Our Kind: Who We Are, Where We Came From, Where We Are Going

Book Description

Writing with the same wit, humor, and style of his earlier bestsellers, noted anthropologist Marvin Harris traces our roots and views our destiny.

Customer Reviews:

Cultural materialism for the layperson.......2005-09-29

Marvin Harris, who fought for a scientific explaination of human thought and behavior against postmodernist obscurantism and other attempts at explaining humans, brought together in this book all of his various theories about human cultures. From his contention that cannibalism occured in Aztec religion because of a lack of other protein sources in the Valley of Mexico to his basic theory of probabilistic infrastructural determinism he was always controversial.

This is an excellent book to read if you have ever wanted to study anthropology but couldnt get past the thick description of the current postmodern/interpretationist approaches. Harris harkens back to an evolutionary approach to anthropology and thoroughly explains many of the mysteries of human culture with the clearest empirical science.

He begins with human evolution, brings us through hunting and gathering into agricultural chiefdoms, the first states and into the hyperindustrial globalized present with clear concise descriptions. Harris was a masterful writer and always brings humor into the dryest and (sometimes) strangest cultural phenomena. This book is a great bedside companion because of the short chapters, but you are going to have to struggle to put it down so it might keep you up rather than put you to sleep.

Also, this is basically a lay persons version of the textbooks Harris helped write with Orna Johnson. If you want to get the same information with charts and pictures (but without much of the humor) I highly recommend either Culture, People, Nature or Cultural Anthropology.

Everything you've always wanted to know about the human race.......2005-07-24

Marvin Harris was a brilliant anthropologist - he died a few years ago - and this book sets out, in the language of normal people, the state of knowledge (to the time of writing) on the subject of humankind: what exactly we are, how we came to be like this, and even more interestingly from my point of view, WHY. The book is divided into very short chapters, little jewels of concision, beautifully and entertainingly written. Basically, the book takes theories which would be dry as dust in someone else's prose and makes them come alive with relevance to each and every one of us. A fascinating read.

Inspiring.......2005-07-20

Marvin Harris had the virtue of explaining scholar-like concepts as if they were a chat among friends.Remarkable!

AWESOME BOOK.......2002-10-22

Wow! Marvin Harris really did it with this book. Very Very Good! After reading this i'm not so sure anymore on the idea of creation.

Introduces the reader to anthroplogy.......2002-09-10

If someone is thinking about what anthroplogy is, or may want to study it, or are interested in the evolution of humans and culture, this book is a great introduction for the novice.
Marivn Harris takes the reader though step by step with good descriptions of the how, and possible whys. He also takes time in the end of the short chapters to explain some opposing ideas, and then gives his reasons for why he doesn't think that's right.
The book is of good lenght to have good explaination of the topics he takes at hand with "Our Kind." The book is in no means all inclusive, but for a beginer this book is great.
"Our Kind" will get the reader interested in anthroplogy and evolution, and will make the reader want to read more publications.

Probiotics and Prebiotics: Where Are We Going?

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Probiotics and Prebiotics: Where Are We Going?

Manufacturer: Caister Academic Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Probiotics And Prebiotics: Scientific Aspects

ASIN: 0954246411

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An insider's view of the birth of international environmentalism
Insightful, Interesting, but more like an autobiography.....
Insightful, Interesting, but more like an autobiography.....
Where on Earth are We Going?
Disappointing

Where on Earth Are We Going?
Maurice Strong
Manufacturer: Texere
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 158799092X

Book Description

World hunger, environmental disaster, global warming, massive shifts in weather systems, the re-emergence of diseases long thought controlled, and political turmoil in a world where a barrel of water is more expensive than a barrel of oil. So says the Report to Shareholders, Earth, Inc., dated January 1, 2031 that begins, Where on earth are we going? Maurice StrongÂ's apocalyptic prophesy for the future Â- unless weÂ're lucky or wise Â- is a call to action for all who care about the state of the earth in the near future. Strong, the executive coordinator of the reform effort at the UN and senior advisor to the President of the World Bank, has one goal: to shape a peaceful and equitable future for all humankind. Hard-headed, practical, impassioned, Where on Earth are We Going? is a call to action by a key business and environmental player at the beginning of the 21st century that can not be ignored and will be much debated.

Customer Reviews:

An insider's view of the birth of international environmentalism .......2007-05-23

This is two books in one: an autobiographical view of how one of the world's foremost environmentalists attempted to achieve his goals, and an insider's story of how international environmentalism grew up overnight, in a frenzy of some successes and too many failures.

The book is invaluable for its vivid portrayal of the details and complexities that those less well situated are unable to write about first hand, such as 99% of the world's writers. If you want to understand the nitty gritty of how global environmentalism works and why, "Where on Earth Are We Going?" will take you there.

It will also take you to where I wanted to go in the fall of 2001, when I read the book. That's the year I made the move to working on the sustainability problem full time. I had a lot of learning to do, and Maurice Strong filled in huge gaps in my education.

He also pointed out some of the phenomena that were beginning to attract my analysis. For example, looking over my notes on the book, Maurice explained how solving the poverty problem came to be linked to solving the environmental sustainability problem. To me this has been a historical error for two reasons: One is that the environment must have the highest priority, because if it becomes uninhabitable, then no other problem matters. The second is that Homo sapiens has had the poverty problem for a long, long time--it's that difficult. To attempt to suddenly solve it now by tacking it onto the shoulders of another problem only makes that problem a harder one to solve.

Maurice was the Secretary-General of the 1972 Stockholm conference, which gave him the ultimate insider's viewpoint. He wrote that "The biggest threat to the conference was the ambivalence, even apathy, that developing countries felt toward the whole issue of the environment. From the beginning, developing countries had regarded the West's concern with `the environment' as just another fad of the industrialized countries; in their view pollution and environmental contamination were diseases of the rich.... Most of them would gladly exchange a little pollution for the benefits of economic growth."

Seeing this undercurrent, Maurice "... knew the conference would fail if we couldn't persuade the developing countries to take part. ... The key concept called for a redefinition and expansion of environment to link it directly to the economic development process and the concerns of developing countries."

This was a fateful decision. The solution to the poverty problem of unindustrialized countries was assumed to be development, and the strategy was to "link" this development to solving the environmental sustainability problem. But these are really two very different and separate problems. By linking them together, into what was soon called "sustainable development," the world's problem solvers horse traded one historically intractable problem and one brand new difficult but probably solvable problem into guess what? One big Gordian Knot of an insolvable problem.

Once the offer was made, there was no turning back. Twisted logic became the new norm, such as "The key was to insist that the needs of developing countries would be best served by treating the environment as an integral dimension of development rather than an impediment." But if a country grows economically, and that causes the environment to suffer, then that effect should be treated as "an impediment," not success. Otherwise you have apparently forgotten about the original problem.

Soon, despite the fact that the industrialized countries were producing the lion's share of pollution, "...at the opening session Prime Minister [Indira] Gandhi made what was one of the most influential speeches of the entire conference, with its theme that `poverty is the greatest polluter of all.' "

This should give you a taste of what the book has to offer. If, like me, you are trying to wrap your arms around the whole of the sustainability problem, and you want original source material, then this is one fount to drink deeply from, and find out where on earth we are going, and why.

Jack Harich

Insightful, Interesting, but more like an autobiography............2002-11-14

Well I must say, this was an interesting read to say the least. To be qiute honest this book was not what I expected from reading the backcover. Much of the book seemed like an autobiograghpy( which isn't too bad since he has lived an intersting live) and the rest was on three main issues, Globalization, the Enviroment, and Politics. Though some of the book was a little dry I found the opening and the final few chapters to be very well done. This was an enlightening book which opens doors and makes you think "Where on earth are we going?" I would give this book 3 stars but I gave the extra star for the extremely interesting facts. This book also gives you a good feeling of the structure of the U.N. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in international political science, the U.N. or interesting theories to prevent the earths head on collision with dooms day via pollution. Check it out!!!

Insightful, Interesting, but more like an autobiography............2002-11-14

Where on Earth are We Going?.......2001-09-20

I've seen both excited and disappointed reviews of Mr. Strong's book; I came down in the middle reaching toward both reactions. The book is the account of a life lived and answers sought with seemingly boundless verve, skill, and fairmindedness. Is is also a book that frequently frustrates the reader by never fully delivering on any of the goals it seems to set for itself. It is first and foremost an autobiography, but noone will completely understand Strong's life from it: most notably he is, to put it mildly, elliptical about the end of his first marriage. That is none of our business, of course, but it does leave a considerable gap in the story. By contrast, he gives copious detail about his many professional associates and their interactions, so that the book is also something of a social register. It is wearying to follow this cavalcade of characters, but it is clearly a measure of how much Strong enjoys his fellow beings, including those who have been difficult for him. It is also, I expect, his sincere effort to acknowledge and thank the many people who toil with great talent and commitment in business, government, and nonprofits who seldom get the public recognition that celebrities and elected leaders get. The book was also, for this reader, a foray into the life of business--a world I rarely investigate--and the account of Strong's rescue and reform of Ontario Hydro actually makes big business sound like fun--and ethical too. But this is one of Strong's great gifts: to straddle business, government, and environmental advocacy, standing lifelong for integrating them, as we all collectively must in the years ahead. So, the book is also a primer on management and organizational reform. By turns, it is also about philosophy--environmental, social, personal, spiritual, legal, economic--whatever is on Strong's horizon at any given point. As leader, facilitator, and exemplar, he has made important contributions to Earth-care and sustainability, and readers will find here many valuable ideas on these issues but no systematic and detailed exposition of them. One does find, however, such an exposition of the author's proposals for UN reform, for another of the many hats this book wears is that it is a partial history of the UN and an account of the issues and problems it confronts--that WE confront as we stumble, however resistantly, toward being a healthy world community. Strong's story takes on a special eloquence and intensity when he tells about the gift he received from a famine-stricken Sudanese woman--the book is worth reading just for this passage.
In sum, this book is a bit of a juggling act, but then juggling countless pursuits has been Strong's forte throughout his life, with the flair and genius of a real performer. If you don't expect a thorough, focussed treatment of one subject, you can surely find something of value in its abundance.

As a final note: the book would have benefitted from more proofreading than it got. There are numerous errors of syntax, punctuation, and the like--even a reversal of pages (346 & 347)--that should have been caught before publication.

Disappointing.......2001-05-25

I read this book hoping that it would be about environmentalism. Instead it is an autobiography of the author. To make matters worse it is not even a good autobiography. While the author has had an interesting life and many diversified experiences in many fields the book doesn't read well. The author, for instance, will note that he took over a new position and he'll go on for pages and pages about who he hired and how competent they were. However in these pages of lavish praise he tells the reader little, if anything, substantive about what they (or he) were doing or accomplishing. This happened over and over through the book until about two thirds of the way through I just gave up reading it. On the positive side he does convey the distrust that the third world feels towards the western nations on environmental issues and discusses ways and bringing the two together. Unfortunately, the book has too many faults and too few virtues.

Know Where You Going? You Gotta Know Where You Been!

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Know Where You Going? You Gotta Know Where You Been!
Barbara J Sorey
Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 059537610X

Book Description

Know Where You Going? is the true story of the author searching for a connection to her families' beginnings.

Author Barbara Sorey covers early years of her parents settling and beginning their lives and her young life as a child growing up in segregated Clearwater, Florida. Know Where You Going? is the story of the African American family experience as told and seen through a child's eyes from the early nineteen 20's through the nineteen 60's. Know Where You Going? shows the never-ending love and encouragement of a family during the years when being 'colored" was a classification of one's skin color and a determination whether access was granted to the simplest of accommodations.

Through it all, the author manages to tell a poignant story without bitterness and hostility, sharing the moments of togetherness with her family and their struggles to maintain a normal life through everyday experiences.

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Know Where You Going? is the true story of the author searching for a connection to her families' beginnings.

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Good ideas for expatriates relocating kids

Where In the World Are You Going?
Judith, M Blohm
Manufacturer: Intercultural Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1877864447

Book Description

Where in the World Are You Going? is an entertaining activity book that helps young children, ages 5 to 10, through the process of moving abroad. Children can complete activities alone or with a parent or teacher.

Customer Reviews:

Good ideas for expatriates relocating kids.......2007-08-24

I received this book out of the blue from our Global Mobility people who are co-ordinating my relocation from Australia to the UK. It's been well received by my kids who have enjoyed working through it.

The process it follows feels right, and though there were no new concepts (we had talked about many of the issues it raises with our kids), it does present them in a clear and organised way that makes it worthwhile.

Although I was given this book, I've since recommended it to several people. My biggest advice is get more than one! You'll need one for each kid to avoid arguments, although we dealt with that by "sharing" pages.

My only criticisms are that it does feel a little old fashioned, so doesn't really acknowledge much in the way of modern technology which would form a useful update to the book, particularly if you were using it with older children.

For reference, my kids are currently 5 and 6.

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M. Planck, a man of science and of universal speculation

Where Is Science Going?
Max Planck
Manufacturer: Ox Bow Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0918024226

Customer Reviews:

M. Planck, a man of science and of universal speculation.......2005-01-19

My copy is hardback (c) 1932, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York, N.Y. Prologue by Albert Einstein; trans. by James Murphy.
There is more to this book than just raw science, but what there is relates nicely to his speculation upon the grander scale. It qualifies as a science 101 book in my estimation. The author was a profound humanist as well as a theorectical scientist and professor in Germany between the First and Second World Wars. His allusions to religion are Universal rather than specific. I found myself emersed in his dialog relative to my own thinking born of my education in History, and life's experience. I won't say he altered my conclusions but certainly expanded my range of thought to a higher level. Max Planck admits the limits of his profession while at the same time adding considerably both to my vocabulary and comprehension. I recommend readers have a dictionary handy that will permit them better to understand the implications of what he has to say. It is not an easy book to read, but one that serious thinkers should appreciate.

2006 public works funding forecast: where is the money going?(Special report)(Cover Story) : An article from: Public Works

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2006 public works funding forecast: where is the money going?(Special report)(Cover Story) : An article from: Public Works
William D., Jr. Palmer
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Backlash? Balderdash: Where Feminism Is Going Right (Frontlines)

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Backlash? Balderdash: Where Feminism Is Going Right (Frontlines)
Beatrice Faust
Manufacturer: New South Wales Univ Pr Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0868401420

The Four Phases of Society: Where Are We Going in the 21st Century?

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The Four Phases of Society: Where Are We Going in the 21st Century?
Peter Peeters
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Today Capitalism is generally accepted as the only viable socioeconomic system in spite of the stress, moral decay, drug abuse, and crime it fosters. Peeters shows that, before entering the present Materialistic Phase, Western society went through two other phases, the Religious and the Militaristic-Nationalistic Phase. He argues that current social problems arose because the behavior of most people was no longer determined by the laws of Church and State, but instead by the need to be productive and the desire to acquire money and material goods. Peeters shows that Materialism is, however, not the ultimate stage of development of society. A comparison of the three phases and Communism--a rival form of materialistic Phase--shows that Western society is going to enter a Fourth Phase, which Peeters asserts will occur around 2050. Peeters sets out to discover which prominent traits of today's ways of living and acting will be rejected during the transition toward the Fourth Phase and which new characteristics will emerge. The educational system, democracy, the goals of production and income inequality will all have to change when people adapt their aims to the requirements of the Post-Materialistic Phase. The challenge of the forces that now rule people's lives and the rejection of materialism will ultimately recreate a healthy, balanced society. Scholars and researchers in Future Studies as well as concerned citizens will find this a provacative analysis of today's problems and their possible resolution.

Journeys (Windows on social studies; multicultural adventures through literature)

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Journeys (Windows on social studies; multicultural adventures through literature)
Joan Westley
Manufacturer: Creative Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: 1561077461

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