Urban Life: Readings in Urban Anthropology

This fascinating anthology of readings contains both a rich blend of classic studies of enduring interest as well as important new research. Altogether, thirty-two anthropologists and social scientists provide an authoritative introduction to the study of human beings and their cultural institutions in cities. The collection's primary concerns are the unique demands posed by urban social environments and the ways in which human cultures have dealt with them. The essays are integrated by several underlying themes, chief among them being adaptation--the strategies people, both as individuals and as members of groups, use to cope with the demands of life in the city. The volume is comparative, drawing on research completed in all parts of the world.