In addition to a comprehensive overview of the discipline, CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY: AN APPLIED PERSPECTIVE, International Edition goes beyond basic introductory material by applying the theory, insights, and methods of cultural anthropology to contemporary situations that students—both majors and non-majors—are likely to encounter in their professional and personal lives. In the Eighth Edition, new co-author Susan Andreatta adds her expertise in economic and medical anthropology to that of Gary Ferraro, who has worked extensively in the anthropology of business, education, and organizational structures.
Through the book’s lucid narrative and wealth of modern examples, students come to understand how to view the world in which they find themselves today. New applied case studies opening each chapter are designed to catch the attention of students and remind them that the study of anthropology really is relevant to our lives. These introductory case studies, the popular "Cross-Cultural Miscues" presenting real-life examples, and "Applied Perspectives" features are now designated with a "SWAP" icon ("Share with a Parent" or friend) to encourage students to recognize the importance and necessity of understanding culture—what it is and how it changes—as individuals living in today’s world. The "Contemporary Issues" features and in-text examples also emphasize the relevance of anthropology to students’ lives and include new topics, including how South Korean society has rethought the value of having female children and whether or not professional anthropologists should work for the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, to help students better understand and participate in the globalized world around them.