42 Anthropology
The Art of Being Human: A Textbook for Cultural Anthropology
Michael Wesch (Kansas State University)
2018
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA
Anthropology is the study of all humans in all times in all places. But it is so much more than that. “Anthropology requires strength, valor, and courage,” Nancy Scheper-Hughes noted. “Pierre Bourdieu called anthropology a combat sport, an extreme sport as well as a tough and rigorous discipline. … It teaches students not to be afraid of getting one’s hands dirty, to get down in the dirt, and to commit yourself, body and mind. Susan Sontag called anthropology a “heroic” profession.” What is the payoff for this heroic journey? You will find ideas that can carry you across rivers of doubt and over mountains of fear to find the light and life of places forgotten. Real anthropology cannot be contained in a book. You have to go out and feel the world’s jagged edges, wipe its dust from your brow, and at times, leave your blood in its soil. In this unique book, Dr. Michael Wesch shares many of his own adventures of being an anthropologist and what the science of human beings can tell us about the art of being human.
Formats: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, and iBooks
Suggested for: ANTH 275
Beliefs: An Open Invitation to the Anthropology of Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion
Amanda Zunner-Keating; Madlen Avetyan; and Ben Shepard
Licence: CC BY
This book on the Anthropology of Religion includes material from contributing authors’ lectures that have been interesting for students in their classrooms. The core concepts are accompanied by ethnographic examples from various cultures around the world, as well as audio playlists of each chapter that is available on Soundcloud.
Formats: Online, PDF, EPUB
Biological Anthropology
Tori Saneda & Michelle Field (Cascadia Community College)
Licence: CC BY-SA
Available through LibreTexts, this resource covers introductory biological anthropology concepts, including evolution theory, non-human primates, and human evolution.
Formats: Online, PDF
Suggested for: ANTH 278
Cultural Anthropology
Tracy Evans (Santa Ana College) (Lumen Learning)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA
Based on the Lumen Learning course of the same title, Cultural Anthropology offers an introduction to the study of human cultures, their beliefs, practices, values, ideas, technologies, economies and other domains of social and cognitive organization through first-hand experience or participant observation within living populations of humans.
Formats: Online and PDF
Suggested for: ANTH 275
Explorations: An Open Invitation to Biological Anthropology
Beth Shook, Lara Braff, Katie Nelson, and Kelsie Aguilera
2023
Licence: CC BY-NC
A comprehensive, peer-reviewed open access textbook for biological anthropology courses. Produced with support from the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges (a section of the American Anthropological Association) and a grant from Minnesota State.
Formats: Online, PDF
Suggested for: ANTH 278
Introduction