Social & Cultural Anthropology A Very Short Introduction- By John Monaghan & Peter Just

This book is a great introduction to understanding how one should approach the subject of anthropology. It focuses more on how discoveries are made rather than on the most recent discoveries. The book provides a unique introduction to the field of anthropology by explaining how it grew from European discovery, colonialism, and natural sciences. The definition of anthropology provided in the book is the study of the “stages of social and cultural evolution.” This is a fascinating way to explain the field, as it helps readers understand not just present-day cultural and social institutions and their development but also how they have changed and evolved from the past. A major point introduced and focused on in the book is ethnography, which involves collecting data, especially in fields related to social sciences. In anthropology, this concept of conducting one’s own “fieldwork” is a key factor distinguishing it from other social sciences. Overall, this was a great book that offered a distinctive approach and helped in starting to understand the field of anthropology.