Best Anthropology Books

Explore the answer to the central problem in global history with Guns, Germs, and Steel. In this insightful book, author Jared Diamond looks at the broad movements of peoples and ideas on every continent since the Ice Age. He presents a biology-driven answer to The Rise of the West, focusing on geography, demography, and ecological happenstance. With a binocular perspective of an evolutionary biologist and a heart that belongs to the people of New Guinea, Diamond presents a well-rounded and evenhanded review of human history.

Discover the story of human history, from the first humans to walk the earth to today's modern society. Explore how we came to believe in gods, nations, and human rights, and how our societies were shaped by the Cognitive, Agricultural, and Scientific Revolutions. Sapiens covers it all, using insights from biology, anthropology, paleontology, and economics to challenge our beliefs about what it means to be human. Are we happier now than we were before? Can we change our behavior and influence the future? Dr. Yuval Noah Harari's provocative and wide-ranging book will challenge the way you think about our species and our place in the world.

This thought-provoking book delves into the future of humanity and our quest to upgrade humans into gods. Harari explains how, over the past century, humankind has managed to solve famine, plague, and war, making them manageable challenges. Now, as gods of planet earth, what destinies will we set ourselves? From creating artificial life to overcoming death, this book explores the projects, dreams, and nightmares that will shape the twenty-first century. Harari maps out our future with the same insight and clarity that made his previous book an international hit.

Discover how the spread of US culture is homogenizing the way the world goes mad in this eye-opening book. Ethan Watters shows how the exportation of American ideals is bulldozing the human psyche, with devastating consequences. A must-read for anyone interested in the impact of culture on mental health.

Discover a groundbreaking examination of human history in this thought-provoking work. Despite the negative news cycle, bestselling author Steven Pinker argues that we may be living in our most peaceful era. Pinker explodes common myths about inherent human violence, and highlights long-term trends of declining violence across time. Interwoven with psychology and history, this book provides a vision of an increasingly enlightened and peaceful world.

Explore the origins and evolution of the Western mind and its impact on the world in The WEIRDest People in the World. By delving into global psychological diversity, Harvard professor Joseph Henrich illuminates the cultural transformations that led to highly individualistic, nonconformist societies like ours. Drawing on research in anthropology, psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology, Henrich maps the shifts in family structures, marriage, and religion that laid the foundation for the modern world. This highly engaging and provocative investigation reveals the fascinating interplay between culture, institutions, and psychology that shapes human history.

Discover the real Neanderthal in Kindred, as Neanderthal expert Rebecca Wragg Sykes delves into their vast and diverse life across Eurasia through hundreds of thousands of years of climate change. This book sheds new light on where they lived, what they ate, and their complex culture. With first-hand experience, Sykes provides an information-rich and easy-to-read insight into the fascinating reality of 21st century Neanderthals, from recent discoveries to enduring mysteries of their relationship with modern humans.

Discover the cultural perspective and relevance of anthropology in Robert L. Welsch and Luis A. Vivanco's Cultural Anthropology: Asking Questions About Humanity, Second Edition. Through a question-based approach, learn how to view cultural issues and everyday experiences through an anthropologist’s lens. This textbook combines classic anthropological examples with contemporary debates to provide a comprehensive understanding of social, political, and economic issues in today’s world.