Product Description

In The Interpretation of Cultures , the most original anthropologist of his generation moved far beyond the traditional confines of his discipline to develop an important new concept of culture. This groundbreaking book, winner of the 1974 Sorokin Award of the American Sociological Association, helped define for an entire generation of anthropologists what their field is ultimately about.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #114236 in Books
• Published on: 1977-04-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Customer Reviews

Essential reading for social sciences students
Geertz is as readable as ever, and his interpretive brand of anthropology remains hugely interesting. This book is the best introduction to Geertz and to the interpretive turn in 20th century social anthropology - it's one every social sciences student simply has to read.

From cockfights in Bali to the streets of London
Published in 1973, this book is still as fresh and insightful as ever. With a perceptive eye and flowing writing capacities, The Interpretation of Cultures combines the two difficult tasks of being both educational and a joy to read. The idea of culture, puzzling and challenging for generations, is analyzed by a variety of methods. Using disciplines from the fields of Biology, evolution studies, anthropology, history and more, Geertz is bringing a new look on the development of human kind, and the tension between the communal and the individual. With examples taken from cockfights in Bali and tribal disputes in the Sahara, one can understand better his own culture and its impact on daily life, either watching TV, visiting church or trying to understand the complex cultures manifested daily in the streets of London

If you want to know about different cultures start here
The book, though it focuses exclusively on Balinese, Javanese and Moroccan culture, is one of the most informative and in depth investigations that I have found. Geertz writes like a novelist, but with sufficient information that this could be a accedemic paper in its own right.

Into different cultures? Then read this book first.