Cultural anthropology

This is an excellent study of cultu ral anthropology by one of the foremost authorities on the subject.

The author begins with a definition of culture as the crystallised phase of man's life-activities, the total of human behaviour patterns and technology communicated from generation to generation. The nature of culture is analysed and the various cultural traits are classified into a number of groups and it is shown that a change in a single department of culture is attended by changes in all other departments. These changes are generally brought about by new historical experiences.

This is followed by a chapter devoted to defining the major analytical concepts in anthropo logy. All technical terms in use among anthropologists are clearly defined with the help of a large number of illustrations. These illustrations are almost exclusively taken from Indian context with the result that the work is as much a commentary on Indian cultural and social history as anthropology. The mechanics of cultural adoption and distribution and the several issues bearing on these phenomena are amply illustrated and critically assessed. The final chapter addresses itself to an analysis of the various aspects of evolution and progress Professor Bose's work is a first rate treatise of immense value to all those who are in charge of handling human beings for their improvement-be that agent a social reformer, a politician or an educationist.