Metcalf’s approach to anthropology is admirable because it consciously incorporates self-critical aspects I feel are important for anthropology novices to be aware of and understand. Many anthropology texts cover only in passing some of the inherent problems of the field, not giving, in my opinion, the proper impression that anthropology is currently a field in flux, one that is constantly in the process of reinventing itself. Metcalf establishes this clearly, covering thoroughly and repeatedly central themes like cultural relativism, the relationship between anthropology and imperialism, and the sticky issue of power relations between ethnographers and informants.

So four stars for taking this fresh approach, but negative 1 star for the style: I can’t blame him, because he is treading the academic minefield of explaining complex issues in an introductory text, however, I really did think Metcalf erred on the side of simplicity on this one. Metcalf’s text is critical of anthropology, and criticism of anthropological methods usually involes a call for a more complex, nuanced understanding of indigenous peoples/gender/sexuality/whatever. Yet, in the enthusiastic rush to elaborate this criticism in an introductory text, Metcalf often makes the types of generalizations that he claims anthropology should try to avoid. This mistake doesn’t happen too much… but it certainly leaps out from the page at you when the last two paragraphs you read are exactly about the inadequacies and insidious malice of generalizing.