Practical and insightful, CLASSIC READINGS IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY is a concise and accessible reader that presents a core selection of historical and contemporary works that have been instrumental in shaping anthropological thought and research over the past decades. Readings are organized around eight topics that closely mirror most introductory textbooks and are selected from scholarly works on the basis of their enduring themes and contributions to the discipline. These selections allow students to further explore anthropological perspectives on such key topics as culture, language and communication, ecology and economics, marriage and family, gender, politics and social control, supernatural beliefs, and issues of culture change. The book also addresses pressing topics such as globalization, ethnic violence, environmental issues, and more, delivering an excellent introduction to the field of anthropology and the contributions it makes to understanding the world around us.