An essential core textbook that leads the reader from Social Anthropology 's foundational approaches and theories to the fundamental areas that characterise the field today. Taking a truly global and holistic view, it includes a wide range of case studies, touching on topics that both divide and connect us, such as family, marriage and religion. Fully updated and revised, the third edition of this popular textbook continues to introduce students to what Social Anthropology is, what anthropologists do, how and what they contribute, and how even a limited knowledge of anthropology can help people flourish in today's world. This is an inviting, engaging and enjoyable text that has established itself as a comprehensive introduction to social and cultural anthropology. Written in an accessible style, and including a wide range of pedagogical features, it is ideally suited to new or prospective students seeking to better understand the discipline and its roots. New to this Edition:
- Includes a new chapter on the role of social and cultural anthropologists and the specific methods they use in a fast-changing world
- Features a number of new first-hand accounts to explore difficult concepts through people's real world experiences
- Updated sections for further exploration, including books, articles, novels, films and websites

This book isn’t in the library right now, search for another
- 392 pages
- English
- PDF
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF
No longer available
About this book
Trusted by 375,005 students
Access to over 1.5 million titles for a fair monthly price.
Study more efficiently using our study tools.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Detailed Contents
- List of Figures and Maps
- List of Photographs
- List of First-hand Accounts
- List of Topics for Reflection
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- 1 Seeing the World
- 2 Disgusting, Forbidden and Unthinkable
- 3 Gifts, Exchange and Reciprocity
- 4 The Ritual Round
- 5 Society: A Set of Symbols
- 6 Beauty and Bounty: Treasure and Trophies
- 7 Cosmology I: Religion, Magic and Mythology
- 8 Cosmology II: Witchcraft, Shamanism and Syncretism
- 9 Law, Order and Social Control
- 10 The Art of Politics
- 11 Family, Kinship and Marriage
- 12 Economics and the Environment
- 13 Identities in a Connected World: Tourism, Transnationalism and Globalisation
- 14 Anthropology and Anthropologists: What Is the Point of All This Anthropology?
- Map of Peoples and Places Mentioned in this Book
- Glossary
- Index of Authors and Film-Makers
- Index of Peoples and Places
- General Index
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn how to download books offline
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.5M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1.5 million books across 990+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn about our mission
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more about Read Aloud
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS and Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Yes, you can access An Introduction to Social Anthropology by Joy Hendry in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Social Sciences & Anthropology. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.