Richard H. Robbins

This book should not be considered an anthropology. The premise of objectively studying human beings, a premise that sets anthropology from other social sciences does not apply here. While the book covers the usual introductory topics in other textbooks, the language indicates an underlying ideology and a subjective understanding of several subdivisions of society. Essentially, before researching the authors I concluded he was a Democrat and raised in an upper-middle class environment. Other anthropology books I have read do not have Robbins's angular view of society but the genuine anthropological objective observations and academic reasoning of observations--which, as distant as that may sound, it was those books that made me entranced with the insight anthropology provides.

Simply this book is not anthropology. This book is subjective and hints at ideological actions based on the subjective interpretations.

I don't know if this type of text would be acceptable in sociology circles, but otherwise it could be a sociopolitical text or an extended essay. The title could also include a parameter so the reader can know before reading where in the book the information will be distorted. For instance, Robbins clearly has no idea how low and working class individuals socialize as his view is that expended money is a necessity for social interactions. He also asserts that certain socioeconomic and cultural situations are wrong and it would be right to interfere.

Trying to pass ideology and subjective perspective as fact has nothing to do with anthropology. Unfortunately Robbins weaves this among the portions of text that do describe anthropological concepts.… (more)