to discover what it means to be labeled icon. From the Alamo to Muhammad Ali, from John Wayne to the zipper, the American icons covered in this unique three-volume set include subjects from culture, law, art, food, religion, and science. By providing numerous ways for the reader to engage in the process of interpreting these images and artifacts, the work serves as a unique resource for students of American history and culture. Features 100 illustrations.

What do Madonna, Ray Charles, Mount Rushmore, suburbia, the banjo, and the Ford Mustang have in common? Whether we adore, ignore, or deplore them, they all influence our culture, and color the way America is perceived by the world. This A-to-Z collection of essays explores more than one hundred people, places, and phenomena that have taken on iconic status in American culture. The scholars and writers whose thoughts are gathered in this unique three-volume set examine these icons through a diverse array of perspectives and fields of expertise. Ranging from the Alamo to Muhammad Ali, from John Wayne to the zipper, this selection of American icons represents essential elements of our culture, including law, art, food, religion, and science. Featuring more than 100 illustrations, this work will serve as a unique resource for students of American history and culture.

The interdisciplinary scholars in this work examine what it means when something is labeled as an icon. What common features do the people, places, and things we deem to be iconic share? To begin with, an icon generates strong responses in people, it often stands for a group of values (John Wayne), it reflects forces of its time, it can be reshaped or extended by imitation, and it often breaks down barriers between various segments of American culture, such as those that exist between white and black America, or between high and low art. The essays contained in this set examine all these aspects of American icons from a variety of perspectives and through a lively range of rhetoric styles.

Product Description

One of the first westerners to write about Japan, Chamberlain lived there for over thirty five years, and was proficient in ancient and modern Japanese. Chamberlain's resided in Japan during a time of transition when, as he put it, old things passed away between a night and a morning. To record some things before they vanished, but also to show how old and new coexisted in Japan, he wrote this guide. Instead of places, like a travel guide, he writes about subjects, in alphabetical order beginning with abacus and ending with the zoology of Japan. In between he discusses, among other subjects, acupuncture, Japanese chess, music, fashionable crazes, foreign employees, tattooing, silk, the Japanese use of English, the navy, embroidery, and the traditional Japanese system of time.

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In the first half of the twentieth century, Theodor Adorno wrote about the 'culture industry'. For Adorno, culture too along with the products of factory labour was increasingly becoming a commodity. Now, in what they call the 'global culture industry', Scott Lash and Celia Lury argue that Adorno's worst nightmares have come true.

Their new book tells the compelling story of how material objects such as watches and sportswear have become powerful cultural symbols, and how the production of symbols, in the form of globally recognized brands, has now become a central goal of capitalism. Global Culture Industry provides an empirically and theoretically rich examination of the ways in which these objects - from Nike shoes to Toy Story, from global football to conceptual art - metamorphose and move across national borders.

This book is set to become a dialectic of enlightenment for the age of globalization. It will be essential reading for students and scholars across the social sciences. ... Read more

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Iona Opie and the late Peter Opie have devoted their lives to the study of children. Now comes the final volume of their acclaimed trilogy on children's games. Together with Children's Games in Street & Playground (1969) and The Singing Game (1985), this volume completes the most comprehensive study this century.

Based on thirty years of research, this intriguing volume focuses on games that use equipment of one kind or another--marbles, jump rope, balls--describing in colorful detail the objects used, the rules of play, and the accompanying rhymes and chants. The Opies examine the history of the games from their earliest appearance and they consider the wider social context, tracing the varying attitudes towards them over the past three hundred years, from pedagogical disapproval, to legal suppression, to the sentimental nostalgia of the present.

Here then is the world of play, the imaginary space into which our young ones escape each day.Children's Games With Things is an evocation of this imaginary world as well as a reminder of our own past. ... Read more

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This volume is an ethnographic study of material cultures. Incorporating local and global dimensions, a team of scholars explore the changing experiences of cultures in locations as disparate as the Philippines and Northern Ireland. Material culture and consumption studies have undergone something of a renaissance recently. This study provides an up-to-date analysis of a developing field in sociological and anthropological based courses.; This book is intended for undergraduate/MA courses on material culture and consumption within cultural studies and anthropology degree schemes. ... Read more

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This text explores ways in which art objects are used to construct identity and cultural difference, and explains how people actually use things - items that are at once concrete and symbolic. North America: School for Advanced Research Press ... Read more

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Mary Jacobus combines close readings with theoretical concerns in an examination of the many forms taken by the mythic or phantasmic mother in literary, psychoanalytic and artistic representations. ... Read more

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A noted expert on the origins of ordinary objects tackles the mysteries of religion in an enlightening odyssey into a vast spectrum of religious items and ideas, exploring the origins of sacred practices and customs, the reasons for religious holidays, ritualistic symbols, and more.Tour. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Sacred Origins of Profound Things
Informative in an entertaining way about familiar and obscure practices of familiar and obscure religions alike. A factual but not too serious read that you can stop/start reading...but will find fascinating.

Concise and entertaining
I was thoroughly engrossed in with the information in this book. But I think the title is too broad because the topics were mostly on Christianity, Judaism and Islam and the other world religions were barely touched. Mr. Panati did warn that he is Catholic and is coming from that perspective.Being a Catholic myself, I think this is an excellent sourcebook for Catholics but be warned that some of Mr. Panati's explanations may make you doubt what you learned in catechism. What I did come away with is a better understanding of the connections between the three major world religions and how they are related to one another.

Another one to add to the collection
I've always enjoyed Charles Panati books and this one is no exception.

A Very Interesting Book
Not only did I read this book to satisfy my thirst for trivia, but also, to be enlightened on the more strange and mysterious rituals and practices of different religions. Although the cover says '..of the World's Religions', I personally think that this book focuses more on Christianity. But still, this book is very, very interesting -for me- because the author describes in colorful detail every information he has about a subject.
Even though I really like this book, I rate it 4 stars only because sometimes, the explanations are long and somewhat irrelevant. I still recommend it to others, though!

Great Book!!!!
This was a great book it explained the true meanings behind the world religions. I'm a 15 year old humanist and have never gone to church, never read the bible or any other holy books, but this book explained it perfectly. I can see why deeply religious people would be offended by this, but they need to open their eyes to the truth. Great book and a must read. ... Read more

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In this erudite and gracefully written ethnography, Mariane Ferme explores the links between a violent historical and political legacy, and the production of secrecy in everyday material culture. The focus is on Mende-speaking southeastern Sierra Leone and the surrounding region. Since 1990, this area has been ravaged by a civil war that produced population displacements and regional instability. The Underneath of Things documents the rural impact of the progressive collapse of the Sierra Leonean state in the past several decades, and seeks to understand how an even earlier history is reinscribed in the present. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

beautiful well written ethnography
I purchased this book as a resouce for my senior thesis and am not disappointed at all. Ferme writes honestly and openly about the issues surrounding Sierra Leone and how the people have worked through political take-overs, colonization and a violent history while keeping their cultural values in tact.

Very "interpretive"
..or involving some "navel-gazing" as one of my professors once put it.Ferme is working within post-structuralist and practice-theory paradigms, which borrow heavily from literary criticism, so you will run into some rather abstract ideas/terms.That's not to say that the book isn't enjoyable--just make sure you have Wikipedia pulled up so that you can quickly review the ideas she is referencing.

Ferme's central argument is that Sierra Leone's violent history of subjugation by the West as well as its more recent civil conflicts have necessitated secrecy and produced a system of social meaning in which objects and practices, which on the surface appear mundane and everyday, are laden with hidden symbolism and meaning (the "underneath" of things).

Ferme's analysis is sensitive and seems to be well-informed but (at times) can tread close to speculation as it is largely based on observational data.Her conclusion really brings the work together, however.Ferme states that Mende cultural logic, which allows for ambiguity, fluidity and mediation, demonstrates the agency and creativity Mende women and man have employed in dealing with the instability and contestation of power associated with Sierra Leone's violent history.

All in all, a great ethnography!

Underneath the meaning of words....
I am using this book to gather data for my M.A. thesis on Mende women. Considering the fact that I have not traveled to Mendeland, I cannot gauge the accuracy of Ferme's interpretations and meanings. However, like the other reviewers, this book is very academic and it doesn't seem like Ferme can decide whether she is writing for the academy or for people who actually want to learn about Mende culture.

I appreciated how Ferme examined the way objects are gendered and the roles objects play in everyday Mende life. However, be prepared to struggle through terms like "semiotic" or "transmogrifying"... :0

Nevertheless, a very important contribution to your library on West African culture and useful insights on practices such as hair braiding, fishing and masquerades.

The Underneath of things. Marian Ferme
This is a deeply researched piece on Mende beliefs and customs by a Social Anthropologist. It claims to be on Violence,History, and the Everyday in Sierra Leone. This it does not accomplish. It is rather a study of a certain tribe and limited to a defined geographic location within Sierra Leone.For someone interested in Mende culture it makes good reading,familiarizes one with unusual cultural practices. On the whole it gives you a better understanding of common phehomena which the casual by-stander would count as nought. It however requires concentrated reading, and for those who have travelled in Mendeland much reflection on incidents and practices that were once observed. I recommend this book for any student of African Philosophy, travellers, and also the casual curious types.
Ked E. James, M.D.
Petal, MS.

Academic indeed......
Honestly, I couldn't make heads or tails of this book - and I am an entirely over-educated offspring of academics, a native speaker of English, and a voracious reader.I just didn't understand the words!I purchased this book before moving to Sierra Leone to manage an aid program, hoping to gain insight into the people I would be living and working with.This book, however, was more about anthropological theory than the Mende people; it served to illustrate academic points rather than the cultural world they inhabit.Entire chapters were devoted to such esoterica as the meaning of "twins" and the supreme symbolic significance of placement of hammocks vs. stools within the household.Meanwhile, the prose is peppered with endless usage of such words as "homologous" and "hermeutic" along with liberal sprinklings of Mende words - which are defined the first time they are used, but as there is no glossary to subsequently refer to by the end of the book the reader is lost inlinguistic gobbledy-gook.

I am sure that this book has contributed to academic inquiry -- but from my perspective, I have never read an entire book about a people and place and learned so little about them. ... Read more

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Product Description
Material culture has been part of a distinctively human way of life for over two million years. Recent symbolic and social analyses have drawn much attention to the role of material culture in human society, emphasizing the representational and ideological aspects of the material world. These studies have, nonetheless, often overlooked how the very physicality of material culture and our material surroundings make them unique and distinctive from text and discourse. In this study, Nicole Boivin explores how the physicality of the material world shapes our thoughts, emotions, cosmological frameworks, social relations, and even our bodies. Focusing on the agency of material culture, she draws on the work of a diverse range of thinkers, from Marx and Merleau-Ponty to Darwin, while highlighting a wide selection of new studies in archaeology, cultural anthropology, history, cognitive science, and evolutionary biology. She asks what is distinctive about material culture compared to other aspects of human culture and presents a comprehensive overview of material agency that has much to offer to both scholars and students ... Read more